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Trends Of The Times.

The rapid developments taking place in New Zealand at present are indicative of the trend of the times in most parts of the world.

New Zealand has two distinct advantages in dealing with the demands of the new age. The first is its extremely high proportion of British stock composing the poportion (in the vicinity of 94 per cent.), and the second is the high general standard of education. From the former, New Zealanders gain a common outlook or standard conception of first principles. From the latter they derive a poise which is not easily upset by the march of events.

The average New Zealander is not scared readily. because he understands most things—and what he does not understand he dismisses as unimportant. And he cannot he stampeded by emotionalism because his heritage of British doggedness does not encourage that sort of thing.

New Zealand is thus well fortified to pass through the changes demanded by modern conditions, without either breaking away on the “down” grades or losing steam on the “up.”

This steadiness of national character has enabled the country to “keep its head” through all the changing fortunes of nearly a hundred years of British settlement, and stays with us now, as all prepare for the forward movement on every front which the signs of the times portend.

What are these modern tendencies? Fairer trade, higher standards of life, greater social services, better understanding in business relations, more good cheer, healthier living, less personal acquisitiveness, and more altruistic aims.

These are some of the trends of the times which have only to be mentioned to gain a chorus of agreement.

How the desired results are to be achieved is the only count upon which opinions could differ. Some profess to see a lion in the path, and would prefer to go round the corner and over the fence. Others, who have the daring to face the supposed lion, often find it to be only a puppy dog—and frequently friendly, at that. Some would go over the mountain, some round it and some through it; but provided the objective is a common one, the ultimate result will be the same whichever route is taken. If happiness lies at the end of the road then all is well—but those who take the best route will reach it first.

New Zealand is undergoing a great national stocktaking, and the stock-sheets show that we are well equipped to develop every one of the assets with which nature has endowed the country-production for local consumption and overseas trade, local mamifacture on a scale never hitherto envisaged, and a development of tourist traffic that is profitable in itself and that leads the way, through a greater spread of personal knowledge regarding the Dominion, towards the increased settlement for which the country is eminently suited. The Railways, as special features in this issue of the Magazine indicate, are well prepared to play their part in any developments that the years have in store.