YOUNG CITIZENS' LEAGUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17784, 18 May 1921, Page 8

YOUNG CITIZENS' LEAGUE

| TOWN HALL GATHERING, GOVERXOR-GEXERAL'S ADVICE e J FOSTERING OF CHARACTER. I A young people's gathering, under the auspices of the Young Citizens' League, held at the Town Hall last evening, was attended bv a crowded gathering of the members of the league and kindred organisations. as well as of parents and friends. The Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe were present. The floor of the hall and a large gprtion of the galleries were filled with young people, while boyscouts occupied the choir seats above the platform. A guard of honour for the Vice Regal party was also provided by the scouts. . In welcoinmg Their Excellencies, Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., president of the league, explained that Lord Jellicoe had .expressed a desire to be present and witness the work of one of the branches. The Advisory Council thought it would be more fitting to the occasion to obtain the use of the Town -Hall, and ask the members of other institutions to be present. Illustrations of the work of the league would be given, and as a part of that the initiation of a few candidates to membership would take place. Members of each branch would be included. Mr. Cutten then paid a tribute to the interest which Their Excellencies had taken in all matters affecting thp welfare of the young. He also welcomed them to the meeting, and at his call vigorous cheers were given for the Governorj General and Lady Jellicoe. Ceremony of Initiation. Following this, the members of the league present recited their pledge, and saluted the flag, after which the whole audience rose, and stood silent for a space in memory of the fallen. The initiation ceremony in the case of nine boys and five girls then took place. The candidates were drawn up in a line on the platform, facing inwards. After they had repeated the pledge of the league, " I promise, on my honour, to do my best, day by day, in thought, word and deed, to become a true and worthy citizen," their badges were pinned on by the Governor-General in the case of the boys and by Lady Jellicoe of the girls. The new members were then addressed by Mr. E. C. Purdie, vice-president of the league, on the meaning of the pledge which they had taken. ' Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the Public Services Committee of tjio Auckland City Council, was present, represent- j ing the council in the absence of the Mayor. He conveyed an of the full sympathy of the council with the work of the league. Training—Good Citizenship. Lord Jellicoe then addressed the gathering. A Cinderella chorus which was to have been sung just prior to his rising was omitted from the programme. He was very sorry, said His Excellency, that the fairies bad been cut, out, and addressing the children, said:—"And I am certain you are wishing the fairies wore performing instead of me " The children applauded vigorously, whereupon His Excellency said, " I am very glad to see that you agree with me." (Laughter.) Proceeding, Lord Jellicoe expressed the pleasure it gave himself and Lady Jellicoe to be 1 present at so groat a gathering of girls and boyE, members of the Young Citizens' League, the Boy Scouts' Association, and kindred bodies. The first thought to occur on seeing so many young faces was that it was to the boys and girls of the Empire that we must look in the future to uphold the traditions and follow on the great -work of our forefathers. He hoped that future generations would do as much for their country and their Empire as their fathers and grandfathers had done. The Young Citizens' League had as its main object the formation of character. Character in the young was of vital importance. It began in the home. In the present days of quick transit there was unfortunately' not quite so much home-life as there was in the past; it was consequently all the more important that parents should take advantage of the opportunities they had of bringing up their children to be good citizens of the Empire. The "obiect parents should have should b e to bring np their children 'to be honourable, truthful, chivalrous, courageous, obedient, loyal, and, just as much as anvt.hnig else, cheerv. These qualities should be instilled into the minds of children when young. The home was the place where the training be<?an, but it was in the schools and in such bodies s>s the Young Cit'zens' Leasee and the Bov Scouts' Association that the work was | carried onDevelopment of Loyalty. It was in the school that the spirit of patriotism was first instilled, continued His Excellency. From pride in their school grew pride in their country and their Empire. Lord Jellicoe proceeded to describe how in the navy pride in their ship was fostered in the men, just as pride in the regiment was in the army. Under the stimulus of this feeling great deeds had been done, a shining example being the bearing of the troops on the wrecked transport Birkenhead. Pride in t\ie Dominion striking quality in New Zealand. If there were no other motive for the young people to carry on the work of their fathers, they should do ,so because they were proud of New Zealand. It was np to them to carry on the traditions of the Dominion. . Concluding, Lord Jellicoe wished the Young People's League, the Boy Scouts' Association, and all kindred associations good fortune for their work in the future. During the evening selections were played by the Ponsonby Boys' Brass Band, conducted by Mr. Lawn, and by an orchestra of Training College students, under Mr. E. G. Parker. A chorus from the operetta " Cinderella " was sung by the Auckland Associated Choirs (juvenile) directed by Mr. Sydney Butlor. Mr. Edgar Randal wa« at the grand organ. A piano duet was played by Miss and Master Gilliam, while demonstrations of first aid, knot-tying, and phvsicaj drill were given by boys of the league. A feature of the proceedings was the vigour with which the children sang the National Anthem and "'Pule Britannia" and checred Their Excellencies.