THE SENSE Of SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 12

THE SENSE Of SERVICE

WHAT THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON ' iii'm»«l "I am convinced that the future of a democratic society like our own. mainly depends on the spirit with which we can inspire all our young citizens — whatever their destined avocations," writes, Sir J. A. R, Marriott, in the "Hibbert Journal." "Are they destined to be surgeons or scavengers; to bake bread (by machinery) or manage a bank j io distribute milk or preside over a Cabinet? Equally they can serve the Commonwealth if they 'be inspired to go the daily round and perform tli6 trivial task, 'as ever in the great taskmaster's eye.' To banish the trivial task, the sordid occupation, is impossave perhaps, in Utopia, and even, in Utopia you can do it—if at allonly by a strict limitation of population. But it is not impossible/to idealise the banausic occupations; to help t!he scavenger to perceive that in the scrupulous performance of his allotted task he is performing a service to the community as important as the trained skill of the great surgeon. Few dairymen, perhaps, are idealists; nor are all artists. But it should not be impossible to convince the former that the health' of the community is not less, but more, important than its appreciation of colour and form. Such a conviction—the sense of service, whether the service be 'honourable' or 'menial' can alone give dignity to labour."