GIVE YOUTH ITS CHANGE!

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1921, Page 2

GIVE YOUTH ITS CHANGE!

(By the Retiring Lord Mayor of London, Sir Edward Cooper, Bt.) The mind of Youth seems confused. Never before in the history of our country has Youth had such a glorious opportunity to show its real worth, never before has it had such chances ot advancement, to be able to work out its ambitions in every branch of industrial and social life. Yet all is not well with it, and its impatience is -easy understand. Instead of a new world, our young man found oil coming back that it was doubly hard to settle down at some trade or profession and be able to earn enough money for food and clothes to sav nothing of the excessive rentsif lie" was lucky enough to get a house or (“veil a room to live in. At every turn he has to outwit the profiteer. He finds that it is possible to live only from band to mouth. He looks around. Strikes, bouse shortage, bouse building held up, food excessively dear, shocking waste everywhere the real saviours of the nation, weary and heartbroken, begging leave to live.

In his dilemma he receives plenty of advice, red-tape, / and remedies—on paper. . Can we wonder that our Youth as impatient and fast becoming the ready prev of extremists of all classes? Herein lies the greatest danger to the State—the alienation of Youth. The cold logic of life tells it that the State had the right to use its life, if need be, for sacrifice in war; tlie same au-

thority should guarantee it the equal right to live in time of peace. This abundant youthful energy, amazingly courageous and successful in destruction, should at once, in the material interests of the country we all love so dearly, be taken into our nation al confidence and educated hi the art of construction and 'reconstruction. By using the fearless vision of Youth and giving it play and constitutional direction, wo can accomplish the tremendous task of rebuilding a new social consciousness. Those of us who, like myself, artveterans, old hands at the difficult business of this after-war world, are in patriotic duty bound to see that Youth is out to speed the making of a new world, as we ourselves can no longer hope to do. Our young men and women claim, and rightly claim, a positive voice in assuring the next generation a happier future. Educate Youth/ Take it in as a partner in the greater business of constitutional government. Show it that a new world is possible, and possible only by the ultimate triumph of the British character, by the ideals of justice, and by the equal opportunity for which it stands. Give Youth a programme upon which to work out its ends for social betterment. Better standards of life. Increased production. Rural reform. The greater development of the arts and crafts, and the bringing of beauty 'nto the life of the children. For Youth, the future is still full of hope. It needs enterprise and big thoughts, a great e nergy and a great heart, a great faith and the youthful power to win. Have faith in our boys Let them be given a chance to put 'nto daily practice the wonderful motto of our .supreme Youth, the (Prince of Woles: “Pull together.”