"CITIZENSHIP."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16252, 1 July 1918, Page 2

"CITIZENSHIP."

ADDRESS BY THE MAYOR.

T'nero was a good attendance at tlie Workers' Educational Association, on Saturday, when the Mayor (Sir H. Holland) delivered an address on citizenship. The chair was taken by Mr H. F. Herbert. ' Mr Holland, after -promising to support tho work of the Association by every meansrin his power, said that citizenship was a subjoct which was very hard to define in set and definite terms. His dictionary did nob help him in the matter, for it merely said, "Citizenship—the state of being a citizen; the"freodom of a city.' 1 Possibly they could get at the matter better by taking tho negative. Good citizenship was not represented by the individual who lived wholly to himself, and who hoarded up everything ho obtained, even if he obtained his goods by honest mean 3. It was not represented by the hermit, livo ho ever so pious a life. Nor was it found in tho man who accepted all the advantages of art, science, literature, liberty, ami justice, and gave nothing in return. Citizenship was patriotism in the very highest degree, and it was to citizenship that wo owod the state of safety, comfort, and which we enjoyed to-day. The' good citizen would obey the laws and his main policy would bo to leave of his country, even if ho did not approve of somo of them; he would be truthful and honest in all his dealings, aand his main policy would be to leave the world better than he iound it. The speaker congratulated the city of Christchurch on having had many good citizens, as was evidenced by the numerous organisations formed by citizens for tho benefit of mankind, and tho moral and social uplifting of society. The noble work of Nurse Maude was a case in point—(applause)—and organisations like the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A., tho Salvation Army, the Hyman Marks Trust, and tho bequests of tho late Sir John Hall, Mrs Townend, the Rhodes family, and the Chalmers Ward, were all examples of good citizenship on its highost plane. Evory true citizen would be loyal to his home, his city, and his country. The speaker ■went on to deal with , the co-operativo nature of municipal work, and tho necessity and importance of it where people were congregated together in large numbers. He described the activities of the City Council, and its work for the benefit of the citizens generally. True citizenship, in fine, involved sacrifice, and every person who laid claim to bo a citizen should be prepared to make the sacrifices necessary for tho mutual good of all.

A member of the audience stated that ho thought it would be a very good idea if the city provided a guide or social secretary, whoso duty it would bo to take the children of the schools round and explain the various activities of their city. . As matters now were, hundreds grew up knowing little or nothing of the place they resided in. Mr Jfl. J. Howard said that, if all tho citizens realised that tho city was really a co-operative concern, in which they wore shareholders, it would obviate a lot of tho by-law making now necessary. He believed that it would be an excellent thing if children ' were allowed to have seeds and seedlings from the Domains and Gardens, so that they could grow them in their own gardens. Mr J. B. Struthers advocated the provision by the municipality of public bowling greens. The Mayor said he was sure the Domain Boaixl would give se£l3 to anyone who applied for them. With regard to the bowling green, ho could sn.F that - the Domain Board contemplated the establishing of a public tennis court, but_ it took some 'lime to come to a decision. A very hearty vote of thanks was then unanimously passed to tho speaker for his address.