THE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2683, 15 January 1924, Page 4

THE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM.

NEW ZEALAND’S WONDERFUL

BOUNTY. Recenly we read a speech by Sir Robert Stout on patriotism delivered in Invercargill in 1917. The Chief Justice opened by referring to the area, climate, resources, people and institutions of . his adopted country, New Zealand. His utterance carried with it something of the fervour that a true Scot expresses when speaking of bonnie Scotland. Truly avc have every reason to love this little land of ours, for New Zealand is in many ways a great and beautiful country. Hoav very fortunate Ave are avlio live in it, is, Ave fear, but poorly recognised. The recent holidays was another blessing to many in enabling them to see something more of their home territory. We cannot know or appreciate NeAv Zealand by living only in its cities any more than Ave can know Auckland or Wellington in vieAving merely Queen Street, or Willis Street. It is the country, the natural scenery, the mountains, rivers, lakes and fiords that breed is us a love for the land Ave live in As a part of the education of our children it would be well if arrangements could he made lo transport them, in holiday time, to view the beautiful bush reserves, regions of thermal activity, magnificent lakes, sounds and beaches. The children in the mass should be privileged to come more in touch with the natural splendour of the country that is theirs. As a consequence of thus coming closer to nature they would he likely to grow up in a healthier faith than is engendered in the cities Avhere they come in contact too often AA'itli a flash Amerieaiq.cynicism altogether too much in evidence amongst us to-day. Our country is a home of bounteous good things which may he spoken of many times over so that (he spirit of patriotism, Avhicli our people have, may he kept ever aflame.

Let us look at this beautiful NeAv Zealand. We call it: “little” yet in area it is equal to England, Wales, Scotland and half of Ireland combined. If we take the countries of Belgium, Roumania, Switzerland, and Serbia, the area of New Zealand exceeds the total area of all these four nations. The contrast is in population, for Avhereas these four countries had, before the Avar, a population of about tAventy millions, New Zealand had, roughly, only one. It is in all that makes life desirable that New Zealand excels. Its equable climate, ample sunshine and open spaces make for health. Its death rate is 9.51 per thousand, whilst Australia’s is 12.8 and England 14.4. Geographically Ave are more favourably situated than most parts of Europe. We have a climate of eternal spring on all our seaboards, and almost all Europe has a more severe winter than any part of New Zealand. What variety also is found within our borders, from the Southern Alps to the tropics of the north country. Invercargill is about the same latitude as Lausane in Switzerland. Wellington the same as Barcelona in Spain; Christchurch about the same as Marseilles; Auckland as Cadiz in Spain and Half Moon Bay about, the same as Paris. Our Alpine scenery is equalled only in Switzerland and of our thermal regions of Rotorua ancl Taupo there is nothing equal to .such in any country. Not merely in respect to natural wonders is New Zealand favoured; it has large level and fertile agricultural and pastoral lands; rich mineral deposits; stretches of beautiful forests and swift floAving, broad rivers for poAver production. Our export trade per capita is the highest of any country in the world. Since the inception of refrigeration in 1880, almost as much frozen lamb and mutton was sent to Great Britain as from the rest of the Avorld combined. Here then is New Zealand, rich in natural beauty, power and resource, rich in a healthy people of British decent, rich in our free institutions, education and the exercise of self-government, both local and national. Under the British'flag, we are proud of this little land —ours by birth or adoption. Let the grouchers take a hack seat. oiirs to love and advance New Zealand and to make it one of the brightest gems in the crown of our British Empire; To fight its enemies both without and within and to give forth the best that is in ns, thus may we cultivate the spirit of true patriotism for (lie general welfare of all.

(Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League),