YOUNG CITIZENS LEAGUE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4617, 24 October 1923, Page 2

YOUNG CITIZENS LEAGUE

ADDRESSES AT PAEROA. BRANCH AT KARANGAHAKE. Mr E. C. Cutten, senior S-M. of Auckland, and Mr H. Stebbing, preside jt and organiser, i esptetively, nt the Young Citizens’ league, arrived in Paeroa last Thursday afternoon <r;d were met by His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall. Tn the evening an address was given by the visitors, briefly setting out the aims and objects of the League. Mr W. H. Taylor presided, jnd apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor and councillors. He regretted that, owing to the short notice given, greater publicity of the intention to hold the i_u ting had not been given, which fact accounted for the small attendance of parents. After listening with interest to the addresses delivered by Messrs Cutten and Stebbing it was unanimously resolved that a later meeting be called at a convenient date to elect an advisory council and officers in Paeroa, with the object of forming a branch of the Young Citizens’ League, and that the chairman (Mr*W. H. Taylor) be convener. AT THE SCHOOL. At the invitation of the School Committee and headmaster Messrs Cutten and Stebbing visited the Paeroa District High School on Friday morning and addressed the scholars. The addresses were simple and impressive, and the (speakers explained to the children the great need there was for them “to promise on their honour to do their best day by day in thought, word, and deed to become true and worthy citizens.” Special reference was made to the school Roll of Honour, and the splendid record held by the school. ADDRESS TO TEACHERS. At the conclusion of the address the children were dismissed and the speakers had a heart to heart talk with the teachers and counselled them to do .their utmost to further the work of the League in their schools. CEREMONY AT KARANGAHAKE. Messrs Cutten and Stebbing, accompanied by the Mayor, the Revs. Morgan and Jefferson, and members of the Paeroa School Committee and the headmaster (Mr G. H. Taylor), journeyed to Karangahake immediately after lunch to open a branch of the League in that township. On arrival the party were received by Mr W. Morris, chairman of the School Committee, and Mr W. T. Jones, headmaster, and were conducted to the Karangahake Hall- There was a very large gathering of parents, friends, and children, who evinced the keenest interest in the proceedings. After briefly welcoming the visitors Mr Morris called bn Mr Cutten to perform the initiation ceremony.

Mr Cutten said he wanted first of all to thank the residents for the hearty welcome that! the visitprs had been accorded. In speaking of the Young Citizens’ League Mr Cutten said that he wanted it clearly understood that it had been, designed to foster the highest ideals pf manhood and womanhood, and to encourage a true reverence for God. Its policy was non-sectartan, non-political, and absolutely non-class. The object of the organisation was the development of character on broad national lines and the encouragement of the young to aspire to the ideals of good citizenship ; also to encourage closer and more systematic co-operation ■betw'eeu school teachers and others engaged m promoting the future well-being of th? young, and to increase the interest of parents and guardians in the important matter of home influence. No less than 21 girls and 22 boys were presented for initiation for membership. In addressing the candidates Mr Cutten said that one of the League’s great aim was to make a foundation for all such work by forming rolls of members in every school and getting all young people over the age of 10 years to take the promise of citizenship. The candidatejs were then asked to place their light hand oyer the left breast in token of t,heir sincerity, and after giving his or her name repeat the promise, “I promise on my honour to do my best, day by day, in thought, word and deed,’ to become a true and worthy citizen.” On this promise being given the candidates were congratulated on the step they had tak.en. Mr Cutten then explained the details of the badge which the new members were entitled to wear, and followed with an explanation of the Union Jack, and all the British Flag stood for.

Mr Stebbing in an impressive address counselled the members to live up to the promises they had made. He said he hoped that a further branch of the League would shortly be established in Paeroa, and that it would join with Karangahake in furthering the work of the league. The speaker referred to the Honours Board that he had seen in the Paeroa school that morning, and said that he was convinced that if those brave lads whose names appeared on the board could only indicate the form of tribute that they desired should be erected to their memory, instead of granite monuments ?r buildings they would Infinitely prefer that the boys and girls of to-day should step out and become true, loyal citizens. Character was the greatest of all wealth. The wealth of a nation depended on the character of its citizens, because the world must be led by the influence of ids peoples. The members of the League then .sang “Sweet and Low” to a piano accompaniment played by Miss Scott, the infant teacher, followed by the National Anthem. The Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, then explained why the Bible and mariners’ compass were adopted as the emblems of the Young Citizens’ League. Mr Cutten then asked the audience to stand with the members, and with bowed heads a brief interval bf silence was observed in memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of Righteousness and

the Peace of the World. At the conclusion of the ceremony Mr Jones thanked the president and organiser for coming from Auckland . to carry out the initiation ceremony, j and also the Mayor and visitors from Paeroa for attending. He wished :o specially thank his assistants, Misses Scott and Close, for the help siyen him in forming a branch League. Mr Jones said he felt afternoon that a new period in the history of Karangahake had begun,' and he pleaded earnestly for cooperation between parents and teachers.