“FATHER AND SON”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 October 1929, Page 6

“FATHER AND SON”

BANQUET AT CHRISTCHURCH A ■> V VI. J > P. : tl h (i AT Its It: nI IN Cl Vila .i.i lll u.i.l “Either .uni Hon" bin qu-.v. '"'hi unde,- the auspices of the Boy;' (eiriioii Ii *!;, tin* junior division of the Y.M.G.A., on Saturday evening, attracted an attendance of over three hundred (reports the “Christchurch Times"). The president of the Christchurch Rotary Club, Mr E. It. S. Hamilton, presided. The chairman adopted I lie unusual procedure of speaking to the toast of ' King and Country." In doing so. he suggested that I lie least should read "Country and Ring," which in his opinion would be mure .-ippiopriale for Hie gathering that evening. It deni nded, lie said, nil wlial we were as individuals, what the country would lie. If was their duly to live straight and honourably. The British nation would not lie the great country it was to-day if ils people had not been industrious, and if was for the younger generation to carry on the ideals of their forefathers, he honest, play the game, and preserve their allegiance to the King. "Had. Our Partner,'’ was the next toast proposed, this time by Stan. Nieliolis. lie said all the boys were pleased lu have their fathers with them at the gathering that evening to tell I hem how milch they were, appreciated. Fathers extended a helping hand to their sons in their earlier years, and for that matter the helping band was sometimes applied more forcibly than they thought the occasion warranted. As they grew up, their fathers became their pals, taught them how to play a straight hat to the difficulties of life and steered them through the. troubled waters of youth. The brief speech met with general approval, and the proposer was accorded hearty applause. Musical honours were given to (he toast. Air G. M. Hall, in replying for the fathers, said lie neither wanted to preach a sermon nor give a lecture, lie quoted a prayer hung at Sandringham. Hie gist of which was “Make me a good loser,” and told the boys that, if they took that to heart, Hie lialtle ul life would he made much easier. There would he lots of battles to fight, and big ones at that. He thought that the hoys of the present generation were given too much assistance. spood-fed, and made too soft. Ho himself was trying to juit, some responsibility on the shoulders of his young son to teach him to rely oil himself. ADDRESS BY AIR A. K. ANDERSON Air A. K. Anderson, M.A., head master ol St. Andrew’s College, gave a •short address dealing with the relationship of fathers and sons. In opening, lie said that he had had no idea that the Boys’ Gordon llall movement was so strong. The institution supplied a great want- in the community. At the age. when boys were eligible to join up with them, they were looking for companionship and it served to divert their interests to good channels and at the same time help along the interests of the country. The war had taken away a great many of the prospective leaders of the country, and the young men now had a great opportunity to graduate to positions of trust. The adolescent youths had peculiarities all their own. First of ail they went about in gangs. It wits just a phase of the age and their fathers could not worry if they found that fellowship with the Gordon Hall movement. They were also very cock- j sure oven to the point of being egotistical. That attitude covered a great deal of doubt and uncertainty. It was quite right that they should assert themselves and develop their sense of independence. Again they are very inconsistent. They bucked against authority, hut at the same time stood together to defend it if it was assailed by others. They developed little ideas of their own and squabbles were liable to arise between father and son. Healthy friction in the house was, however, a good sign. Fathers very often had an obnoxious habit of making comparisons with their earlier days and the farther away they got from" those days the better they appeared. “Dad” became a guide, sometimes even too complete. The wise father was one who would keep an eye on his son’s doings, but with discretion, give praise where clue and sympathy when it was required. A wise father knew also when to apply the brakes. In later years the father developed into a chum, and there was no better relationship. Sometimes the fathers were accused of being too old fashioned, but the children had to remember that they themselves would be old fashioned some day. Too often they forgot that their fathers sweated for their sous’ existence. Affection existed between them from the day of the son’s birth and confidences between them in later life was the natural outcome. Obedience should he invariably observed by the sons. Everything Jed to the biggest thing in life—the building iqi of character. Small things had the knack of developing into big tilings. A smile, a good wish or an honest deed would go a long way. There should be no such thing on the part of the sons as the sowing of wild rials. “We are apt to strike snags throughout life,” said the speaker in conclusion, “and we should steer always for the clear waters ahead I”