MAKERS OF STATE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1931, Page 7

MAKERS OF STATE

DUTIES OF THE SCHOOLS. LORD BLEDISLOE’S ADVICE. WELLINGTON. March 30. The part lln. 1 schools and colleges ol the Dominion must play to help New Zealand tread the path of progress was stressed by the Governor-General in an address on Saturday to the scholars of the Hutt Valley High School and parents. He urged people to think more of their duties to God and to their neighbours and less about their rights, to grasp their opportunities and not to waste time. “New Zealand,’’ said his Excellency, “stands at the crossroads—at the parting of the ways. Is she going to march forwards with strong confident tread along the path of progress, or is she going to sink back--unequal to the intense pressure of world competition into the morass of world's failures? The answer to this question is to he sought in the schools and colleges of this Dominion. Tt is above all her secondary schools which will determine her future destiny, for they it is which are responsible nowadays not merely for developing the character hut for building the moral and intellectual structure of most of those who will occupy hereafter positions of responsibility in the State, on local bodies, in the professions, and in various branches of trade and industry.

“A Joyous Experience,”

“Tin's ortunitry will always need warm, sympathetic hearts which draw their Inspiration for service from theij* religious faith and ideals, hut its educated classes will also require* clear beads, sound judgment, and accurate up-to-date knowledge if they mean to play their part in the ordered progress i the good government, and the industrial development of this land of opportunity and immense natural resources and advantages.

“ ‘Carpo (li(*in. ! Grasp your opportunities -jHid never waste time,” continued 1 1 is Exeelloiioy. “A. conWy's stability and a country's future prospects can lie largely gauged by tlie cheerful industry of its working population, and by tlie manner in which its more educated classes spend their leisure. Life should ho a joyous experience. If if is not so, it is often the fault of the individual and not of his or her surroundings, it can only be so il we make tlie most of tlie talents with winch God lias endowed ns, with humility and perseverance, look to the bright side of things, and put our duly to God and our duty to our neighbour before all other considerations. How much we hear about people’s rights and how little about their duties.” Putting Duty First. .Men and Women who first settled in this country and built up its prosperity put duty first and took an honest pride in hard honest work, said his Excellency. Were we bettor than our fathers, were our rulers wiser, were our people, with all their educational advantages, displaying more knowledge and more wisdom in their various avocations? His Excellency did not know whether wo wore better than our forefathers in the things lie had stressed, but lie hoped that we were. “Boys and girls,’ svd Lord Blodisloe, “do right and face the consequences, If I were asked how your characters were built up the answer 1 would give is, ‘Be prepared under all conditions to do right and face tlie consequences. Let your ballot-box he your conscience.’ 'l’llere is no better motto for a good man or woman than, “They say. What say they/ Lot them snv.’ I leave that- with vou.”