LOST ARTICLES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4927, 18 January 1926, Page 4

LOST ARTICLES.

REWARDS EXPECTED. A WRONG VIEW. Time was —and not so Long ago when people finding lost articles gladly handed them back without expecting fee or reward. Nowadays most finders look for a reward as, 'their inherent right, and, if it is not forthcoming, complain of ,the meanness of the owners. Hence there appears from time to time paragraphs in the Press relating to the value of lost articles n,nd the extent of the reward given. This 1 condition of mind is but anothei symptom—small, of course, in its way —of the moral deterioration -that has happened since 1914 1 . The really honest person should, under no circumstances, accept .a reward for restoring to its rightful owner any article which lie has had. the good fortune to pick up. He should be glad of the opportunity of performing .this small service, for he never knows the time when lie, too, may haye the misfortune to lege something. The mistaken notion prevails in many quarters, however, that - lost goods belpjng to the finder, who requires a quid p'i’b quo, or some recognition, for returning them-

The law, of course, takes no such view l , and rightly holds that .the flndei should not even retain articles until they are advertised for, but hand them over to the authorities immediately. It seems that school teachers might with advantage take every opportunity of inculcating in scholars their duty in connection with this matter, and thus- do something' to correct the wrong idea that unfortunately is all too often thoughtlessly instilled in their minds by their parents that they have a right to a reward for finding anything. To let children grow up to expect rewards for doing what is manifestly right is, inflicting upon them a. grave injustice and inclining their minds in an undesirable direction. Children should, on the contrary, be taught the duty of giving, of helping and serving others, rather than of expecting rewards for everything they do. Then in the fulness of time we might expect a healthier and improved outlook of mind in this and other respects.