FOR FREEDOM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 14 May 1938, Page 8

FOR FREEDOM

CAMPAIGN OF YOUTH “TELL NEW ZEALAND” < Letter No. 1) These letters are addressed to Youth. They are not confidential. There was once a nation which:— (a) Turned sport from a health pastime to an industry. (a) Made politics and statecraft a game of expedience. (c) Won elections on doles and charities. and • State” made prosperity. (d) Taxed lands until the owners abandoned them. (e) Made the public service the only safe job. i (f) Neglected military duty and used paid mercenaries. (g) Taught its people to live softly . and seek social security from the State. (h) Divorce, birth control and immorality grew apace. No, it was not New Zealand: it was Rome, and barbarians from over the border gave it the quietus with the sword. There is, however, a place called New Zealand where:— (a) Sport is becoming a State organised business. (b) Politics and statecraft are becoming a game of expedience. (c) Elections are being bought on doles, charities and by taking from thrifty and giving to the lazy. (d) Taxed lands are being abandoned and industry is being reduced to inertia. (el The public service is fast becoming the safe job and the “boss” job. (f) Military training is neglected. (g) People are taught to live softly and are assured that the State will provide for all. (h) Pornographic literature floods the country: abortion is widely practised and morality is lowered accordingly. Earl Baldwin, in his address to you. told you that you are trustees for New Zealand. You are trustees of all that is worthy and worth while. The green fields and trees are yours—the beauty of the country-side etc. Now. it's hard to realise that you are going to take over the town you live in —be it—remake it—give it its character. It is hard to realise that you are in part responsible for what New Zealand is going to be in your life-time. Make no mistake about it, if you live you will be responsible. Very well, will you please put a—against the points marked a, b c, etc., with which you agree above, and a cross aaginst those with which you disagree. Those conditions also are your heritage. Make up your mind what you are going to do about them. If you have no ideals at twenty, you’ll be a poor job at 30, and if you have ideals and are not prepared to stand up for them, you are just nothing in the scheme of things. SAFETY FIRST New Zealand is over-run with men crying “safety first” “Government gifts” “depend on the State” (which means “depend on the other fellow”). That cry may be correct in old age—but for youth—no ! Such men are destroying the courage of the nation, and one day, if we continue so, a more virile people will give us our quietus. CHIVALRY Such men scorn chivalry and call business success half criminal: yet chivalry, independence, sportsmanship, adventurous youth, success, make a virile nation. If such qualities run with kindliness, they make a great nation. Very good. New Zealand is yours to make. You have to decide whether you will go for “safety first” or the State “dole” or whether you will adventure—whether, in fact, you will “live” and bring back chivalry in our time. Now don't kill that faint, patriotic stirring just beginning within you. Let it grow —buckle on your sword and save New Zealand from a quietus. Good. Disraeli said: — “The proper leaders of the people are the gentlemen of England. If they are not the leaders of the people. I do not see why they should be gentlemen. Yes—it is because the gentlemen of England have been negligent of their duties, and unmindful of their situation, that the system of professional agitation, so ruinous to the best interests of the country, has arisen in England.” The proper leaders of the people in New Zealand are the gentlemen of New Zealand —I said the gentlemen—not the snobs, not necessarily the rich — but the gentleman whatever their social status. And gentlemen are men and men are self-reliant. Only the agitator, the destroyer of our British tradition will deny it. It is high time gentlemen, poor, rich, workers or employers, proclaimed themselves once more. TELL NEW ZEALAND In this spirit then, we invite you to "Tell New Zealand.” Our campaign will express our ideals, our economics and our politics. We send a challenge to every young man and woman in New Zealand, and we stand for the knightly virtues that made our Empire. And we are not ashamed of those vir- j tues or of that Empire. So, stand to, New Zealanders! THE CAMPAIGN Our campaign is a campaign, not a political organisation. Vitalised youth will revitalise politics as vital youth decides. If you have in you the spirit of freedom. you will not need much telling by anyone, so, right now. without further ado. form a “Tell New Zealand Club.” You need: — (a) The initiative to do it. (b) Five colleagues prepared to fight lor freedom. That's all. The rules are:— (1) That you work for freedom—; British freedom of speech, of enterprise and of living. (2) That any printed or written matter issued under the name of the campaign be approved by the campaign 1 director. Fees: Collect 2s 6d form each member. , if you want propaganda, send 2s of it j to the Business Manager. “Tell New Zealand” Campaign. Box 1014, Welling- . ton. Keep the 6d for postages, etc. If you don’t want propaganda, keep the .ot and use it for freedom. Now you 1

have all the authority you need. Just go ahead, register your club by sending in the names and addresses of your members. Letter No. 2 will reach you shortly. It will tell you of organisation. Meantime, you have a job to do. What is it? Why, form a club. Live just a little bit bravely by taking the risk without the backing of a book of rules and a “safety first” certificate assuring you that everything will be well. Just remember you will be running your club yourself. So. get along New Zealanders. —I am etc. TELL NEW ZEALAND.*’ Wellington, Ist May. PS. Please address letters to "Tell New Zealand” Campaign Box 1014. Wellington.