IDEALS FOR A NATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4039, 9 January 1930, Page 4

IDEALS FOR A NATION

NEW ZEALAND’S FUTURE. G OVERNOR -GENERAL’S VISION. EMPIRE AND ITS HERITAGE. Visions of Now Zealand as lie and Lady Alice Pergnsson had striven to help make i>t were spoken of ;bv the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fcrgusson, when responding to the (presentation of the. citizens’ address in the Town Hall at Auckland on Saturday evening. “What is ithe function of a Go-vernor-General and of the wife who inspires him?” the Governor-Gen-eral asked. “I take it that, put in ■broad and general language, his function is, if possible, to strengthen the ties which hind the Dominion to the Mother Country and the Empire. (Applause). 1 suppose that these ties consist, in the first; place, of the sense of pride of race, the sense of common interest in a common heritage, the history and traditions of our country, and the mutual love, understanding and sympathy which must surely exist among people springing from the same stock. That, primarily, is the tie which hinds us. Hut surely more than that, and in these days of more importance, there is the tie of loyalty, of love and devotion, which unites the Crown and .the people. (Applause), IDEALS OF CITIZENSHIP.

“In considering how we should fulfil what, we took to he our duty in frying to strengthen those ties we dreamed 'dreams and wo saw visions. The first vision was of a coutnry where the children are trained and grow up to realise the characteristics and the virtues by which their forefathers built up this icountry for them; characteristics of grit and endurance, courage and determination and selfsacrifice. A country where children should grow up to realise- that onlyjljy.-drfty and service, in love for their fellow men, can true happiness for themselves be found, or prosperity and contentment for a people. A country where the children should understand that a firm religious faith is the only true foundation on which a fife can .be lived or by which a nation can achieve greatness. (Applause). “Another vision: A vision of n. country where parents realise that theire is nothing in the world that can take the place of early home training and home iullnenee; Unit it is in ithe early days in the home that the child’s character is formed; that it is the iullnenee of the In,me and (lie recollection of the early days at home which will keep their children straight throughout their lives. ■ Therefore, the parents .should recognise that the responsibility of the destiny of their children, and the destiny of the nation lies upon them, and the way in ■which they realise that responsibility.

“Another vision: Of a country where the people of the community irrespective of class or weed or political faith, should mix freely together, and so by .knowledge and 'understanding of each other there should !hc evolved that love and sympathy und helpful co-operation which will drive out all bitterness, rancour, jealousy and suspicion—those things which poison the life of a community.

LOYALTY TO THE EMPIRE. •‘Again a vision: Of a country in which, to borrow a phrase recently used at Home, the statesmen and the people should ho more 'concerned with the qualify of their loyally 'to the Empire as a whole than with questions of the equality of their status with the Mother Country and their - sister Dominions.

“And, lastly, a vision of New Zealand of the future: A country where the people are determined to he true to the traditions of their forefathers, to aooep't and bo proud of the glory of the heritage handed down to them; but, at the same time, realise the responsibility such a heritage entails. A people who will spare -no sacrifice in carrying out the duty laid upon them of transmitting that wonderful heritage to their children and their children’s children, embellished and nndefiled. " A New Zealand which shall bo al peace, men recognising that only by co-operation and love and sympathy can they be a happy and contented people. .A New Zealand which shall pride itself on keeping alive the traditions of love, loyalty and devotion to what has been handed down to them —that wonderful Empire typified bv His Majesty the King as its head. (Applause).

“These were some of the ideals and visions which we had, T think, before us and toward which our activities were directed. They may be unpractical, idealistic, but, if anything 1 wo have said or done lots i contributed in any way to the realisation of those ideals, then perhaps our time here has not been altogether wasted.”