URGE OF ACHIEVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20089, 29 October 1928, Page 7

URGE OF ACHIEVEMENT.

STRENUOUS LIFE PRAISED. CALL OF PUBLIC SERVICE. VIEWS OF HON. E. W. ALISON. The doctrine 'of (lie strenuous life was preached witli forceful simplicity hv the Hnn. E. W. Alison in addressing a large gathering at. Devonport on Saturday, when the clock erected on the waterfront in recognition of his services to the district was officially set going. Mr Alison assured his hearers there was still room for (lie spirit of the pioneers, and he stated the time was yet far distant when New Zealanders could afford to rieglect tho country's urge for greater development.

Since entering public life nearly 52 years ago he had almost ever since held from two to five offices each year on various bodies, Mr. Alison said. A few days previously he had been asked when he proposed to relinquish his numerous duties and "take life easy." Did he not think, lie was asked, it was high time he retired? To this he had replied with an emphatic negative.

" I believe in the doctrine ol the strenuous life, the doctrine of work and achievement," Mr. Alison added. "Any healthy man who lives a life of cass does not live a satisfactory life, if it can be said he lives at all. Yon can bo sure such a man, with the passing of time, will totally unfit himself for useful work. We must remember New Zealand is still young. In the days to come it will support a great population, and a wonderful future is opening before our eyes:. So the call of tho country is not for ease, but for strenuous endeavour.

"There are many men who would take part in public life, hut who shrink from the harsh criticism which would almost inevitably fall to their lot as they stood in the fierce light of public affairs. During my own political life 1 have been opposed, miscalled aiftJ traduced, and I have been spoken of in a way one wonders public men could be. For example, the best work I ever performed, the introduction of the water supply to this borough from La kg Takapuna, raised a storm of opposition and criticism. I do not think there ever was a man who was opposed as I was in carrying out that work. That will give you some idea of the way public men are often treated. "Notwithstanding all this, it has been my experience that when a man earnestly and honestly uses his best endeavours on behalf of the people, the great majority recognise his efforts and support him. You will acquit me of affectation when 1 say that whatever public offices I have held 1 have always endeavoured to do my best on behalf of the people 1 represented. If I have done well for those people, then I can look back with mingled feelings of pride and satisfaction." (Applause.)