TUAKAU.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 712, 7 March 1922, Page 8

TUAKAU.

A PLEA FOR CHARITY. TOWARDS EACH OTHER. (By “Progressus.”) The size of a place always determines the significance attached to human failings and weaknesses. It also influences the importance attributed to social standing and intensifies or reduces the jealousies and envies of competitors for priority in Jthis realm of feminine activities. Big events occur in big places and dwaif these minor matters into a correct relation in our lives ; in a small place there are no momentous happenings to speak of and the minor matters, ipso facto, become the big events. This is a natural phenomenon of the human temperanment and is recognised as invariably existing the world over; it is in this connection that the terms “narrow-minded” and “broaden the mind’’ are used as denoting the conditions consistent with continued, residence in such environment and the condition mentally consequent upon an enlarged experience of life. Many persons have a savingsense of perspective—in this wise being greatly blessed by nature. Tuakau is no worse in this respect than other towns of the same size, but even so it- is apparent to all that those blessed virtues of charity and tolerance are no: practised as they should be. The forefathers of Tuakau came from all parts of the Brit.ish Isles, and combined to produce an inflammable temperment in the present generation ; and 'the result of this is seen almost daily in disputes which seem to assume vital significance to the participants, and which continually retard and hamper movements that are for the general good. Every local resident can recollect a multiplicity of instances in support .of this contention.

Take the “New School Dispute” for example. It has resulted in two fiercely opposed forces and in the further division of ithe district into sections;,, When I received my invitation ,to( the “Opening Ceremony.,” the pleasure it gave me was submerged in the surge of thoughts here chronicled, and with regrets that the undesirable features of recrimination and bitterness should enter into a progressive movement such as the establishment of modern facilities for the education of our children.

It would be possible to fill this issue of the “Times” with statements which are immoderate and uncharitable, statements which are made openly against each other by disputants in this and other local quarrels. Every such statement means that somebody’s feelings are hurt, that the faith of people in each other is weakened just a litlile more. And what good service is performed by any of them ? Why cannot we foolish children pretend that we are grown up for a little while and stop this senseless habit of “picking on” each other ? It is a habit that has soiled every

page of history. Every chapter is a

pitiful record of g'oocl men breakingeach other’s hearts, of honest men branding each other as liars, and patriotic men accusing each other of treason. And the nett result in pro-

gress is zero. There are two firm convictions that I would like -to pass on ;to all who feel a burning moral obligation to denounce others. First—Human nature does not change. Our vision of it changes, as our mental atmosphere is one of sunshine or fog. Our babies are perfect angels one day, little demons the next.. Actually, of course, they are the same joy-loving, mischief-making youngsters. Only one day we are lested and laugh as: their pranks; and the next we are tired and scold. We get caught in a crowd and get pushed about ; we either smile or are angry. And the crowd becomes a “good-natured crowd” or a “boorish crowd” according to OUR mood. We get frcm people what we give ; we find in them what we bring ; and the changes are not changes in them so much as in ourselves. Second—the division of people into GOOD and, BA.D is an utterly senseless division.. We have such strange prejudices in this matter. We think of doctors as self-sacrificing, and of all lawyers as sharp ; we picture firemen as heroes, and land agents as devoid Qf a shred of principle. We assume that all farmers are honest, and that all speculators are thieves. I have lived amongst farmers and in cities ; I have had all kinds of friends. And. my belief is that if you could put any given million of men into a cauldron and boil thqf virtue out of them, it would weigh to an ounce exactly as much as the virtue distilled from any other million. We are all good and bad, all selfsacrificing and mean ; and almost any man, given a decent chance, would rather be honest than not. When one of the finest speeches in British history was made, one of the foremost statemen of that day wrote to another about it. Did he praise the high sentiment and fine idealism of the speech ? Not at all. HE CRITICISED THE GRAMMAR OF THE SPEAKER! In that petty spirit we -waste so many of our days, disregarding the splendid note in the lives of our fellow-men, and criticising their grammar ! Blind to their sacrifices, irritable under their little shortcomings, making the game hearderall the way just by “picking on” each other. Wherefore, fellow-citizens, the next time any public matter comes before us for consideration let everyone practise charity of thought and allow to others the right to opposite opinions and convictions to cur own. Then that influence will gradually colour all our works, and the natural result must follow of a progressive advance by all for the good,' of all' in a spirit of fellowship and. goodwill.