THE BATTLE OF LIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1915, Page 6

THE BATTLE OF LIFE.

PREPARING BOYS AND GIRLS,

MINISTER OF EDUCATION'S ADVICE. While visiting the Inglewood school and the Stratford District HigU School on Friday, the Minister for Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) gave at each institution a splendid address to the pupils. Speaking at Inglewood, Mr. Hanan told the pupils that in the world there were lifters and leaners—persons who achieved something and those who were content to accept things as they were and to benefit by what others had done, without making anything themselves. Boys and girls should learn to be selfreliant, to do things for themselves, and not to rely on the help and advice of others. Addressing the pupils at the Strattord Technical School Mr. Hanan impressed upon the pupils tliat they were learning something which would be useful tn them in after life, for the tr.sn who succeeded in the world were the men who had properly equipped themselves. When things were bad in the world and there was no work, it was the men who had no trade or profession who suffered. Boys should set out to equip themselves, not only for times of prosperity, but also for bad times. There were many boys who went in for work which led thera nowhere, and consequently when they went out in the world they had no trades to carry about with them. "You boys here are doing better work than some boys at some High Schools,' "added the Minister, "and it would be better if some High School boys were here. In the years to come you will be glad that you came here. Some boys and girls do not think of the future of life, and they are sorry afterwards for not having done so."

Later Mr. Hanan addressed all the pupils of the District High School at Stratford. He said that a number of boys and girls might think there was (no use in attending school, but some day they would realise why they went to" school and would be glad they had done so. There were men and women in New Zealand and in all parts of the : world who had not had the opportunity of going to school, and the boys and ' girls of to-day were blessed with the education which enabled them to better play theii part in the battle of life. Men's minds and the knowledge which men had was what differentiated them. Some men had more knowledge than .others and so they could do things much better than those other people with less. Knowledge was power; there was no doubt about that. The pupils were there to be trained so that they might gather . information that would assist to develop their brains. "I want to urge upon those senior pupils who will be leaving school at the end of this year to keep up their work and to maintain their mental improvement," continued the Minister. "Don't loaf about the streets in the evenings, don't idle away your time, but employ all of it to the best purposes for improving your mind. It is the mind which constitutes the standard of men and women. You may be strong in body, but you would be no use unless you were also strong in mind. If you develop your minds it will enable you to increase your success in life. Then there is the important matter of character. It is no matter how clever you may be if you have not a good character. It is character that matters most. National greatness depends upon the national character. While you arc developing your minds here you must also see that you develop your characters, because character counts most. I know boys and girls who have been clever at school, but because they have not looked after their characters they i arc now in reformatories, because they have not done what js right—they have stolen or they have lied. A boy or girl might steal or lie, thinking that he or she would not be found out, but depend upon it, you will be found out; if not at once, then later. To ensure succes in life, work. There is no short road to success; you will only get there by hard, concentrated work." Continuing, the Minister inpressed upon the children that while they were improving their minds they should be careful not to neglect their bodies. Unless people were strong and healthy they could not expect to do their work well. If they did not treat their lives properly they could not get the best results. They should cultivate manliness and womanliness. If girls did not live good lives they would have a bad influence in the lives of men, for a good wife helped a man to be good. Above everything, boys and girls should develop their minds, their bodies, and their characters, and so grow up to be good and clever men and women and make the world better.