SALT OF THE EARTH

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 10

SALT OF THE EARTH

TKIBTJTE TO- PIONEERS

A WAKEFIELD MEMORIAL

A line tribute to the courage and resource of the early' pioneers was made by His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General (Lord Bledisloe) in 1 the course of his address at the Early Settlers' gathering yesterday' to mavk Dominion Day.

"This is Dominion Day, upon which, you are (very properly) celebrating the twenty-third anniversary of the elevation of this country to tho status of a Dominion, thus ranking New for all time with Canada,' Australia, and South Africa among the ' major 'plantations' or great oversea 'settlements of the British Empire," said' His" Excellency. "No day could more appropriately be chosen for your association's own anniversary, which tends to remind us all of another great-land-mark in the history of this country, when ninety years ago its first organised land settlement took place and. British sovereignty was declared. . "The chairman (Professor Wilson) has made appreciative reference to Edward Gibbon AVakefield, and I should, like cordially to endorse his 'eulogium. Wakefield undoubtedly had his youthful foibles and'weaknesses, which none ,of us can approve, but he was a really 'great man, who did more than-anyone !in history to strengthen the foundations lof tho British Empire, particularly as (regards the quality of its British settlers. '

''A litting memorial has yet to bs erected in New Zealand to this farsighted pioneer, and mo one has moie fully deserved it.

"New Zealand can claim, above all other parts of the -Empire, to have had its human foundation stone well and truly laid. ,: < ..■■ .■ ■ .■... ■

"ULTRA-BRITISH COMMUNITY."

"The early settlers were the salt of the earth of New, Zealand —the sound rock upon which this virile ultraBritish community.-was built up. They had ' their difficulties —amongst others, Native hostility to their claims, an unsympathetic Home Government, insecure land titles, formidable obstacle* of Native bush, unfordable water courses, lack of labour, lack of domestic conveniences, and lack ..of transport facilities. But their indomitable pluck, their ■ resourcefulness, their patience, and their perseverance enabled them to overcome them: They were men (and women) of cultivated tastes, of self-reliance, and of religious convictions. ■ They carried their. courage iv one hand and the Bible in the other. In building up their fortunes they built up their own character and that of the infant colony. What is going ,to be the fnturo of the edifice of which they laid the foundations? ' It enjoys now Dominion status. Is it fully justifying that status? Is the building, as i* rises, proving worthy of the solid and secure foundations laid by the pioneers* Let us hope so. Tim© alono will showIt has exceptional phyr'eal vigour, gooi educational facilities, | cat -undeveloped natural resources, a climate whit* favours the uninterrupted growth of plants and animals, and many men- and women of public spirit, a high sense of honour, great human sympathy, an# unbounded generosity.

QUALITIES NEEDED TOB TUTITE^.

"■What, as it seems to me,.it needs if--much to-day as ever in the past is -the indomitable' spirit of. the early, settlers, with their self-reliance, their resource-' fulness, and their ; trust .in.. God. Thes# attributes, coupled .with,the advantaged which freedom from local, /warfare,; modern transport, and other facilities 'and modern science now afford, are capable of making New . Zealand ; : preeminent among the nations , of ~thf British Empire, whether viewed from «l human o*r an industrial standpoint. Bui without them, her future will remain uncertain.- At least the early settlers have -done their part—a great and worthy part —for their country. . It is up to posterity to imitate their virtues, grateful for their having' blazed the trail and prepared for them so rich a heritage." . ■ ■ ■ ■ ' •