Adaptability Of Average New Zealander

Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1949, Page 5

Adaptability Of Average New Zealander

Press As'soeiation ) .

(Per

NAPIER, Dec. 13. Amazemenl at- the adaptability of the average New Zealander to turn his hand to any kind of jjpb was expressed by DivL A.v.GprdMjiM.'A., viGe-chan-cellor of the NeW Zealand University, in his add'ress at" th'e- Hastings Higli Sehool prize-giving cer'effiOny. He acld ed that in this c'onfident aMlity there' was a dangef of making' one inclined to loo'k " do'wu the nos'e" at the real ex p'ert. " Post-primary - sehoofs throughout New Zealand are doing a great job in fitting children- for the job oi' living — a job which to my mind falh into two parts, botlr of which are equally impof tdnf paffs," said Dr. Gordon. "The fl'rst of these two parts is that iri the next moiith or year most of Vou will face gomg into employment and doing something for yourse'lves', aWay ffCfti the compara tive sheltef of yofir s'cheoi, without tuition, perhaps, possiblj' without superv'isiO'n, and mdyfie on your own responsibility. "Tlie secbnd phft, wliicli is equally important, is wliat you are going to do with y6Ur leisufe," Confinued' Dr. I Gordon. "Life is both doing a job. iand doing sometliing with your lleisure, and your sehool has done 'something to fif you for both." | The " speaker stressed tfre need for jtaekling a job witfL a deterininafion [to k-noHv something aboiit it. "L [think there is a great flea-1 of 'in[spired amateurism in New Zealand, Jargei'y due to colonial origin and the ;fact tha-t our ancestors in- tlie early ;days had to turn their hands to [everything, " he sail. | "The New Zealander is one of the frhost adaptable persons I have ever ;mef in fny life. It Srfigzes fne the why 'the average New Zealander can take I his car to' p'ieees and put it baek aghiri, ih'ow he can paint his house and raise ibis erops. I ain amafceil to" seC what' [New Zealand women can do. There seenis to be no limit to their adapt- ■ ability to do any job. | "But' in that conlidence there is a ; danger which- nutkeh-' us inciined to floolt down ou-r uoses at the' re&l esfIpert. It is a dariger which tends | to make yo-uthi fe'e 1 "ih&t the expert is | really fiot so impQitant a'ftertf all. [iRe'speCt for the expert is Something ll Which you should look forward to jsvfrhen going tfrft into alduft life. You 4 should- malk'e up your minds to b> lan expert, whefher your job is a |ihajor or mifior one, for affef all it is [more important td: kfiow how to do, [What to do, and wlien to do something .rathCr fhftn ju'st doing if," he' added. '! D¥. GofdOh -stressed Ihe need fd; spen'dihg lei-sure- -wisely,- an'd said that' if affer fhev l'dft seho'o'l,. th'e p'dpf'l'ai remembered good' vCrse", gO'Od- music, good- pief tfies1,- a-nd so on, then the sehool wsSs (f olrig an important j*ob oi e'quipping them to live.