SELF-RELIANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1929, Page 8

SELF-RELIANCE

A NEED OF TO-DAY

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S A DURESS

AUCKLAND, Nov. 29,

A plea for the inculcation in the younger generation of a greater spirit «f self-reliance was made by the Gov-ernor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club.

“There are all sorts of tilings which ma he one a little anxious and disquieted about the future generation,” Sir Charles said. on know how the new spirit of independence and liberty has sprung up. There is a great danger of that degnerating into license. They want a steadying hand. The spirit of independence is splendid if it leads to {self-reliance, which in a community is a thing that is tending is disappear.” All people were too much prone to expect that things should he done for them. The spirit of the old pioneers was tending to die out by reason of this proneness to lean upon other neoole for support. That was a tendency in voung men which should he checked or discouraged. The idea of duty was becoming a little blurred Some people were prone to try to find excuses for evading what was their plain duty, to leave to others the doing of what the country needed, and to follow their own inclinations, in doing what they thought best for themselves. Ho did not think that ho was altogether wrong in that view. Anyhow, there was danger. Young people should bo taught that it was their duty in life not to.

thing so much of their own advancement. except insofar as it was going to he for the benefit of the community. There were certain duties of citizenship, and the young men should ire brought up to recognise that service came before self. They should realise that life was given as a splendid and glorious opportunity of rendering service to their fellow creatures.