[Editor: This article, about the remarks of Thomas Mutch regarding Australianism, was published in The Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA), 10 May 1921.]
“Australianism.”
On the occasion of the presentation of prizes won through the Country Promotion League at Enmore, New South Wales, the Minister of Education (Mr Mutch) offered words of encouragement to the boys to go on the land.
He was applauded to the echo when he said that he proposed to re-establish the rural camp school system, by which groups of boys from each school would periodical be sent to some country centre, where they would have an opportunity of accepting the hospitality of those farmers who might be in search of suitable material for apprentices. The idea was that a fair percentage of these boys would take up practical farming later on in life.
“Ever since I have been in my present position,” added the Minister, “I have preached the gospel of Australianism. Australia is big enough and great enough for all of us. It is not possible to be happy in our own country, however, unless we know our own country. The work of the Country Promotion League is valuable as a future asset of wealth for New South Wales, and particularly for the boys who had just seen — through the pictures — what the possibilities are for them.”
Source:
The Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA), 10 May 1921, p. 4
Editor’s notes:
Mutch = Thomas Mutch (1885-1958), shearer, unionist, and politician; was a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party, and later the United Australia Party; was NSW Minister of Public Instruction (1921-1922) and Minister for Education (1925-1927)
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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