The Passing Show,

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18803, 26 November 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

The Passing Show,

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Hamiltonians will shortly he asked to contribute to the funds of the Waikato Children’s Camp League. The activities of 'this wonderful organisation are too well known to require much explanation. At Port Waikato, where bush, mountain, stream and sea combine to make surroundings as ideal as could be found for such a purpose these enthusiasts for the welfare of our future men and women have toiled and planned with such success that in the short space-of four years they have acquired property to the value of £2OOO, and have provided the poor children of our town and district with a place where they may spend a free holiday from which they will return with bodies strengthened by good food, fresh air and sea-bathing, and spirits brightened by the association with other ohildren and by the kindness of those in charge. If this year has been a hard one for many adults, what must the experience of these kiddles have been ? When every penny has to be turned over many times before being spent upon the barest necessities, how many little pleasures so dear to the heart of a child ha\e to be denied! There are few more worth while ways of celebrating the Christmas season than by putting one’s hand in one’3 pocket and giving liberally to such a practical way of assisting the needy little children in our midst. • * * * The .scheme of rural training submitted to the Auckland Boys’ Employment Committee should receive every encouragement, not only from those able to assist with tht, organisation, but from boys seeking work. A few weeks ago the chairman drew attention to the lack of boys of the right type willing to accept work on the land. At a period when to hundreds of lads the necessity of earning a livelihood becomes a pressing problem serious consideration should be given to the possibilities of life on the land, and particularly to a scheme that provides for sound training, followed by cadet group settlement, and ultimately alms at Individualised holdings or co-operative farm establishments. One is glad to find efforts being made to understand the difficulties which confront the educated youth who, dreads the long hours of drudgery and the many years that he must pass in uncongenial surroundings at the beck and call of unreasonable employers and dislikes the Idea of rusticating when he has the opportunity of hewing treasures from the rich mine of learning. However, a little persuasion might lead him to see that life in the country under the conditions outlined need not mean stagnation, that intelligence and industry bring success and that science and invention eliminate drudgery. « « » • The clay has passed .when tilling the land was synonymous with illiteracy and illbreeding, for to-day the farmer’s intellectual attainments receive full scope in the various departments of modern agriculture, as well as in the part he plays in the social and political life of the community. When one adds to these advantages the happiness which prevails in country households where each member’s Interests are centred In the home, and thinks also gif the gifts which Nature hands so lavishly to the .son of the soil —the fresh breezes that play about him, the sunlit hills to which he may lift his eyes ,the music of the birds’ songs, and the friendship of the animals —can one wonder that there are so many who know “they are ablest who can unconcernedly find hours, days and years slide soft away in health of body, peace of mind?” * * * * The oilier day “Free Lance” casually entered Into conversation with a youth who is frequently on the road, his job being that of a messenger. "Free Lance" found that the youth was very sorry for himself, “as he had to push round a bicycle all day.” To SSj8»SV888SS888888SSS8S8888888i

s Lance.”) ‘‘Free Ranee’s” comment that It Is better to ‘‘wear out than rust out,” the messenger grunted a very grudging consent, but ha considered it a hardship that he should be tired at the conclusion of the day’s toil. This sentiment rather startled ‘‘Free Lance,” who took a glance back along the road he had come, and recalled instances where at the end of a 24 hours’ shift he had lain down under the shelter of a friendly fence and dropped off to sleep. “Free Lance” had no bicycle on which to traverse his round; it was foot slogging from end to beginning. Whilst he admits that his lot was a hard one and the conditions almost inhuman, he could not help thinking that the youth, whose chief grievance was that he “felt tired” at the end of his day’s duties, had not a very exalted view of the dignity of labour. "Feeling tired” should surely be a source of satisfaction to the good and faithful servant as irrefutable evidence that an honest day's toil had been catalogued. • * • • Bishop Cherrington, when he speaks, generally says something calculated to make a shaking amongst the dry bones. He excelled himself last Sunday with his declaration as to what the Churoh, after 1900 years of Christian preaching, should be. Few, probably, will be found inclined to combat the Bishop’s views that the earth should after such a lengthy period be so full of the knowledge of the Lord that the foolishness of preaching could be dispensed with, “but “Free Lance” greatly fears that the reality is far removed from the ideal, and it is fact that must be reckoned with. There is much reason to think that the average home does not co-operate with the Church in the promulgation of Christian precept and that the truth of the father being the family priest is largely ignored. Archbishop Averill, some years ago after a comprehensive tour of his diooese, expressed the view that so far as knowledge of the fundamentals of Christianity was concerned, many of the children in the remote corners were as pagans, and there are many others In close touoh with men and things who are folly persuaded that (His Graoe’s oomments apply to many ohildren in the larger centres. New Zealand has nominally been'-pnder tha Gospel Banner for upwards of a century, and “Free Lance," without being unduly • pessimistic, is firmly of opinion that so far from the church reducing her organisation and easing her efforts in the belief that tha field has been already won, needs to strengthen her stakes and tighten her cords for the protection of that she already holds, and, in conformity with the principle that offence is the best defence whet her sword and adjust her breastplate for an aggressive forward movement. # ■* * * All thinking people must be concerned about the convictions for theft that are recorded nowadays. Not only are the prosecutions becoming alarmingly frequent, but many of the crimes are committed by responsible officials and involve large sums. Speaking in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court the other day, Mr Wyvern Wilson drew attention to the way offences against rights of property had increased. Whereas there were less than 600 oonviotions and few allowed probation twenty years ago, last year over 1100 were imprisoned and 700 received probation. The situation becomes the more serious when one realises that the thefts are committed not by mental deficients, but by educated men and women. What can be done about the matter? Our judges and magistrates will hava to remember that in endeavouring to temper justice with mercy they must not be too lenient where offences of this nature are concerned for evidently punishment is the only lesson some can understand. This is a subject tiiat also commands the attention of teachers, parents and guai’dians who might possibly some day in the dim and distant future agree that these and other delinquencies so prevalent just now almost constitute a ease for Bible in Schools. ’•q*020232020502g20»05