NEW ZEALAND PATRIOT’S CREED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2987, 16 January 1926, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PATRIOT’S CREED.

WfITH WHICH TO START THE NEW YEAR.

In a great speech delivered by Mr Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, in Sydney on 9th November,. 1925, he recited an Australian Patriot’s Creed, which was received with loud cheers. The New Zealand people are equally patriotic with their kindred ot the great We have slightly varied the wording to suit our country and present this “patriot’s creed” as something on which to start; the New Year 1926. These lines might well be recited by our people throughout the land as a remembrance and a stimnlous. The colonising race, to which we are proud to belong, carries on the high traditions of British courage, fairness and good will, and may be glad of a patriotism that breathes fraternity, stability, progress, human welfare.

THE CREED. 1. I believe in New Zealand’s future as a great; self-governing dominion of the British Empire. 2. I believe in the policy of a “White New Zealand” and the preservation of our racial purity. 3. I believe in the rapid and progressive populating of New Zealand by men and women of the British race, in accordance with the absorption power of the nation. 4. 1 believe in Constitutional Government and democratic institutions, and the maintenance of law and order, 5. I believe in the adequate defence of New Zealand. 6. 1 believe in the standards of living we have established for our people, and desire to see them progressively advanced. 7. I believe in industrial peace, and the safe-guarding of the rights and privileges of our workers by_ the peaceful ' settlement of industrial disputes within the law. 8. I believe in sane finance, orderly development, and progressive legislation for the advancement of the social and economic conditions of our people. 9. I believe in liberty to the indL vidual citizen with due regard to the welfare of the mass.

10. I believe in amity between the Nations and the maintenance of peace founded upon security. Patriotism? Wfhat does it mean to us? In these new lands far over the sea from the Homeland from which we came either direct or by descent, there is lacking the history, traditions and associations which has made the people of the British Isles great lovers of their country. Whether they belong to. fair and beauteous Albion; bonny Scotland or dear old Ireland they never, in all their wanderings, forgot the land of their birth. Its glories were instilled into their souls in the song and story they heard from childhood. Every natural object whether of mountain, plain, lake, river or streamlet held for them sweet memories which endeared their country to them. The city dwellers also were surrounded with the monuments of their peoples’ undying history in forms of architecture, industry and the evidences of stable yet ceaseless progress. Can substitutes be found in these new countries for the inspirations of the old? Yes! There exists in Australia and New Zealand much that evokes and must continue to inspire our people with a great love of country. New Zealand’s natural grandeur alone is enough to stimulate the passion of patriotism.

We have in addition the great gift of free British Institutions carried on to the stage of bestowing greater benefits than the people of the older lands have ever known. ,What liberty we have as a people. What high standards of general welfare we enjoy. The land in which we live was rightly named “God’s own Country,” not in disparagement of any other but solely from the love it is worthy to receive. ■ The war showed our sons were ready to die for our country; let the peace time prove we are prepared to live for it, honourably and on high altitude. God bless New Zealand.

(Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League.)