NEW ZEALAND’S FUTURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1419, 3 July 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND’S FUTURE.

DUTY OF RISING GENERATION TO THE EMPIRE. The Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence and Education) delivered an eloquent address on the relations of education and patriotism at the opening of a school at Wellington this week. “The children of the school will understand me,” be said, “when I say this : any statesman who looks into the future must realise that the present war is only of to-day—-the war between the nations will continue in the years to come. You little children are growing up, are developing into men and women, and you will constitute the nation that is to come. What is to be the future of New Zealand ? We have settled in this fair land with all the experience of the Motherland behind us. We have occasionally grappled successfully with the evils that those born in the Old Country have been faced with. But we have also had our failures. “In your hands lies the future of New Zealand. When this horrible war is over, shall we have learned the lesson that must inevitably come from the trial and conflict of to-day ? If the future is to be what we hope for, there must be a deep religious conviction at the bottom of our life. There must be a solid conviction in each child that he is going to set himself the task of equipping himself for the solution of the great problems of the future. We must bring up a healthy, sound, vigorous, religious nation, and the physical perfection must be begun among the children here. We have done something iu New Zealand to provide for the physical perfection of our children and for the medical inspection of our schools. But the system will be made more perfect. I have high ideals on the subject of physical training. The late Director of Physical Education had the same that underlying the physical training, and the discipline that goes with it, is a moral purpose that will bring about far higher results, thatwill make the children not only healthy and vigorous physically, but healthy and vigorous iu miud and morals. I am certain that you children will come to the conclusion that your special mission iu this country is to fit yourself for the glorious work of Empire building. The foundations have been laid for us, but it is for you to carry on the work, and we look forward to a progress that will develop us mentally, physically and morally, in every possible direction, so that we may lead the natious. “Is that task 100 great for New Zealand ? Already we are In the foreiront In the promotion of reforms, for which God will bless us, . . We believe it our duty to see this war through to the end, and to see that there is proclaimed a lasting peace that shall leave the nations the opportunity to develop as they think right. God willing, we are solemnly determined to keep possession of our country. I believe we are a strong, virile, just race. The war will not have been in vain if after this time of purging and of trial we come out a stronger cation.” (Applause.)