A YOUNG COUNTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 11 (Supplement)

A YOUNG COUNTRY.

YOUTH MUST BE SERVED

(By Marama.)

There is one article of faith which Is firmly held in this somewhat sceptical age, and that is that this is a young country. What is a young country? The actual soil is as old as that of any other portion of the globe. The Maoris have been living here about 600 years, and they were comparatively late arrivals, who chased out earlier Polynesian arrivals. No one seems to have enquired whether the Morions were the first inhabitants. We, that is the Anglo-Saxon people, only began to come here a hundred years ago, and most of us have been here but a few vears. In one sense it may be said that this is a young country in the sense that it is a young society, and a society may differ in its characteristics from the individuals who compose it, as a crowd differs in opinion that of the individual members. What is generally meant, however, when this is described as a young country is that there is a greater proportion of young people in its population than is found in European countries. It would be interesting to knew if this is true. Thirty years bach it might be claimed with confidence, but it is not so certain to-day. Thirty years malms a difference, and the man of thirty who has grown to sixty has changed very much. There has been an unnoticed alteration taking place In our population for many years past, and it differs greatly in its characteristics from that of forty or fifty years back.

Full of Years and Honours. The chief cause of the change which is taking place is to be found in the statistics of births and deaths. At one time there was a high birth rate in New Zealand, but it is many years since that was found. The fall in the birth rate has been accompanied by an even greater fall in the death rate. To some extent this means that children are not dying like flies, but it also means that men and women are living to a greater age than they did. There are not as many young people and there are more old people. The families of ten and twelve are unknown, for good and ill, for It cuts both ways. On the other hand the proportion of hale and hearty men and women of seventy is very much greater; eighty is common enough, and we frequently read in the papers of ninety and more. A bowling tournament has just been held; a somewhat strenuous affair lasting over a week. How many of those taking part have passed the allotted span. In the interests of science th£y should be called upon to state the truth and nothing but the truth about their age. It has been said that bowls have something to do with prolonging life, and croquet has been credited with doing •he same for ladies. It is certain that the discovery of a game in which people of a certain age—we will not, say old people—can take pleasure adds a/ zest to life. Think of the tallow chandler that Dr. Johnson mentions who, after retiring from business, was fain to ask his successor to let him take part in the soap-boiling. The poor man had no occupation. Talent Wrapped In a Napkin.

It is probable that the change in the average age of the population will have its effect on the country. Already we can say, if we do not fancy it, that there is a certain unwillingness to try new methods or to take up fresh enterprises. There are districts where a large proportion of the land is in the hands of old men, who make a living that contents them by antiquated methods, but who do not do justice to the property they hold. We hear very little of prospecting for minerals, although we have probably our share of* them. Wc have large areas of unsettled land, but our Ministers say they cannot be developed at any price which will pay. Nobody cares to engage in any business unless they can he guaranteed a monopoly. These are not the characteristics of a young country, though on the other hand it must be admitted that old men can occasionally be enterprising to the verge of rashness. Disraeli said, “It j 3 always the unexpected which happens.” And a man who has lived long enough to see the truth of this is tempted to engage in unpromising enterprises. Still, on the whole it is probably true that old men play for safety, and are inclined to think that what was good enough for their young days is good enough for those of their grandchildren.

For the Good of the Cause.

It is an open question whether the community on the whole is better or worse for this lengthening of human life. The individual would maintain that it is better. It has been said that no one was ever old enough to think that he could not live a year longer, but the individual is an interested party and as such should not sit in judgment. Too large a proportion of grave and reverend seniors will make us inclined to be reactionary. It is one more example of the conflict of interest between society and the individual. The individual thinks his point of view right and that there cannot be too much of it. We see the conflict in the size of families. It, is not an easy matter for any father and mother to bring up a large family, though the members of that large family are probably better citizens than the members of a small family. The conflict appears in the attitude of trade unions, which protect the existing members at the expense of the industry. It is all part of the firm resolve which animates the breast of most of us to have a good time and let posterity look after itself. Partly, no doubt, it is due to the smaller amount of faith in revealed religion, but if so it is not a cheering symptom. It is difficult to gauge the characteristics and tendencies of the age we live in. We do not see the wood for the trees, and it is such a short time since the country did its duty in the Great War that depreciation may seem unjust; and then again it is hard to say to what extent any characteristics we may note are due to the reaction after war. Nevertheless, it seems that there arc too many of the symptoms which may fairly be attributed to age; too great a tendency to rest and be thankful. Life is not cast on those lines. It is a constantly shifting panorama. and the only invariable thing about it is change. Constant thought and effort and provision is necessary to ensure even a modicum of success. We most of us live in the immediate present, though what is wanted is a certain looking ahead. Young men see visions, and old men dream dreams. We want visions of a brighter future, not dreams of a haDny DasL