THE YOUTH MOVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1933, Page 10

THE YOUTH MOVEMENT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Every man, fired by. patriotism —love of country, is prepared, nay! eager, to endure all hardships, to make all sacrifices even to the supreme sacrifice, in times of war. In 1915 New Zealand called and the youth of New Zealand answered. "They were young, straight of limb. True of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe." La*e of country! A fundamental urge that apparently is not fashionable in peace time. In war time we are prepared to make huge sacrifices for our country: in peace time we are not prepared to make little sacrifices —even to save ourselves. ■•'■.-■'■ .'■... Our elders can think only of economic policies. What use are they when the national morale is rotten. . Classes, sections are allegedly striving for the common aim, yet are fighting each, other ceaselessly and strenuously disagreeing on everything. While all the time New Zealand slips back. Love' of country! It would rise superior to sectional squabbles were it strong enough—but it ie not. We know, some of us, what our diggers went through for New Zealand. To those that ■ died, ■ magnificent and costly monuments were raised, commemorating the sublimity of their love o£ country. "We will remember them!" Are we hypocrites or merely gloriously, illogical? New Zealand is calling us now. Does the call leave us unmoved? ; Here is youth's opportunity. Youthits spirit—its idealism—is needed, vitally necessary. We only can'show the way. Let,us kindle the fire of.patriotism. Let us make it into^a roaring blaze, that will burn up evei^ obstacle in its path. Difficulties will1 disappear. The house divided against itself will be united . once more and we will be, not employers nor workers, townies nor cockies, but, men and women of New Zealand. Each #ne's aim is the,common aim, the common aim is each one's aim. Let us place New Zealand first. . . "Breathes there the man with soul so dead, " ; ' • ' ' Who never to himself .hath said, 'This is my own, my native land.' " We are, etc., K. C. ANDERSON, B. J. BARNAO, Organisers for the "Youth Movement."