STRENGTH IN UNITY
COUNTRY’S IMPERATIVE NEED
OBSERVATIONS ON PRESENT-DAY TRENDS.
CLASS AND PARTY STRIFE DEPLORED.
“The greatness .of this or any other country depends upon its unity, and I as one who owns no allegiance to any political party have watched with real anxiety an increasing trend towards class and party strife —an increasing unwillingness to acknowledge what is good while disapproving what is bad, an increasing tendency to debase public life by a cynical assumption that all those engaged in it act from selfish, indirect or corrupt motives,” stated Mr H. E. Evans, of Wellington, when speaking last night at the prizegiving ceremony at St. Matthew’s Collegiate School for Girls. “Much of this comes from one-sided presentation of facts, much from sheer misunderstanding of them,” said Mr Evans, “So far as women are concerned, the trouble largely comes from misunderstandings, and these grow as information proceeds from one tea-party to the next. Some of the greatest services which educated women can render to the cause of unity are to keep themselves accurately informed about public affairs; to read carefully and critically, especially to read critically all literature designed to persuade; to take every opportunity of studying history, not only the names of kings and battles and such things, but also and chiefly the political and social life of the past; to take people as you find them; to hear both sides; to take trouble to find out what both sides in a controversy really say and why they say it; and to approach all judgments which you have to form in that spirit of charity which is essentially Christian.
“And there is one other thing that will help to produce unity,” said Mr Evans. “Most of you will probably be privileged to enjoy in some degree the services of others. I am convinced that untold good can be done, in the relations between those who servV and those who are served, by the display of as much consideration and friendliness on your side as you expect of loyalty and service on the other side. I do not say that lack of consideration is a very common fault in this country, but I do say that wherever it occurs it provides one more reason for division where there might be unity. And none can more easily evoke willing service from others than those who are doing useful work themselves, whether it is voluntary work or work done for a living. I have always deplored the fact that on voluntary committeees for useful service there are not more often reserved places for really young people. I know that voluntary service by retired people is of great value because of their experience, but room should always be made for younger people to qualify for leadership in their turn. Causes which do not make provision for this are in great danger of living no longer than their older supporters.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 4
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486STRENGTH IN UNITY Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 4
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