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Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1929, Page 4

Tub retiring Governor-General lias .men responsible for numerous inspiring add losses, and at the present time when taking leave of citizens in various parts of New Zealand his Excellency is almost daily responsible for weighty utterances which carry a lesson to all who bear Last week a plea for the inculcation in the younger generation of a greater spirit of selfreliance was .made by Sir Charle® Fergusson in the course of an address to the Auckland Rotary Club. ‘‘There are all sorts o,f things which make one a little anxious and disquited about the future generation,” Sir Charles said. “You know a new spirit of independence and liberty lias sprung up. There is a great danger of that degenerating into license. They want a steadying hand. A spirit of independence is a splendid: thing if it leads to self-reliance, which, in the community, is 51 thing that is tending is disappear.’’ People were too much prone to expect that things should be done for them, his Excellency proceeded, The spirit of the old pioneers was tending to die out by reason of this pro no ness to lean upon other people for support. That was a tendency in yi.un gmen which should he checked or discouraged. The idea of duty was becoming a little blurred. Some people wei-e 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. He did not think that - lie was altogether wrong in that view. Anyhow there was danger in that way. Young people should be taught, Sir Charles Fergusson concluded, that u was their duty-In life not to think so much of; their own advancement,' except in so far: as it was going to be for the benefit of the community. There were certain duties of citizenship and young men- should be brought dp to; recognise tljat,service jeame before ’self. - TWy *■ 'should 'realise ’ that life was given as a splendid and glorious opportunity of rendering service to their fellow creatures. These words of advice will be approved generally as being very timely, and are worth emphasing in the interests alike of both parents and the rising generation,-. ...... ----- ■ ■