THE SPIRIT OF THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19549, 31 January 1927, Page 8

THE SPIRIT OF THE NORTH.

Returning from his first official tour of the North Auckland districts, the Governor-General has given, in an address at Helensville, some valuable impressions of a part of the Dominion that is too little known, or understood, or appreci ated. Having exceptional qualifica tions, by his professional training, for judging men and exceptional oppor tunities, by the extensive itinerary of his tour, for studying the country, Sir Charles Ferguson is an authoritative witness whose judgment deserves respectful attention. It is, therefore, gratifying to have from him a high tribute to the worth and the importance of the northern districts. His Excellency has evidently been chiefly impressed by the character of the people. Among them, he found no signs of the decadence with which careless observers condemn the present generation and all its habits. Instead, he found' 1 in the north the living spirit of the pioneer colonists, men and women exhibiting exactly the same qualities of resource, endurance and courage as were developed by their grandparents. Indeed it is not surprising that such virtues should flourish in u the despised north," although conditions are undoubtedly less arduous than were experienced by the earliest pioneers. Many of the northern settlers have had their resourceful ness cultivated by labouring under heavy handicaps, among which must i be numbered the lack of communica tions and the indifference of political powers. -Adversity has naturally strengthened the endurance and i the courage of these people cl

British stock, and, above all, they have been sustained by their faith in the north, in its obvious advantages of climate and in the demonstrated fertility of its soil under proper treatment. Even their patience has not been exhausted by long waiting for the roacls and the railways, which are now stretching throughout the north. Sir Charles Fergusson has been careful to avoid controversial aspects of northern settlement questions, but his account of the qualities and the enthusiasm of the district's people should serve to awaken interest and sympathy with their problems. Others with direct responsibility for assisting in the solution of their difficulties may thus be led to approach them with a more intelligent appreciation.