NEW ZEALAND’S NEED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND’S NEED

SOLID, STABLE POPULATION ADVICE TO DOMINION'S SONS WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. “I have come back with a feeling that this country has to establish itself with a solid and stable population," said Mr. Justice Smith in addressing the "Father and Son" luncheon held by the Wellington Rotary Club. Mr. Justice Smith said it was rather in trepidation that one set out to address one's sons in these modern times. The relationship of father and son suggested the idea of continuity, the carrying on of the torch of life. There should be a stable community in which our sons were going to live. In the words of General Smutz, "Mankind has struck its tent and is on the march again."

The speaker went on to relate the impressions he had received on a recent world tour. He had made it a practice to observe the physical standard of the people in the streets of the different countries he had visited, and he placed the young people of the United States of America first for physical fitness and the young German men second. The Americans had a great advantage in ./• ( i

possessing tropical fruits from Bermuda in profusion, and perhaps the system of feeding accounted for the superiority of the young Americans. How the young German men attained such a standard ot physical fitness he did not know. “New Zealanders are not the finest physical specimens to-day,” Mr. Justice Smith proceeded. Perhaps there was a deficiency of mineral content in the water in this country, but when New Zealand’s sons grew up they could find out where the trouble lay and put things right. New Zealand had had a system of education which had served its purpose for many years, but parents in the Dominion to-day were bringing up their sons under the new system of education. This provided that boys learnt what they wanted to learn and did what they wanted to do. It might be asked if the present system trained boys to do a distasteful job. “We want our boys to grow up to do the work they don’t like," the speaker continued. “ 'Too much work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,’’’ but too much play makes JacK a deficient boy in the battle of life. Honesty, integrity and the rendering of service are traits New Zealand’s sons should aim at. We want our boys to hold to the ideals of life that really matter. We want them to excel at whatever work they take up, and to also render some unpaid service t» the community.”