CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 April 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

BREAKING IN NEW COUNTRY.

There is no more interesting sight than the settlement and subjugation of new districts. It ia the battle of strong men against the crudest forces of nature. Man wins always—some go down in tin* fight it is true some turn away m despair, but always their places are taken by others, eager for the fray, and the grim persistence cohquers. It would be a serious matter for our race and a very serious matter for New Zealand if we had not among us those daring spirits who can face the hardships of the. ba,ck blocks. There would bo no progress made if every man sought for the comfort and convenience of towns ami every woman persisted in demanding her full share of city pleasures. The towns cannot exist without the country, and when progress ceases in the country the towns become paralysed. There must be something of the old warrior blood in these back blocks pioneers, something which makes them find a joy in daring and doing. It is certainly not all a matter of personal gain, because the same labor and energy put into city occupations would generally win greater financial iewards than the back blocks give, it is not because these men or women lack the intellectual cajiacity which is supposed to be essential to success in towns because the back blocks pioneer has usually more brains and much more imagination than the average town-worker.— Auckland Herald.