A ROTARIAN’S VIEW.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1922, Page 9

A ROTARIAN’S VIEW.

5 HOME LIFE AND HAPPINESS. t, , COMMUNITY SERVICE. At a Rotary Club luncheon party the president, Mr. A. F. Roberts, entertained his fellow-club men with a few reflections on the home-life and ; happiness. . “If we are to have good citizens in _ the future we must look to the home,” said Mr. Roberts. “Home life is a thing we don't hear so much of now- • a days as we used to do. We are al- ’ ways looking for something to excite - and amuse ius. and we’re overdoing it. 1 There are too many outside attractions, and there isn’t enough solid home training. There’s too Inuch frivolity, and it > is reacting on the younger generation. Parents cart entertain their youngsters in their own homes. If when they get to a certain age you only provide your children with decent reading and decent conditions, they won’t want to be forever flying out.” Mr. Roberts blamed the picture show for throwing the life of the community out of its proper course. “The picture show,” he said, “is the most upsetting factor. I can’t understand going to a picture show and seeing the stuff that is served up to the public. If educative material were presented in picture form it would be very useful to the young people, -and to a good many of us. Cast your minds back fifteen years. Think how many picture shows there were then and how many there are now, and ask yourselves whether the people are any happier now than they were then. I don’t think they are.” Mr. Roberts admitted he had not been to a picture shofv himself for the past five years. He thought that every man ought to take an interest in public life and give some form of service to the community. It was better to wear out than to rust out, and when one’s ordinary business life was over one should be ready to take a part in public affairs and to pursue some hobby. “Get a hobby, take an interest in public affairs.” said Mr. Roberts, “so that you will always have something, right up to your last days to occupy your mind, even when you are put on the shelf.” Mr. Roberts believes that country life affords more happiness than town life. “There are many and various forms of amusement in the towns,” he told his fellow Rotarians, “but isn’t there a lot of amusement that it’s rather straining a point to call happiness? There are many things we call enjoyment, but when we are endeavoring to enjoy ourselves aren’t we very often bored to tears ?”

The speaker condemned parents who neglected to train their daughters for usefulness in some sphere. He considered it deplorable that women who did not carry should find themselves stranded through mere lack of training for some occupation.

The Christmas spirit was Mr. Roberts’ final topic. “I am glad to say most of us get the Christmas spirit,” he siad. “It is a very delightful spirit. It puts everybody in good humor\with his neighbor. Is there any reason why this spirit should be confined to one short period of the year? If man can develop it at Christmas time he can develop it the whole year round.”