NEW ZEALAND’S YOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND’S YOUTH

STRESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT ADDRESS BY LORD BLEDISLOE “Do nofc imagine that you arc not needed. In the days to come you will be the backbone of Iho country. We need you,” said the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, when addressing pupils of the Seddon Memorial Technical College (reports the “N.Z. Herald”). “We were delighted,” said His Excellency, “to hear you sing the National Anthem, according your loyalty to the King who, as you know, is the great link of the great Empire to which we all belong.” That expression was, he hoped, an expression also of their other loyalties, loyalty to the Great Master of all, loyalty to their school, loyalty .to the high ideals taught them there, loyalty to their parents and, above all, perhaps, loyalty to themselves. A great many public spirited men in this country of vast opportunities in the days to come had lately expressed regret that so many hoys from 15 to 20 years of age, and girls, too, were, under the present industrial conditions, unable to find employment. In days of difficulty such as these, although the Government could do a great deal, it could not do everything, and they must look to local effort and local self-sacrifice to assist. daily occupation essential It might he unfortunate for some young people, the children of poor parents, that they should he faced with the difficulty of carrying on without employment. There was, however, something more important than that, and that was that they should have some daily occupation in the use of hands and eyes and not let these faculties lio idle. Hi s Excellency drew an analogy between human idleness and the idleness of goods that lay unwanted in a shop until they become shop-soiled. The most valuable product of the country, he said, was its young people. They should not let them become “shop-soiled. Ihe young people themselves, after their school years, should take care that they did not become “shop-soiled.” They should do credit to themselves with all that was in them. A good education in a country such as this depended upon a knowledge of God, the development of character and a full utilisation of all their inherent and inherited capacities. What was needed to make use of theso qualities was an observant eye, an inquiring mind, active limbs, of 'which the hand was the most important, healthy sport and exercise and a determination in all they did to keep their goal clear before them.

JOY IN WORK OF THEIR HANDS

In the old days they were afraid of teaching anything of a vocational character and went in for what had been called mental gymnastics. Mental gymnasties wero all very well, but how much more interesting it was to have before them a clear goal. He had put first; a capacity for observation because lie did not believe that any country had a chance of being successful if it contained people who did not use their eyes. His Excellency referred to the powers of observation of Sir Isaac Newton which had made him the great scientist he was and enjoined them all to keep their eyes open. A capacity for observation invariably led to an inquiring mind, and they should not bo afraid to ask when they did not know. They should not be afraid of using their hands, as their school was teaching them to do as well as any school in New Zealand. Every pupil should rejoice in bringing into existence something of Ins own. If they developed joy in the work of their own hands they were bound to be successful. They should produco something. No work could be really satisfactory unless it was thorough and accurate. “Be thorough and accurate, said i-lis Excellency, “and your lives will be happy and your country enriched. On behalf- of Her Excellency and myself I wish you all happy and successful lives and the realisation that your country •Wants you.”