DOMINION'S TASK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19890, 18 March 1939, Page 16

DOMINION'S TASK

DUTY OF THE PEOPLE I.YTIIRIvST ABROAD SIR’ JOSEPH SMITH’S TOUR Pleasure at IPs return io New Zealand and some thoughts on the country’s development lie had gained from hearing it spoken about in many quarters overseas were expressed by Sir .Joseph Smith, on his return to Auckland after spending two years Ir;.\cUtm, abroad. “'New Zealand is more in the nubile eye to-day than it has been for some decades,” said Sir Joseph. “We had this brought constantly before us in a number of ways. There arc many in 'Britain and Europe who scoif at our experiment and say it is doomed. The e persons point to our depleted London balances as the writing on the wall. Conflicting Opinion “'There are those, however, and they are many, who, with a working knowledge of the unhappy rocvi. condition:; of the masses in their own Darts, are in sympathy with our experiment, and are hoping wc will make a success cf it. They are. nevertheless, distressed and dismayed when they read in their papers: ‘New Zealand lamb for Christmas not loaded,' and ‘New Zealand apples left on the wharf.' ‘“At this critical time in New Zealand’s history,” Sir Joseph continued, “I make bold to say that a very grave responsibility lies on everyone in the Dominion, on the workers as well as on the leaders. The importance being attached to our doings is, for instance, clearly shown in the references to them in British election campaigns, and so, unless we make our experiment a success, New Zealand will retard social progress instead of advancing it.” Ideal in Danish Industry Sir Joseph referred to the spirit of co-operation shown by the workers in Denmark, the country, he said, which of all the lands he had visited left the deepest impression upon him. Education in the highest sense had developed to a degree that was almost unbelievable. The people today might be said to .have a semispiritual outlook on their Hfe and work. Co-operation between man and man, and then between the man and the Government, existed to an astonishing extent. The traditional idea of master and man did nbt apply to Danish industry. The worker regarded his efforts ana the return from them to the employer as being for the good of the State as a whole. The employer held the same view. Industry was applied very clearly to this ideal. In return the Government believed in making the people stand on their own feet'. State aid and subsidies foll'owcd the direct efforts of the people and did not precede them. The results of this national belief and policy were clearly apparent. The case of the shipbuilding industry was a good example to take. To-day Denmark was the only important shipbuilding country in the world without a State subsidy. The Folic School System Another example of the outlook of the Danish people, and this outlook was common to all the Scandinavian countries, was shown in the folk school system which had been developed. There were GO such schools of adult education in the country. Men went to them for five months in the winter period, and then women followed them for a three-months school. While they were there these people, who came from all occupations and professions, gave up their work for the sole purpose of developing their ideal of education. They lived at the school, paying in the ease of the men the equivalent of about £4 a month for education, accommodation and food. In the ease of the poorer people the State provided assistance. Sir Joseph said lie had heard lectures in New Zealand upon the folk-school system and had hitherto believed that the claims made for 'hem wore rather extravagant, lie was now convinced that what he had heard before lie went there represented an under-statement of their benefits.