SERVICE TO STATE

Southland Times, Issue 20208, 20 June 1927, Page 2

SERVICE TO STATE

THE GRADUATE’S FUTURE. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S ADVICE. Some plain advice to University graduates who are about to go out to take their places in the world was uttered by the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) at the Victoria College graduation ceremony. The one thought in the minds of all present that day, said his Excellency, must be what the graduates’ future was going to be, and what their influence was to be upon their fellow creatures, and, still more, upon their country. The interdependence of the State and the university was undoubted. All history showed that where the State was in difficulties the university languished, and vice versa. The State gave the university its protection and probably endowments in some form or other, and in return the university was expected to give to the State picked men and women for the service of the State. He might even go further and say it was not so much the function of the University to go in for research or even for the encouragement of learning as it was to give to the State citizens who by training and character would maintain the traditions of the State and influence their generation. He hoped the graduates would not allow their lives to stagnate, but they would rather embellish and decorate them, devoting all their talents and capabilities to the service of their country. In whatever position they served they would have the power to exercise enormous influence upon their fellow creatures. One of their greatest incentives should be the desire to be a credit to Victoria College, for by what they did the college would be judged. More than that, they were New Zealanders, and the fate of New Zealand was in their hands. His Excellency proceeded to enunciate three main directions in which the State had a right to expect them to lead. First, they should show an example in loyalty—loyalty in the sense that they should have a real conception of Empire and all that was implied by it. It was more important now than ever that everyone should realise to the full the importance of ties of blood and kinship, pride of race, national traditions, and loyalty to the King, the Throne and Empire. Secondly, he exhorted them to give service. If the country was to become great there must be goodwill and co-operation. Thirdly, his Excellency made a plea for self-reliance. There was a danger that that great characteristic might become weakened. Nearly a-quarter of a century ago a great statesman had remarked upon the grave tendency of the State to take charge of industry, and he prophesied that unless that was changed habit would become second nature. Self-reliance had built the British Empire, and it was only by it that the Empire could be maintained. “We live in a very material age,” he proceeded, “and you will find the world a very cold and hard place to live in unless you have some softening influence in your hearts. You will find that all knowledge, all learning, and all life will be only as dry bones unless it has some vitalising spark in it. I would ask you to remember the saying that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to stick closely to the simple truth of your fathers, remembering that only the nation that puts its trust and faith in God can hope to be great. . . . Aim high, follow the light, and remember that in building up your own careers you will always be adding lustre to your college, and that in growing up as God-fearing, loyal and devoted citizens you will be making your college proud of you.”