GOLDEN AGE

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 26 March 1934, Page 3

GOLDEN AGE

WHITHER. WENDING.’

CHANGING WORLD CONDITIONS.

The ‘Auckland Star’ slates that a ren;a x'kalilc address was delivered to Auckland Rotarians a few days ago by Mr. W. H. Hemingway, of Hemingway’s Accountancy Correspondence School. The main drift of -the lecturer’s remaps was to the effect that the present age is one in which wc are “groping”; that it is an age of tinsettlement which H. G. Wells so graphically describes as- “The Age of Frustration.” This period of unscttlement, said tho speaker, will continue for quiito a long time yet, indeed may well be followed by another —a period of minimum insecurity. In this period there probably will be alternates of prosperity and depression —much unhappiness, ' and even war. But the world is learning, ami in duo season will there come an age -which may well he described as that of “The World State.” Not that nay one nation will govern, or politically control the world. Rather will it be a period in which at last the nations appreciate that the world is indeed one economic unit, that the interest ami welfare of the one is the progress and happiness of all.

During his address the lecturer outlined the chief features of Roosevelt’s “Now Deal,'' and made striking obxervations upon the effects of the Versailles Treaty and the spirit of excessive nationalism at present dominating Europe.

Concluding with his views of the future settlement of the world’s problems, Air. Hemingway -said:

I do not mean that one nation will govern or control the rest —by no means. It will not be a political control by king or dictator —rather will it be a period in which, at last,-the nations will have learned to appreciate that tho world is indeed one economic and social unit, that the interest and welfare of the one is that of all. BjLirt wc have a long way to go and many a rough row to hoe before wo reach this halcyon condition of world affairs. Meantime one fact is basic. Tlic changing conditions demand that we recast entirely our educational system.

We hoar much about raising the school leaving age and of reducing the hours of work. We arc, told that wc shall work five hours a day. Is then Q,iitr education to be directed mainly as a preparation for these five hours of daily toil'? What of the other .19? We shall have to recast our educational system so that we teach youth how to live as well as how to ‘Work—how to get tha't fullness out of life. Wc must devise an educational system that will develop the whole pcrsAiality—get to the very soul. Wc must educate our boys and girls that they may step boldly forth —out of the valley of fear into the broad fields of courage —able not only to advance but imbued with a spirit of co-operation for tin 1 '; progress and well-being of their fellows.

In the meantime is it asking too much to suggest that each of us should do his share, however small, to hasten the coming of the golden age? To-day nations arc attempting to do individually what can be done only through international unity of action. Nations, like persons, must learn to act, not merely for the good of the individual, but for the welfare, the progress, prosperity and happiness of mankind in general.