YOUTH NOT AT HELM

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1940, Page 4

YOUTH NOT AT HELM

NEW ZEALAND’S NEED. Recalling the statement of Godfrey Winn in “The Times” that “the New Zealander is physically fearless but mentally feanul,” Mr Doidge, M.P., said in an address to the Wellington Optimists’ Club that there was not enough youth at the head of New Zealand’s affairs. Mr Doidge asked why it was that in a country like New Zealand there were too many old. men at the top in commerce, the professions and pol-

itics. It was not so in Britain, in the United States of America, in Australia and certainly not the case in Canada. In the Beaverbrook chain of newspapers, a/property worth £6,000,000, there was scarcely an executive over 40, and some of the greatest newspapers had had editors under 30. In New Zealand the eaglets should take their chances; they should say they had their right to them. Ambition and optimism in youth were essential. Aouth must realise that there were glittering prizes in life, but they were the prizes for energy and enterprise. . - Mr Doidge made these remarks in the course of pointing out that there, would be a world in ruins when the war ended, and the new world would only be the kind people planned and worked for. It was not merely a world war that the nation was involvedun, but a world revolution, and it was the revolutionary aspect of it that interested peop{& as much as the outcome of the wa® itself. In current English writing the thought was expressed over and over again that tradition had gone and that a new order was coming. It was a disturbing thought and there was a good deal of recrimination in connection with it. “Guilty Men,” a book which indicted 12 great men of England as being responsible for the war, was having a great sale. The ‘Economist” had stated: “ We realise now to our horror that in each walk of life there is nothing but mediocrity at the top . . . The raw material of leadership is as abundant as ever. The trouble is we have forgoten how to use it.” “When we talk of these things we must keep balanced minds, because /t is of the utmost importance that though we aim for new ports we must keep the ship on an even keel,” said Mr Doidge. “I think I may make this comment to you. When this war ends we must face a world in ruins, but what kind of new world are we* going to build? We all want a better world, but we will get only the kind we plan and work for. There is much talk about a new Jerusalem just around the corner, but we must work for it. It is no use putting a match to the old home before the new one is built. To win it we must shed tears and blood. To that victory youth must make its full contribution.” That applied to New Zealand, where youth was notably absent from high places, as much as to any other part of the world. The old men had had their chance of building a new world and there would indeed be

' some excuse if youth went into revolt and, following the precept of Admiral Fisher, said “Sack the lot.” However, nothing would be achieved toward the bringing about of the best of all worlds unless it were realised that new policies and new political faiths