The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 3. YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8147, 3 July 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 3. YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.

The new House of Represeatutives has more young New Zealanders in it than nny previous House. Why is this ? Is it because this country is beginning to feel a national spirit growing in its breast, apart from the mere Imperialism that is supposed to be the dearest possession of a Briton? A young country is always, or should be alwftyc, vigorous. The old men who rule the destinies of a young country need not; necessarily be suffering from mental decay, but it is reasonable than men who nr# born or bred in the country have its interests more at heart than the interests of any other part of the world, and this is one of the reasons why the people should be glad that politics is attracting the native born and bred young men. # # • * No disparagement is intended of the "grave and reverend seigneiurs" from afar, whose age has seemed to be their qualification, but, all things considered, it is quite likely the native born New Zealander is a better New Zealander than the man who has to unlearn so many things when he gets to this or any other colony. The cry of "New Zealand for the New Zealanders " is, of course, a mere absurdity, but the demand that whenever it is possible for a young colonial to take a responsible position in preference to an outsider is perfectly reasonable. For a young nation to take its advice from outsiders may be all right, but it is at least an acknowledgement of inferiority or laziness—and New Zealanders are neither inferior nor lazy. The native-born way of doing things is the best way for New Zealand. * * * *

The experience of things gained on the spot is better than the booklearnt knowledge. It is better for a New Zealander to travel abroad in search of information to fit him for the conduct of a New Zealand industry, for instance, than for the expert to be imported, and to learn local conditions when he gets here. It would be better for New Zealand to have a Parliament composed of native born or bred men, than for it to have a Parliament of equal brain power, but from other lands. An intense patriotism cannot l.e felt by the person who hasn't been born or bred in the country he is patriotic to, and that patriotism cannot be transplanted is very obvious, where every big city has Hibernian, Scottish, St. George, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and many other kinds of societies. It is right and proper for members of such societies to remain loyal to the country, or even coun'y they come from, but one dosen't ex;c't the colonial sons of these pe >ple to do the samp, any more than one experts them to speak the dulec's. We are iglad to see young New Zeiilmdors .vetting into Parliament, and hope that when othei's oiler themselves in the future (providing they are capable) tliuy may win. The days are going past when one must bo a sexegenarian in order to get the confidence of the people. It is also to be. Imped that tho day will soon be past when being a New Zealander is a handicap for big positions in one's own country.