FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1923. GROWING UP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 21 September 1923, Page 4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1923. GROWING UP.

When Barry in Peter Pan told his tale of the little boy who never grew up he made a great many friends throughout the English speaking world, but there is a pathetic note running through the story. Everybody loves the story, but there is always a feeling of deep sympathy for those whom Nature does not treat in her ordinary manner. Tlie unfortunate person who is a physical or mental dwarf commands one's sympathy, and there are few people who would not do all in their power to help such a person. We all like to watch children grow up from infancy to maturity, and physical and mental development are watched with keen interest by parents, while the ma-' jority of people also watch the forma-j tion of character in their children, hoping that they will become good citizens when they reach adult age. Of: all the wonders of Nature we think j that the process of growth is the most j wonderful, and at no season of the year ! is it more in evidence than in the' spring time. In the vegetable and animal khigdoiriig during this month

thepe is.to be noted this most interesting process, and much as man may pride himself upon his cleverness and ability he feels powerless in the presence of Nature'^ wonders. A blade of grass, a flower in the field, and all the new life which is so much iv evidence at the present time hold a wealth of interest for the student. Why is everything so perfect and why does this growth manifest itself especially at this time of the year? And then one reminds oneself that of all creatures and things created, Iranian beings have the greatest powers and privileges, and everything can be subjected to tbe will of man.. Does man make the best use of his opportunities, and does he co-opera.te with Nature as he should*? We fear that too often, be does not, and that there axe far too many people wbo refuse to grow up, and by taking only a narrow outlook of life lose its beauties. It is, we think, mainly because of narrowness of vision, wbich is generally due to ■selfishness, that so much discontent and evil exist in the world to-day. "How will it affect me.?" is too oifften the*"guesiikm, instead of "How can I help my neighbour?" In a well-ordered life a good citizen recognises the rights of neighbours., arid there is a desire to give service for the benefit of others, but the man or woman who selfishly limits ,ifse outlook upon life and never grows up in the full sense cannot; give good service to the world. We have referred to the marvellous power of Nature as shown in the growth of her creatures, i but there is a growth with which man is entrusted—the power and influence of the State. In this century it is of great importance that the State should be strong and progressive, and in a young country such as New Zealand the opportunities for development and growth along the best lines are very great, People sometimes think of the teeming millions in China and India and of what tkose countries might have done for the world if they had been progressive and had been developed to the best advantage. They are looked upon as nations that have never grown up, and people have a sympathy for them in their difficulties. But in the countries of the British Empire boast is made of progress and development. Will it be continued and will these countries make improvements upon the past? The answers depend upon the people of this generation and those who are growing up to take their places. Those answers must be in the negative .if selfishness becomes the dominant influence in the lives of the people. Whether or not the average person in this generation is more selfish than in the last generation one cannot judge, but one does find that there are many evidences of selfish and narrowness of outlook at the present time, and these must stint growth and development, but among th^ nations we think that the British people are the least selfish, aud their readiness to make sacrifices for the world's'progress has often been1 shown in recent years. It is through iaoriflee- and breadth of outlook that our Empire has grown so great and has such a good influence in the world. Let us see to it that as this country grows j and as the children of the next generation grow up unselfishness and breadth of vision are maintained as leading principles, so that the units may be ever ready to give service to their neighbours and so that the nation as a whole may be able to serve mankind even more than in the mat i