CIVIC PRIDE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1923, Page 4

CIVIC PRIDE.

AND THE DUTY OF SOCIAL SERVICEWELLINGTON, May 25. Speaking to members cf the < “V” Luncheon Club yesterday on the i subject of “Civic Pride,” Air G. Alit- i chell urged his hearers to cultivate i the spirit of social service. ’The Mayor (Air R. A. Wright, ALP.), who pre- | ; sided, said in his introductory remarks that it was time AVellingtonians spoke ' highly of their city when visitors from abroad so constantly praised it. Aucklanders. he reminded his audience, were not in the habit of keeping the beauties and merits of their city a secret. Mr Mitchell said that the Creator, in conferring gifts upon men. meant that they should use these gifts, not for their own benefit alone, but foi the benefit of their neighbours. The man who lived for self alone was not fulfilling the duties that the Creator had imposed. AYhcre societies and organisations for social service were few, the burdens were always borne by the same small band of men. It v,as c,esirable that a community should have manv organised bodies within it in order that the work of guarding and festering the public interests should be fairly distributed. A man should aim at leaving behind him a legacy of public service to which his sou cctild point wilh pride, for such n legacy was liner than gold. The man best endowed had the heaviest obligations to serve his fellows. The citizens should consider what lie could do to beautify his surroundings, to imp-rove the homos of all and to make c-c.sditions better for those who would conic altei. Ihe coudilii ns tolerated in one period would he legarded as intolerable in a sol sequent age. Ihe citizen s duty was to do what he could to expedite the march of progress, t nfortunately. too few were found battling for the improvement of roads and railways, for the provision of lecreational areas, and the amelioration of the condition ol ' life generally. Those who were not actively working, fir progress should at least resolve to abstain from criticis- ' mg the efforts of the test. (Loud ap- ' phui.se.) It was possible for all to give social service in some lorm. 'set large and iniliiencial bodies alone picserved the public welfare. The small bodies that supported them were capable of achieving much. The life of a public man was arduous. He himself had not been present at 1 a public entertainment for three years . ami for the past lour weeks, except iit Sunday nights, he had not once [ been at bis home before 10.20 p.m. , ||e had felt it to be bis duty to pc-r- ---, form what public service l’e was capable of. and lac would Olic day go to i his giavo feeling that ii he had i'ail- . ed, he Inn! failed in trying to do gold. • (Apple.--.-. 1 lie Wits | leased l- see that I lie City (ciineil hud embarked upon a "good loads" policy. In addition to better

road-. Wellington mignl look lorwaul now to n new railway station. He legal-led il a. -cincthnig -ol a cninei- <! in-.- Hint no ilit* first evening of his chiiii man-hip of lie- llarhi.ur Hoard lie should have had Lo open the 1-ell- (!••!■- fir i In- 'I hm luhii -ea-wall a woil: I:.- had Icon trying to hasten as the preliminary to the construction ol the in" si.itnm. The rills that were ahum Wellington must be pierced so j that tlie people of the suburbs should ! have easy access to their home-. They i would not always be content to hold | :>n to a si rap for half an Hour, - r j t hree-qnartei scf an hour each evening. | Mr Mitchell appealed to his hearers j to devote their talents, whether they j had few - r many, to the service ol j their fellows. They should all do wind | they could for their city, it was their j duty to ] ress lor the coiisl.nicticn ol | the big works that would he. ol porj inaiouit advantage. Ihe lice's ol the ; future should never he ignored. Iho I fmvl’ntltc!"- of the inv.-mii citizens ol

V.idlingtmi W'tdd ucwr have made so small a tunnel at Jlataitai had they real Fed how the population, was destined (o grow, and the transport requirements increase. A\ i-Minglon hrd great advantages. It was healthy, it was favoured with milch sunshine, and it was a great centre cf trade and commerce. There was much to K' proud it. and it was the duty el V.el-lingtau-e.ns to foster their civic pride, end express it wherever they might ( Vpi'lause.)