The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1919. MAKING GOOD CITIZENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1919. MAKING GOOD CITIZENS.

The excellent address delivered by Sir Robert Stout on the occasion of the breaking-up ceremony at the New Plymouth Boys' High School, was timely and appropriate. The subject of making good citizens is one upon which the Chief Justice is particularly qualified to give not only much instructive advice, but also to point out the dangers and temptations that stand in the way of good citizenship. At the outset he struck the right note by emphasising that the boys of to-day would be the rulers in the future. It may be that the majority of his youthful audience, while readjly appreciating the sage advice given by Sir Robert Stout, failed to grasp the real significance of its bearing on what is, after all, the real aim o"f education in a democratic country—the making of good citizens, in order that there may be wise and good government for the people by men who do not "think solely of self, but work for the benefit of humanity, and do all they can do to help the nation." The day may come, let us hope, when such men will be found the rule, and not the exception, in Parliament. They must, however, be first produced by a process of education and the inculcation of high ideals in their school life", and that is why so much importance attaches to the utilisation of school days as a preparation for destinies which await ,the boys in the world. It would seem that if the general principles enunciated by the Chief Justice were firmly fixed in the minds of all the scholars at our public schools, colleges and universities, the general tone of morality and usefulness would be raised to a much higher plane than at present. Without good citizens there can be »o good citizenship, and there has never been a time in the history of the world when good citizenship was so greatly needed as in the immediate future, when the forces of disruption and anarchy are striving to trample on law and order from purely selfish motives, and evil machinations are at work to* destroy the foundations of society by means of the tyranny of Sovietism gad the strike weapon, When

choosing his subject it is possible Sir Robert Stout may bare been actuated by the near approach of the general election. At any rate, his remarks were a forceful commentary on present day politics, and though the office he holds necessitates his keeping aloof from the turmoil of the political arena, so that there was no reference to pre-sent-day politics, he certainly held up a striking picture of.what the Dominion would become if our public men were fully impregnated with the true spirit of good citizenship. If the electors throughout the Dominion applied—as they should—the test of good citizenship to all the candidates now seeking a seat in Parliament, how many would pass that test? Very few. Yet, if the country is to be governed on sound, progressive and humanitarian lines, our legislators should be those—and those only—who, in addition to other necessary qualifications, are unselfish and actuated by a wholehearted desire to "work for the benefit of humanity, and do all they can to help their nation." The laen who turn their attention to the higher things of life, such as promoting the happiness and welfare of the commuaity, have neither time nor inclination for the petty bickerings of party warfare. The country needs the best men in public life, and all others should be relegated to obscurity. Reference to the Chief Justice's remarks would be incomplete without mentioning the strong appeal he put forward to the boys not to touch liquor. Speaking, as he does, from a long experience as a Judge, whereby he is constantly brought in contact with the sordid side of life, Sir Robert Stout's appeal has far greater weight, and carries with it a more complete conviction than the utterances of mere partisans. Our magistrates and judges have endless opportunities of observing the evil effects of strong drink, and the resultant misery and crime. "If," he said, "you are to succeed in life you must have that health which must form the basis of all effort you are to make in life." In other words, efficiency and good conduct must be the basis of success and happiness. The people have it in their power to put an end to the indulgence in alcohol and raise the standard of efficiency in the nation, and it is inconceivable that they will deliberately neglect their duty in this respect, thereby deferring the time when New Zealand will occupy her rightful place in the forefront of the countries distinguished for high ideals, great accomplishments, and striking examples of good citizenship.