PIONEER SPIRIT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 255, 27 September 1932, Page 10

PIONEER SPIRIT

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S ADMIRATION. COURAGE TO FACE FUTURE. WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. "I am a staunch and convinced admirer of the old pioneers of this country and of those qualities which helped them to build, up this country to what it is to-day,” said His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at the gathering arranged by tho Early Settlers and Historical Association yesterday afternoon. “It is right that they should assemble on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the raising of the status of the country from a eolony to that of a Dominion. The attainment of the status of Dominion had given the country full powers of self-government and autonomy under the British Crown.” There was no country represented at the Ottawa Conference, continued His Excellency, that was given more honour or treated with greater respect than New Zealand, as the older countries recognised that in New Zealand there was something preponderatingly British in its people, ana the country perhaps in a greater degree possessed those outstanding characteristics of the British race of which they were so proud. What were those characteristics P said His Excellency. First and before all, unflagging integrity, nationally and individually, and the possession of that courage and resourcefulness to face whatever difficulties they were called upon to face. New Zealand lind every reason to bo proud of its past, and ha.d, he* thought, every reason to be confident of the future. She was an element of the British Empire, was involved in its destiny, and had the individual capacity to realise that destiny. NEED FOR SELF RELIANCE.

There was a tendency to look too much to the State for those things which individuals could do lor themselves; but the State was only an aggregation of individuals, and was what the people made it. He trusted they would find the same character in the people of to-day which enabled the early settlers to overcome their difficulties, and that Governments and the people of the future would be actuated by the ideals of the pioneers of the past. One consideration he would ask of them was to exercise a sense,of nationhood. Most people here preferred the word Empire, but that did not imply a nation, and if New Zealand did not recognise its nationhood it would never be an effective part of the British Empire. , , „ ~ . His Excellency urged that all that was possible should be done to preserve the country’s national landmarks, as in time posterity would honour them and hold them in the same reverence as historic landmarks were in the Old Country. It was with that idea that he had sought to nationalise the cradle of New Zealand’s history at Waitangi. ... c “We are passing through a time of economic stress,” said His Excellency. “Hard times, time of unemployment. So are all the other nations of the world, and all parts of the British Empire. New Zealand is standing up to her difficulties courageously, manfully, and resourcefully, thanks to that pioneer blood, \vhich is enabling us to face the difficulties in the right spirit. BRINGING BACK IDEALS.

“What is to be the aftermath? Will it mean a lower standard of living? Well, that may be; but will we be any the worse for it? Wliat say you, old settlers? 1 venture to thinu that it will be all for the better. It may bring us back to those British ideals whicn are part of ourselves and which have been obscured since the war. No nation could achieve much unaided. That depended on a Higher Rower than human beings could supply. Success came to the pioneers of tins country who it was said came with courage in one hand and a Bible in the other, and I believe that to the happy combination of the two was due the successful foundation of settlement in New Zealand. I glory in being the representative of His Majesty; the King at such a time, and am confident that the country will emerge brighter, better, and more spirituallyrminded for the present trying experiences.” PREMIER’S MESSAGE.

In a message rorwarded to the gathering the Prime Minister, lit. Mon. G. W. Forbes, said: ‘‘At this time, when we are passing through a period of 'trade depression, and when there is a. good deal of distress due to unemployment, it is well to remind ourselves of some of the trials and tribulations which the early settlers experienced, of the difficulties which they had to overcome, and of the courage and enterprise that was necessary in their first efforts to lay the foundation stones of this portion of the Umpire. “Our dilficulties during the past few years have been no less real perhaps than those of the early settlers, and we still have many obstacles to overcome before this Dominion can be restored to a state of prosperity. The courage and determination displayed by the early settlers can, however, do much to help us on our way. Their example can give us renewed heart to tackle the problems which are before us. “I would like to take this opportunity of urging the people of this Dominion to continue to co-operate whole-heartedly in the efforts which are being made to overcome the depression and its attendant evils, and to meet with courage, renewed from the example of the early settlers, the the difficulties that still lie before us. If they do, then I am confident that New Zealand will be one of the first countries to be restored to prosperity.”