THE CIVIC SPIRIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1922, Page 5

THE CIVIC SPIRIT.

AN APPEAL TC YOUNG MEN.

NEW PLYMOUTH’S ADVANTAGES.

“In New Plymouth the young men are not taking their share in the public work,” declared Mir. T. C. List (president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce) in an address to commerce student* last evening. “How many of them do you find occupying seats on the hundred and one public and semi-pub-lic bodies of the town? Very, very, few. They seem to think that such, work i* no concern of theirs, and <they leave it to others. This is a wrong .. attitude. It is not that they have insufficient time. They have it in plenty.” The fact is they have not the inclination.

Mr. List went on to appeal to young men who have had the advantage of better education and training than the majority, to take a more live and active interest in the affairs of the town. “You should remember. ’ he said, ‘ that, you enjoy great advantages and privileges a* the result of the industry, providence and sacrifice of your forefathers, and it i* your duty to protect and promote these advantages for the benefit of those around you and of those who follow you. Consider for a moment what we in New Plymouth,owe to the founders and builders of Taranaki. These far-seeing, broad-minded men built not for the present, but for the future. They laid out New Plymouth not as a village but as a place destined one day to become an important, thriving city. They provided, it with rural and urban reserves to help in building a harbor to deal with overseas vessels that they recognised even in those days would some day be required. They sot aside the most picturesque spot* for parks, sports grounds and breathing places. They provided for the educational needs of a city. They preserved for the people for all time the bush-clad mountain and range*, as well as beauty spots all over lhe province. No town or district has been better or more faithfully served by its first settlers than New Plymouth and Taranaki. “Their work should be an inspiration for us as it is a lesson to us to do our part and to make the town and the community better for our presence here.

‘T would urge you to make it a personal matter.” 'Mr. List concluded. “Do your part, and do it thoroughly and enthusiastically. Because the other man is not sharing in the work for the promotion of the interests of the town, that is no reason why yon should hold back. You owe it to yourself and you owe it to your fellows. Show the right public spirit, and you need have no fear of the future of the town, of the province and of New Zealand.”