Graduation Address

"Hope of Improving Times Held Out by G.P. Burchill In Address to U.N.B. '34 Class" The Daily Gleaner (17 May 1934). (UA Case 67, Box 1)

I desire at the outset to extend my very high appreciation of the honour which has been done me by the Chancellor in inviting me to address the Graduating Class of 1934, an honour which I wish to acknowledge on behalf of my Class of 1910 and that distinguished section of it in particular – The Foresters – the first Forestry Graduates of the University.

I must confess that I approach the task with certain misgivings as to my ability to perform it. When I think of the gentlemen of distinction, men of eminence in the various professions – who have performed this [ ] on similar occasions in the past and the high standards they have set. I feel very unworthy. And again, the outlook on world affairs is so uncertain. Man as reformer is at present holding an inquest over every institution and system of our civilization – political, commercial, social and even religious. On the continent of Europe, where a few years ago millions of lives were sacrificed in a cause which had as its aim to make the world safe for Democracy, nations are now being governed by an autocracy or a dictator. In Germany, Hitler is said to have more power in his little finger than the Kaiser had in his mailed fist, and Italy is about to abolish her parliament entirely and substitute therefore a chamber of Corporations, even on this continent in the great republic of the south – the "Land of the Free" the old order has given way to more or less centralized control – the creation of the "Brain Trust" which governs by means of hieroglyphics such as NRA, NERA, OWA, RFC, FHH, FCH, CCC, FVA, and others which I do not recall. In view of these tremendous developments and the instability and uncertainty, I submit the task of giving advice an extremely difficult one and I think under the circumstances I am justified in asking the indulgence of my audience.

Leaders Are Educated

There can be no doubt, however, that the radical changes which are now taking place as I have indicated, have set up certain questionings in your minds as they must to any thoughtful young mean or woman who is interested in present day affairs, and while I do not propose to discuss them at any length here, I would like to remind you that these developments are not altogether new, but that England, for instance, has faced similar movements in her history but that in every such occasion her people were led through to safe and solid ground by educated men and again there is one other thing I would have you remember. You and I share a wonderful heritage in the Maritime Provinces in the type of citizenship which as been handed down to us by our forefather in our ideals and customs. We have sprung from a race which underwent privation and hardships and every possible discouragement and which by sheer "Sitckativeness" as Mr. Baldwin describes it, produced sons and daughters who have and are occupying prominent positions in every walk of life all over the North American Continent. Theodore Roosevelt, one of the great Presidents of the United States once declared "God Almighty hates a Quitter," and I believe it was that spirit of indomitable pluck more than anything else that made successful sons of the Maritimes Provinces. I should like to add that the spirit and example of my forefathers has been an inspiration to me on many days of discouragement during he past few years and for my own part, I prefer the story of the struggle and conquest of the United Empire Loyalists to the cellophane wrapped ideas of the modern trend.

Duty to University

I want to say a word now as from one graduate to another about our University. For over one hundred years these halls have been turning out men and women who in time have become the leaders of the religious, professional, commercial life of our Province and indeed of Canada. The University has made a great contribution to the Province, but it is capable of making a much greater contribution, only however a it receives the support of its friends and graduates. In 1897, a move was made in the local legislature to withdraw the grant to the University which at that time amounted to $8,840 on the plea that the money should be diverted to agricultural training. On the day the resolution was to be debated, friend of the University flocked to the house: the students filled the galleries and too great was public opinion aroused against the proposal, that the resolution was withdrawn. Today, as then U.N.B. needs the support of public opinion and you can help by using your influence in your respective community to arouse and foster a favourable atmosphere towards your Alma Mater which in turns reflects upon the powers of government. Join the Alumnae and the Alumni and maintain active connection with the University through these Societies. As funds become available, there are many directions in which the University’s work can be developed. I believe that the Forestry Department can become the right hand of the Department of Lands and Mines in the conservation and administration of the Crown Timber Lands of New Brunswick, which has an asset her of great potential value, and those charged with its administration will be obliged more and more to rely upon scientific methods of management. The day is not far hence when every Forest Ranger will be obliged to have a knowledge of scientific forestry, while this official on the other hand must acquire a practical knowledge of the commercial utilization of our forest product. Again, in research work, there is a big field in the Maritimes, were the funds available. Somebody defined research as the science of discovering what people will use after they are done using what they are using today. I recall a meeting in Toronto a few years ago, of the Maritime Provinces Commission which was created for the purpose of making contacts between the Maritimes and Ontario. Our Maritime friends in Toronto discussed with us the need of research work in the Maritimes, and I was very much impressed with the possibilities of research.

Conditions Improving

I suppose the big question facing every college graduate today is a job I cannot tell you just now where you are going to get one, but I do bring you this assurance, that business is definitely improving and that before long I feel confident there will be [ enings] for you all. It is a time however, when we must not lose our heads, for the patient has been very sick – in fact, grievously so, and the period of convalescence will be a trying one; and when you do get to work do not be discouraged if success does not come to you all at once. I like the story of the successful business man who returned to the scene of his boy-school days at the closing exercises and saw upon the blackboard, the following Latin inscription:

"Labr omnia vincit"

being translated means, "Work conquers everything." They story goes on to say that the gentlemen walked to the black-board and erased the Latin inscription and instead wrote: "Never mind the elevator, take the stairs." When you are going to do, I cannot suggest, but I often wonder if some of us are not apt to look too hard at far away fields and overlook a chance right beside us. In 1910, the gold en opportunities of the West were on everybody’s lips and only a fool thought of staying in the Maritimes. After 24 years, the West is not so alluring. Recent figures just released from the Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa bring us this news: That the first quarter of 1934 shows tan improvement in employment in Quebec of 17.9 per cent, in Ontario of 23.2 per cent and in the Maritimes of 29.4 per cent while the figures from the West are not so encouraging, which goes to say that the Maritimes are improving faster than any section of Canada I heard a citizen of this Province explain a few years ago that our Maritime Universities were nothing more or less than export factories for the brains of the Maritime Provinces, and while that may be somewhat wide of the mark, I do believe that we have allowed others to come in here and see opportunities in our natural resources which we ourselves should be developing. The industrial era of the last 10 years has brought the large corporation of New Brunswick as else where, and with it, administrative control from an outside centre; and while we welcome foreign capital to our Province, our industrial development must be of a character which will make for the welfare, true prosperity of all classes of our population as well as the Province itself. One tendency the large corporation system is developing and that is general desire to decline responsibility or in the street parlance to "pass the buck," and one of the difficulties one finds today is to secure men who are willing to undertake responsibility.

Forward

But wherever you go or whatever you do bring with you those qualities of character which will make for good citizens and which will build a strong national type. Great problems are ahead of us in this Canada of ours, but we have immense resources and a great country. We have learned much from the experience of the past years which we will use in building anew. Fresh from college with the advantages of your four years at University, your privileges are great. Let [us] [ i ] [up] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [the] spirit of that stirring message which the illustrious [Foch] sent to Marshal [Joffre] at the Battle of the Marne: "My left is broken – my right is retreating- I will advance with my centre."