THE COMMON INTEREST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 290, 27 August 1918, Page 3

THE COMMON INTEREST

"It is apparent that an intelligent citizenship, quick to appreciate its responsibilities, willing to make sacrifices for tho common good and capable of a high degree of organisation, makes for the power and security of the nation. Tho mechanic in a shipyard who comprehends the relation of his work at this time to the nation's task, and gives full time and ungrudging effort, is a more valuable citizen than ono who takes a day bit' each week because his wages are good enough to permit it, or who limits his clay's work on tho theory that he is doing enough for his employer. And so the iiirmir who produces good crops is a more useful citizen than the farmer who produces poor crops, and the person who avoids wasto I and extravagance is a better citizen than one who spends freely in personal indulgence, possibly iu the belief that he is liberal and benevolent in doing so."

"The principle is the same in timo of peace as in timo of war, and if people will respond to tlie common interest in time of war by working faithfully and zealously at whatever they havo to do, why should they not do aO after the war, when they understand that the level of living conditions for tho entire community may bt- raised thereby? A new interest'is given to ovory individual's work when it is seen to be related to the common welfare, and a- new- interest attnehos to thrift and economy, capital accumulations, and the growth of great industry when the general results are understood. The war, by its unusual demands, has laid bare these relationships, and tho result should be, on the one !i:r,rl, J a keener interest on th<* part of the community in developing the capacity and usefulness of every individual, and, on tho other hand, a reciprocal interest on the part of each individual in doing his part in the great organised scheme of industry."—"American Banking Eecord."