Hokitika Guardian & Evening star SATURDAY, MARCH 10 1917 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening star SATURDAY, MARCH 10 1917 THE WEEK.

The war is storied with gallant deeds which shows that the greatest traditions of the past can at least be equalled. The British have some cherished simple lines in which the loss of the Birkenhead, a troopship, oft the Home coast, is told in a graphic, stirring manner. That story is now equalled to the full in the loss of a French transport, the account of which is just to hand. The Athos carried colored troops, but, as has been so often demonstrated in this and other wars, the color line disappears when courage is called for. No race could have done finer than did the Senegalese troops who lined up on the deck of the sinking vessel, and, with presented arms, went to their death with the courage of- true soldiers. The halo of the hero surely crowns each man of that disciplined company. No les3 superb was the courage of the captain and crew of the Shark, the little British warship which went under in the thickest of the Jutland fighting. The legless commander died happy in the thought that his sinking craft still flew the ensign, while the decimated crew worked the only remaining gun against fearful odds. In both instances justly proud sailors, at the risk of their own lives, saved the bodies of the dead captains. Suoh stories as these show that the human race, even in the midst of this dreadful and maddest of wars, has characteristics which will count in the end for the redemption of all that seems so bad just now. Mr Lloyd George’s speech on Home Rule seems to have been frank and generous to a degree, and it seems, looking to all the circumstances, difficult to understand the Nationalist attitude on the development. If ever a statesman fearlessly analysed the position, and has openly laid the strength and weakness of the Home Rule question bare, it was surely done by the trusted British Prime Minister. He offered Ireland Home Rule at once, with Ulster excluded, and invited a conference of Irishmen to settle the details. There a gigantic

olive branch was held out, hut the overtures were rejected in a manner quite unseemly. In the months past Mr Lloyd George has probed the Home Rule question very deeply, and as an impartial critic bent on doing a fair thing to all concerned, a fairer adjudicator could not be obtained. His suggestion seemed to open a way to secure all Ireland for Home Rule, In framing the details the Home Rule party had but to show generosity and wisdom in framing their constitution, and with the way left open it seems not at all improbable, as Mr Lloyd George suggested, that Ulster would come in without being forced. It is a thousand pities this way to an amicable settlement was not pursued. The ordeal of winning the war must take precedence of all domestic legislation, and Irelaud was lucky to have her affairs so fully discussed. The pity of it all is that such a golden opportunity to pave the way to a final complete settlement was not followed up without allowing temper to control the situation. The way of the war continues along methodical lines. In the Far East the British Mesopotamian force and the Russian Caucasian army are accounting for the Turks in one theatre, while in another the British force from Egypt are pushing slowly

into Asia Minor across the Sinai Peninsula. The Balkan theatres are wonderfully tranquil, and even the great long line of the Eastern front in Russia is not unduly disturbed. On the Italian front thei’e is news of activities and the promise of big things, but it is in the Western front where the main issues promise to be decided. The fact that the British front has been extended again,- and now takes in the whole of the Somme front, is suggestive of Britain being fully prepared. The relief this will be to the French Army will be very great, and gives an added security to the position at Verdun, where the enemy had a temporary success within the last few days. On the high seas the enemy raiders and submarines are still taking toll, but the Mistress of the Seas is busier than ever checkmaking the ruthless foe. The United States still stands shivering on the brink of war, and the hesitancy is all to the discredit of the nation, which, recognising as it does the full and true issues of the war, prefers still to stand aloof and not play the part which a great Englishspeaking nation should when fair play and justice demand action. / The political plight of Australia grows worse confounded week by week, Since the failure of the referendum appeal on the conscription question matters political have been much disturbed and entirely uncertain. Premier Hughes’ party which stood firm on the ’‘yes” vole became ostracised from the Labor party proper, which voted “ no” with marked solidarity. Since then-Mr Hughes has faced the Federal Parliament in a hopeless minority. Next arose the question of representation at the Importer Conference which the events of the war hud hurried to an earlier sitting than was ever dreamt of. To'eneuie that Australia “ will be there,” it became necessary to create a

Natiooal Ministry, and the negotiations for that end were in train for some weeks, Mr Cook, the leader of the Liberals,, showed a disposition to join at his own price, but Mr Tudor for the recalcitrant Laboritos, would not be seen in the same Cabinet room as Mr Hughes and his followers ! Hence it was to save the situation that Mr Cook became the prodominant partner in the new Ministry, But the latter was still without a majority io the Senate, and from this fact has arisen charges and counter charges of bribery which are to be ventilated in the court?. It is at this stage that Federal finanoe is shown to be very much muddled, while the political turn of events prevents Australia being represented at the Conference. Instead thorn is to be a heated general i lection in which even the seat of Mr Hughes will be in doubt. The two candidates together in the Hawkes Bay contest this week polled only a few yotes more than did Dr McNab in person at the head of the pcol in 1914. On that, occasion Dr McNab (Lib&ral) registered 4217 votes and Mr H. M. Campbell (Reform) 4,177, while there weie 100 informal votes, or 8,494 votes in all. Now with a roll utiergth of 8,478 Sir John Findlay and Mr Simson both Liberals, recorded about 4,800 There has been a large leakage some .vhere, and it would appear on iha face of if, that Reform has not trouble ! very greatly about the result. Under the compact while the war last* the seat was to go to a Liberal, and respecting this agreement, Reform stood out of the contest, and let the Liberals disrupt among themselves. It wou’d appear that the nominal leader of the Liberal Party W, D. S MacDonald did his best to secure tbs victory for Sir John Findlay in the interest of the National Government, bat it does not appear that any Minister on the Reform side attempted to exercise any personal interest with his following tci win the seat for the stronger and ruore useful man iu this time of national crisis. However, all’s well that ends well. The country has Sir John Findlay’s bnlliant services at call and he will be a useful man in Parliament at any juncture, He has breadth depth, and height, and backed by bis wide aud intimate experience

and knowledge of political problems, should prove a brilliant M.P. It is gratifying to learn that something is likely to come out of the suggestion to give a motor connection between Jackson and Hokitika for the days that the railway service doss not provide the through connection. On lookiug into the service it has been food to be quite practicable, and it is gathered that the Automobile Association purposes giving a demonstration of the feasibility of the service ; further, a local firm is said to be prepared to undeitake the service, and is now making its arrangements. On Thursday of this week about a dozen passengers from Chrirtchurch to Hokitika had to spend the night in Greymontb, where also the mails had to rest. If the motor service were installed the passeogers and mails could be tended in Hokitika at the same time as the train from Otira arrives in Groymcmth. As a matter of fact the Postal Depart* ment is now being approached to ascertain wbat subsidy it will grant a motor service from Jackson to Hokitika via Kumera which would land the letter and loose papers mail at Kumara at 5.45 and at Hokitika at 6.45 on the Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and take out a similar mail ou Saturday mornings from Hokitika to Jackson, leaving hero at 8.15 o’clock in the morning. This appears to be

quite within the range of poFS ? h :, itie?, and if it comes to pass the receot agitations for improved connection for the Hokitika district will nob have been in vain.