REBUILDING OF WORLD

Southland Times, Issue 25545, 13 December 1944, Page 6

REBUILDING OF WORLD

GREAT THOUGHT AND VISION NEEDED Great thought and vision would be necessary in rebuilding the world on a sound foundation and no person could afford to live as a spectator, said the chairman of the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools Board (Mr Hugh Ritchie), in a short message to the pupils of both schools, delivered at the, respective break-up ceremonies yesterday. “We must all take part, either for good or bad, in the rehabilitation of the world,” Mr Ritchie said. “You as secondary school boys and girls are perhaps the most important of our race, as you are to become the men and women of tomorrow. You, fortunately, are able to remain at school until you have reached an age at which you can think as adults. You have the advantage of having teachers, who, besides having academic knowledge, have a good grasp of world affairs. “You are of an age when you have no malice or illwill against anyone,” Mr Ritchie continued. “This I think is borne out by the splendid spirit shown on your playing fields. lam convinced that there is no better sportsmanship shown than that in secondary school football and basketball, where you play the game for the sake of the game alone. Is it not possible for you to carry this on into your adult life?” Mr Ritchie said that unfortunately under the present mode of living life became very competitive and immediately the race of life was entered the ambition was to win and not always to play the game for the sake of the game. Sportsmanship, however, could be carried out in every day business just as easily as on the playing fields. “Can we, therefore, ask you, as the men and women of tomorrow, to practice the golden rule in whatever path of life you take up,” he added.