YOUTH AT HELM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 8

YOUTH AT HELM

LEADING NATIONAL LIFE. INFLUENCE BEING FELT. “I think it is relevant to the subject of my toast that reference should lie made to the ever growing influence of young men in every department ot national and industrial development, stated the chairman (Mr W. JCrouclicr), when proposing the health of tlie guest of honour, at a complimentary social tendered, last evening, to Mr C. P. MeMeekan, B. Agric. be., secretary of the Maiiawatu-Oroua lig Recording and Development Club, and assistant-lecturer in dairy farming at Massey College. “Within a comparatively short time,” added Mr Cruncher, “we have seen that executive positions—which were formerly held to he the exclusive right of middle-aged or old people—are now very largely administered by very much younger men fresh from” specialised training institutions. Youth is at tlic helm, m tlie stress of modern life youth and vigour are needed to grapple and overcome problems as they arise. They bring to bear new ideas, open minds and a willingness to strike out oil unorthodox lines, and in many ways are succeeding in dealing with difficult situations and thereby proving their worth in extending and improving the general standard of whatever business or enterprise they set themselves to accomplish. i. “Youth must he served, but by saying this I am not unmindful that the need for . the steadying influence of age and experience has not gone by the board entirely. Far from it, hut I do claim that the wise admixture of youth and well-informed maturity is a combination which will ensure sound and lasting progress. “Almost every day we read and hear of men who are ociiig banqueted on their retirement from business or public service. To-night we are met to give a young man. on the threshold of his career an encouraging word in a venture which he is undertaking with the objective of gaining more knowledge in specialised work and finally to render him more efficient and useful to the community. At the present time he holds an important position at Massey College, where, if he were content to remain he would in due time gain further promotion. Being ambitious, he desires to specialise in a branch of research which at present is not available in New Zealand. Having attained his objective, lie will return to Massey College and the public will get the benefit of his enterprise. SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND PIOLES. “It is possible to be very liigliiy educated and at the same time' to be ignorant of essentials which are fundamental to putting the result of study into practical effect and in terms o 7 everyday practice. This applies to any vocational study, and we do not have to seek far to find square pegs in round holes because of the want of relationship between scholastic attainments and ability to apply, or make the best use of degree training. Rather would we have good average commonsense than brilliance, unsupported by ability to learn. "When our guest returns to Palmerston North with his certificate or whatever distinctive diploma he is seeking we know from his work as a lecturer at Massey College, and the practical experience that lie has gained by rubbing shoulders with working farmers, that whatever addictions he makes to his store of knowledge will be put to practical effect. “1 take this opportunity of saying to him that it was a happy circumstance that . broiight us together. Through association with him I have been kept in touch with the spirit of modern youth, which is all to the good. But I will not dwell on this feature, but rather devote a few minutes to giving a brief outline of Air ATcAleekan’s . career and the struggle lie has made to fit himself for his profession. Like many other men who have defied difficulties in the way of their advancement,. he was not blessed with wealthy parents to act as a springboard to set him on his feet. First a school teacher, next a student at Victoria College-and later at Alassey College, at which institution he gained his degree, and I believe he was tlie first student of the college to receive a staff appointment. I have learned that some privations and personal discomfort were encountered in securing the necessary fees and other expenses connected with the course of training. Good experience, this ; and it makes the satisfaction of success all the more appreciated. Since occupying a permanent position he has still practised selfdenial by a determination to save enough to enable him to gratify the object of his desires by taking a course of study at Edinburgh University. That is the kind of courage and self-reliance which calls for admiration and which will carry the best wishes of all for its successful accomplishment. “Seeing that tin’s is mainly a gathering of men oil the land, may I venture the opinion that the country that was made by the Creator is more beautiful than the city which has been made by man ; that life in the open fields is more beautiful and inspiring than life in the factory or warehouse; that work is work wherever it may he practised; but that work with Nature in her laboratory, in the fields and among the animals out-of-doors is more inspiring, more scientific and offers wider scope than the most highly skilled trade, profession, or commercial enterprise. Our guest, although . a scholar and a teacher, is essentially a son of the soil. All his study and the results of his learning are, and will lie. devoted to, the examination and possible solutioii of some of the secrets of Nature, so that in due course the , knowledge gained may be passed on to tho man on the land. He will doubtless take the opportunity of studying farming systems in other countries. It is all to our advantage that Professor TV. Riddet is now abroad on a similar mission. "When they are both again associated at Alassey College, there is no doubt our farming community will materially benefit by their excursions to other agricultural lands and institutions.”