A PLEA FOR YOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1919, Page 6

A PLEA FOR YOUTH.

MR. WILFOED'S VIEWS.

(By Wire.—Own Correspondent.)

I Wellington, Last Night. A pleo for youth was inade in the House to-day by Mr. Wilford, who said he believed the curse of this country was old age. "We don't encourage young men in the Dominion," he said. "Tba* is where I believe in the American system. The average man over sixty years of age has ftot got the initiative and the desire for work that belongs to younger men." Hon. W. H. Herries: You will have to do away with the closwfication system then.

Mr. Wilford: The classification system should be wholly altered. It is capa'ble of being improved a tremendous lot. I would retire men earlier and allow the younger men to get hold of affairs. I would allow the younger men to take over the important departments of the State. Instead of that, we have on elderly gentleman, nearing the retiring age, understudying the general manager of railways.

The Prime Minister interjected that Mr. Wilford himself was "one of "the oldest men in the House."

Mr. Wilford: Not in age. I believe there is no man over fifty years who can have the initiative he had at the age of forty. I believe the best age is from Uiirty-flve to forty years.

Mr. Nosworthy: Look at M. Clemenceau, Premier of Fronce! Mr. Wilford replied that M. Clemenceau, who is 74 years - df age, was an exception to his rule. Mr. McCallum (Wairau) championed the old men. "I refer the last speaker to the good old book," he said. "He will find that the son of Solomon had a choice he could follow, either the aged wise men or the young fools. He followed the young fools and landed himself in disaster, and the King in disaster. That is the road we shall tread if we follow the advica if the fools. •