APATHY TO DUTY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 6

APATHY TO DUTY

NEW ZEALAND FAILING DARK HOUR OF EMPIRE SPORT BEFORE SERVICE ' Apathy towards community service in a time of crisis was deplored by speakers at the New Plymouth hospital last night. Emphasising the need for more recruits to the ranks of the voluntary aid detachment, Dr. C. A. Taylor, medical superintendent, said that they hcard of women giving up a week of their time to train. Yet when others were asked to serve they replied "Oh, I don't think I can do that becapse the tennis season is comirg on." "That," commented the doctor, "is a j very deplorable state of affairs. Bombings may not come to this country, but a crisis of equal urgency may arise through an epidemic. We hope not, but we must be prepared for it, nevertheless." "In This Darkest Hour." In view of what was happening elsewhere in the world to-day the apathy in New Zealand was deplorable, said Mr. P. E. Stainton. chairman of the New Plymouth Hospital Board. All possible was not being done. As a nation in this darkest hour of trial they were not rallying as they should to help. They should offer all the service they could and so allow the Dominion to give of its best. History told them that after any war there were always epidemics. They must be prepared. It was the hospital board's duty to find the buildings for the emergency, and it was the duty of voluntary aides to staff them. To begin to equip themselves for the work when the call came would only show they were living in a fool's paradise. The board was only too willing to do its part. Already epidemics had broken out in parts of Europe in the occupation of the enerhy, it was pointed out. Parallels were drawn. between what happened in 1918 and what might happen. A large percentage of the nursing staff of a hospital might go down sick and then the real need for the voluntary nursing service would make itself known at a moment's notice. But it would be too late to train individuals.

"Let's Drop Differcnccs." "I am a New Zealander born, but I feel ashamed of my country to-day," declared the Ven. Archdeacon G. H. Gavin in comparing the difference between the attitude of the people in this Dominion and in England. In England to-day, he said, the atmosphere was electric. Everybody w,as united in the common danger, there were no sectional differences. Everybody had a job to do and all, without class distinction, were working in friendly co-operation for the common good. In this Dominion, on the other hand, the people generally were dull, phlegmatic and half awake, and they were not getting that real satisfaction resulting from service for the common good. In England the fellowship of danger was bringing out the real worth of people. He did not want that same danger to come to New Zealand, the archdeacon continued, but it must be admitted it developed something great in British people. "Let us, too, sink our differences, our sectional and partv interests in New Zealand," he concluded. "Let us get together to serve the common good in this time of crisis."