CIVIC PRIDE WANTED

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1929, Page 7

CIVIC PRIDE WANTED

SENSE OF PROPORTION LOST. AUCKLAND, February 12. “ AVe have lost our sense of proportion when the defeat of the All Black: becomes a national calamity, when Tom Jleeney can come hero and in received as a national hero in tlie length and breadth of the land, aim when Sir Ernest Rutherford can conic and go with only a small proportion oi the people knowing anything about it.”

In an address to tlie opening sessfon of the Auckjaml Advertising Club to day, Air J. Iloldswortli, chairman ol the Auckland Electric Power Board, and a prominent figure in the civic and commercial world, strove to rouse :■ sense of citizenship in liis audience, lie quoted the words of the Apostle Paul, “ A citizen of no mean city,” and that was probably bis text. One of tlie easiest tilings in tin: world was to criticise, lie said, blit what was wanted was constructive criticism. “We are living in an age n specialisation, but we .should see to it that we do not grow up lop-sided and warped in our activities.” Willi each individual particular calling, without other interest there was danger of the city growing up with fundamental defect Hi He urged busi ness melt to take a keen and lively interest in till the affairs of the Dominion. It was possible to develop one side at the expense of others. Cecil Rhodes had this in mind when he founded his scholarships.

There was never a time when civic pride was wanted more than to-day. Civic pride had been instilled in the hearts of men from the earliest times, and Paul had confessed to it. “No doubt this is a pleasure-loving age.” he said, “ hut recreation and sport should not be. allowed to predominate to the exclusion of all else. 1 will venture to say that when the name of Tom Heeney is forgotten altogether that of Rutherford will be preserved by generations to come.” Two doctors bad committed suicide in London because they could not . face poverty. Another man could go into the ring and ifor pummelling, win or lose, gain an amount running into five figures. This showed that the sense of proportion was being lost. Civic liberty bad been gained only after centuries of toil and bloodshed, and it was not a light thing, hut though 25,000 people would go to a football match, and double that number to a race meeting, only 8000, 17 per cent of the people on the roll, would bother to vote on a proposal which had an important bearing on tlie future of tlie city.

“ There is no country in the world where ifrecdoin of speech is so great or whore it is more abused than in tlie British Empire,” he said. In Sydney he had asked why the men who had built up big businesses were not in politics, and lie was told that they had no time. These men, then, should not complain when the reins 6f Government fell into the hands- of the indolent and inefficient. Finally, Mr Hoklsworth urged his audience not to allow the spirit of the market place to dominate their plans. The community was like a bank, which could not progper if everyone took out more than be put in.