WHAT FOOLS WE WERE!

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1917, Page 2

WHAT FOOLS WE WERE!

Mr Johu Hoage Minister for Libour, at the British Workers’ National League, said ; “ We must fight Ibis war to a finish for the benefit of posterity, nc matter how great the sacrifices may be, for I am convinced th’fc the only way to secure lasting peace is to fight to the end. (Cheers.) I pm one of those silly people who went to Germany on a peace miasioD. (Laughter.) In 1910 and 1912 there was great talk of war. You know that the German Emperor was then rattling the scabbard and jangling the sword and acting the part of a swash-buckler. Everybody waa uneasy, and it was tfiought desirable that we should send a peace mission to Germany. I almost think when I lock back npon those peace missions that were an ftwftil set of . You can supply tha word yourselves.” (Laughter,)

“What silly fools we have been. The German Socialists could have prevented the war, but they were imbued with the same ideas as the Emperor. 1 hope we realise tha meaning of all this peace gaff. Toe Germans are Buffeting from sore feet now. Cheers). If Garmtns had been wise. * aad had simply carried on their industrial war, we should have been played out in tho next twenty years. Previous to the war, like the silly beggars we were, we thought Free Trade meant the prevention of war, and that so long as we had the ■ open door Germany would not risk the loss of her < trade by indulging in war. We wanted cheap commodities, but I thiuk the war has dropped the scales from our oycc. Once we were blind ; now' we see. Three million tone of steel-, were comiDg into tha country from Germany. lam having that leakage-, stopped now,»and Inm go : ng to havano more German Bteol in this country" whilst there is an idle' furnace here,How silly we were in the past to havean open door as against a closed door. We are beginning to realise the true inwardness of things”