“TWENTY YEARS OLD”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23136, 11 March 1937, Page 11

“TWENTY YEARS OLD”

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —“ Simple Simon ” accuses me of writing “ sophisticated digressions,” etc. An easy dismissal of my effort to bring him to face the issue—but no, duck, dive, anything but admit that his Labour Government is designedly and wilfully shutting the door of industry and commerce to the youth of to-day. But why should I argue? Ambition, initiative, and, if he so desires it, “ inordinate desire to excel,” are qualities that have no place in the Socialist’s programme. These characteristics, the forces which have made Mr Michael Joseph Savage the Prime Minister of New Zealand and Mr Robert Semplo the Minister of Public Works, must not be countenanced in the youth of to-day. They must be stifled at all costs and so let "Simple Simon” and his Socialistic colleagues erect this memorial to the twenty-year-olds: “Youth—sans ambition.” Let me assure “ Simple Simon ” I desire no preferential legislation for either my class, myself or my son. All I ask is that the “ twenty-year-old ” may have the same opportunity to make good that I had in this fair land 38 years ago. “Concise” asks me many questions, some quite personal, but with a desire to be concise I will say that the answer to all these may be found in my previous letters. For the rest we are on mutual ground—sympathy for the youth of to-day—and may I ask “ Concise ” what he is going to do about it? —I am, etc., Never Again. March 8.