ORGANISED YOUTH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 256, 26 September 1940, Page 9

ORGANISED YOUTH.

NEED IN DOMINION

APPEAL FOR ACTION

■WELLINGTON, Sept. 26

“It is a shame to see the youth of Now Zealand frittering away their time, leaning up against veranda posts, when the country is'at war,” said Mr It. H. Nimmo, the speaker at the Wellington B.ri.A. luncheon yesterday. Describing what Hitler had done for the youth of Germany, he said the Fuehrer had given a lead to the world. He had built up a marvellous organisation—lacking, however, the essential foundation of religion. Mr Nimmo appealed to the It.S.A. to launch a movement to organise the youth of New Zealand in some, such way. When he visited Germany two years ago, said Mr Nimmo, lie was the guest of the German Government. Having always taken an interest in work for youth, he took advantage of the opportunitv to see something of what Hitler had done lor the youth of Germany. He came away fired with the desire to see something similar done for the youth of New Zealand and the British Empire. It was useless, he said, to expect voluntary systems to succeed, with modern youth in this country or any country. There was only one thing for youth—compulsion. He had seen the young men of Germany between 20 and 25 years of age serving tlieucountry for six months in the year, for no pay whatsoever—and they were proud to do it. When war came, there young men were fit, trained, and ready. They went into battle with rippling muscles. The young men of New Zealand today would be the spldiers of to-morrow. Their efficiency would depend on what training and discipline they had had. He appealed to the association to start a campaign to harness the youth of the country—if not for the sake of their country, at any rate in their own interests. Since they would have to serve, let them serve efficiently. Hitler had set a lead to the rest of the world in this respect. He fell down on one thing, however. He had produced a marvellous structure, hut it lacked the cornerstone of a spiritual foundation, without which it could not succeed.