WHAT WE SHOULD AIM AT!

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1917, Page 6

WHAT WE SHOULD AIM AT!

To the Editor. Sir,—Tt is a reflection upon our population when it comes about that societies have to be formed to encourage men and women to serve; or that the idea of service to the community has- to be brought home to the individual by the use of the sledgehammer War! A proper conception of patriotism would obviate that, but when patriotism is gauged from the standpoint of £ s. d. there's, little wonder that real patriotism is nonexistent. At the present time in New Zealand there is just one big scramble for money; all, including the churches, are obsessed with the one idea—money! - After 1900 odd years of Christianity, and advancing education we have the horrible business of blood letting and its accompanying devastation. We must, now, and in our time, make a radical! change and not wait for the educations of the young amongst us at presentj How can we, hide-bound in ideas cjff progress, lay the foundation of improVe| meiit for coming generations if not accept or put into'practice method# that will cast out the evil spirit of sSel-v fishness? Tf we do' not show in otujl selves an alteration and trifnt to fi(|| vance education in the near future t<f| bring about a betterment of condition we are only fostering the very spirit-ny| should cast out. We must take hold <|()J ourselves and review our opinions o«f many subjects affecting our political iitfi and a revision of present laws must M the outcome. The basis of the whot| fabric is the ownership of land. Froii| that the whole building of Empire waiS started .and the result that should be| apparent to all is that from the stand-* point of 'happiness, contentment, etc.,' of the human race the foundation was laid on a rotten level. The writer Froude says;—'' There are but three way* by which men can live—by begging, by stealing, by working." Anyone convei sant with the ownership of land in Great Britain should be aible to testify as to tlifl ability of the population to'live by working, and we in New Zealand just a little over a million (it ought to be twenty times more), are fitting ourselves for tiie same boots. Who will deny the contention of Henry George:—"The equal right of all men to the use of land is as clear as their equal right to breathe t.lie air—it is a right proclaimed by the fa-ct of their existence. For we cannot suppose that some have a right to be in this world and others no right. If we are all hero by the equal permission of the Creator we are all here with an equal right to all that Nature impartially offers." I have heard many persons voice opinions to the effect that education only tends to make people clamor for the lure and advantage of city life, and observation shows that to a great extent the contention -holds good and it also shows that country-bred boys and girls unable to get proper advantages on the laud also drift to the towns thus adding to the over number of lion-producer class. Surely any sane person can see such is detrimental to the progress of our country—-the same old state of Britain. By an alteration in our land ownership in one hit the questions asked by Prof. Hunter (i.e.,

"How can these aims, ends, or ideals best be obtained?") can be answered, as 'being the sole pivot of all other questions their settlement hinges on it. It may seem a large order, Mr. Reader,.but as a man and as a parent who deairfs his children to enjoy the world he helped them to and who deems it his.duty to try and leave this world somewhat better than he found it, will youifjist old prejudices aside and take up the cudgels for a new order of things that will rejuvenate the British race and"] bring happiness and contentment to the world? Will you be able to say with Lloyd George:—"Never again shall we allow the irresponsibles and elacquej'S of the. nations to stamp war as an inevitable event on the minds of our pebple. Never again shall we spend on beer than on education; never kgain shall we be guilty of the unpardonable si:i of wasting millions on the luxuries of the flesh and grudging hundreds on the necessities of the mind. Never again shall we be found devoting pounds to our own dead selves and denying, pence for the salvation of the souls Qf our children. Never again." If we. will not accept a revision of the basis; or, if we 'will not accept the land ownership business as that basis, then remember -this: That all other efforts are simply the trimming o f the branches of a tree whose roots are getting stronger, and stronger and which will beat the prunbr in the long run, the inevitable result being a repetition of present war conditions. Is that what, we ask increased population for? Is it for that the mothers, present and future, are asked to '•Save the Babies"'? Jf you will not make the alteration it will not 'be, as Prof. Hunter asks, "Education or Downfall"? 'lt will be "Education or Extinction!"— I am, etc., , . JOE. B. SIMPSON. Durham Road. 1