The Dominion SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1921. THE NEED OF A NEW OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 101, 22 January 1921, Page 6

The Dominion SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1921. THE NEED OF A NEW OUTLOOK

Although the anniversary of the foundation of Wellington has an established place in the list of general holidays, there is a somewhat widespread and growing tendency to ignore its original significance, and to place it on the same footing as any other holiday. To-day, as usual, a full list of holiday attractions competes for the attention of people on pleasure bent, but in the arrangements as a whole there is little that is calculated to bring out the meaning of Anniversary Day and give it the place it ought to take in the life of the community. On strictly practical as _ well as sentimental grounds, this is a very regrettable state of affairs. It is only made possible by . the fact that the people of Wellington are somewhat' seriously- deficient in the civic virtues which would induce them to take an active interest' and pride in the development of their city. The failure to make Anniversary Day all that it should be. as a noteworthy annual occasion in the life of the city is in keeping witji the general neglect of affairs which concern and ought to interest the city population as a whole. It is sometimes said, with truth., that there is very little parochialism in Wellington, and no well-wisher of the city desires to see any narrow spirit of this kind cultivated. An avoidance of parochialism,, however, should not imply insensibility to the claims of community life. Indeed, it may be argued that such insensibility is only possible in the case of self-centred people whose outlook is as narrow,- in -its way. as that of the most parochially inclined community which ever regarded its own particular location as the hub of the universe. Their friendliest critic is bound to admit that the people of Wellington are unwisely apathetic in regard to all sorts of affairs which affect them as a community, and that in this respect they have much to learn from the people of other cities and towns of the Dominion in which the ' community spirit is actively fostered. There are times when it would almost appear that the regular inhabitants of our Empire City regard it with no warmer feelings than those to whom it is merely a port of call or passage. The prevailing spirit of indifference accounts for the fact that the publicspirited efforts of' bodies like the Progress League too often languish for lack of support, and that Wellington in some respects is making slower progress than other Dominion cities. The' Progress League and other organisations which are working for the advancement of the city will take the shortest route to their objective if they devote a considerable part of their efforts to awakening the wholesome spirit of civic patriotism which for the time being is largely dormant in Wellington. These organisations are already doing excellent work, but a far better backing of public opiniort than they now command is essential to their full success. The rank and file of the community must be induced to take a far keener interest than they do now in community affairs before a policy, of progress can make unimpeded headway. An annual carnival at this time of the year suggests itself as one means of combining holiday enjoyment with, the development of a communal spirit. Organised on such lines, as to interest and attract all sections of the population, and with its proceeds devoted to such objects as the improvement of . reserves, a carnival week centering on Anniversary Dav might do not a little to stimulate popular interest in the progress and improvement of the city. The experience of other centres of population in the Dominion certainly

justifies an experiment of this kind in Wellington. A carnival to an exceptional degree brings The people of a city into friendly, contact, and gives them common interests. It, of course, affords great scope for friendly co-operation. Anniversary Day would bo very worthilj' celebrated as the principal day of a carnival organised by the community. with an eye not only to entertainment, but to encouraging good teamwork in making the city a pleasanter place to live in.