The Future of New Zealand

"New Zealanders are not aware of their lack of religion; their philosophy is a smug materialism"; "the progress of the Church in this country is impeded by our prosperity and ensuing spiritual and material softness."

The Importance of South East Asia was again stressed: "It is not impossible that in fifty years time we may be pushing rickshaws down Lambton Quay."

The average New Zealander, stressed four of the five speakers, was complacent with regard to the preservation of his liberties. Inflation represented one of the main economic problems of the country: "In order to avoid inflation, you must persuade people not to buy luxury goods, but to save their money. The cause of Inflation is overspending by the community."

Educationally, "the problem for the planners of an educational system is to harmonise the formal instruction with that fuller development of the individual which was demanded by the community in the light of its view of the nature and destiny of man. In this regard recognition must be given to the rights of parents under the natural law."

"In a welfare state such as New Zealand," ns Mr. Cotterall said, "competent observers believe that there is a danger that Slate paternalism may sap the national initiative. One task for education is to provide some apparatus for adequate criticism of aims and ideals as a guarantee of the national character."