Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY. MAY 19 1917 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY. MAY 19 1917 THE WEEK.

Tub Irish question again looms up. It is a reflection on British statesman* ship that at a time like the present Home Bale shoald be an unsolved question, and worse still, a factor for harm to the unity of the Empire. When we remember that in September 1914, the Royal assent was given to the Home Rule bill, it seems strange that matters three years later are still drifting, and Ireland is in a state of semi-rebellion all the time. What is to be attempted now is a compromise of the 1914 settlement. There is to be the immediate establishment of an Irish Parliament in Dnblio, bat with the clean cat exclusion of Ulster from the dominion of that Parliament, Ulster will continue to be represented at Westminister, and there is to be a Grand Council composed of Dablin Parliament members and Ulster Commons to transaot all business in common between the excluded area and the remainder of Ireland, with power dirent, if the Grand Council thinks to apply any enactment of the Dublin Parliament to the excluded area. With all the great national issues besetting the Empire at th|p juncture this seems to be a petty piece of compromise after all. The political truce that has reigned over Ireland aDd the gallantry of the Irish troops throughout the war, seem to suggest greater confidence and intercommunion between the Irish peoples than this paper union provides for. The common danger and the common weal might well have brought the north and the south together and •emented a great national union wh ; ch would have been a credit to the race.

The Russian situation is probably the most canvassed aspect of the war* At this distance it is impossible to weigh the probabilities, but the possibilities are great, and essentially in favor of the enemy. Russia is so vast a country and its people so enormous, that with the disorganisation now prevailing, it seemß almost a super human impossibility to co-ordinate national foroes so that they may again be effective in the war. 'lf this be really so, then the war mast go on indefinitely. How and again there are signs of sanity in the cable news, but they are invariably discounted by subsequent news. Nothing could bo clearer or finer than General Kerensky's summary of the

position published this week, and it is at least oomferting to think th&t this officer ia likely to be Minister of War in the Russian Coalition Government now being set np. He realises the tremendous isaue before Russia, and the decision which must be made, and made quickly too. It is also satisfactory to Dote that the resignations of the Generals are not being accepted, for they will only take np their tasks again with adequate backing bshind him. Naturally the disruption and disquiet of Russia is giving the enemy renewed oouroge, and Count Hollweg’s speech this week was the utterance of a new man, speakiDg with greater confidence than ha oonld previously have summoned. The best friend the enemy have at this Juncture is Russia for thereby the enemy have escaped.being crashed between the hammer aud the anvil, for the reason that the hammer is at rest.

But amid all this doubt, danger and disturbance of plans, Britain continues faithful to her task, and pursues her course with unflinching courage. Our eoldiers are fighting with splendid valor on the western front, where they have to meet the onrush of the pick of the German army. This supreme task they are accomplishing with steady succbbs, and true to tradition, holding what they have taken. Very fine, too, this week hes been turd Robert Cecil’s pointed remarks ti the peace at any pricer?. Lord Robert is Minister of the Blockade in the National Government, and his straight from the shoulder remarks and clean out analysis of what B.itain is fighting for should satisfy the pacificists that Sheie shall be no peace which shall cot bleak the military power of the ruthless enemy. The catalogue of atrocities he • ranged against the enemy with- whom some would make peace just for peace sake, was sufficient to ostracise the enemy for all time, and BDy weakness now in giving in to those , who glory in m ght as superior to all right, would yet rue the day for their l*ok of strength and supineness displayed in the hour of crisis. Yes, Britain mast be true now as ever to htr traditions which have given her the national prt-emin-ence she enjoys. Any laxity at such a jancrure will mem her downfall, and the courageous werds of Lord Robert Cecil are the woidr of a true born Englishman.

The b : g move on tt>B part of Italy this webk is good news after the long months of halting. So, also, is the “collaring” of the submarine menace by our ever watchful navy, which has ajeo bagged another, Zeppelin during the week by way cf an extra. The appearance of an American oava! flotilla in British waters makes in'erestiDg reading, for here wa have tangible proof that our latest aud greatest ally will now be in tbs thick of the fighting doing a nation’s part with national pride. The island coast of Britain is so infested by the enemy submarines that the task of wailing and watching must be a heavy strain on our Navy, There is no: only a great seaboard to watch, bar, also a wide ocean of waters, and as in bitween are convoys to be run, and transport to be attended to, the Britirh Navy for now upwards of three years has had not a moment’s respite. Toere wi'l not he any rest now, but the acquisition to the Amer - can naval forces will help to draw the patrol work lights, to shorten the beat cf the hurrying, scurryicg craft, and to give more facilities for wider activities as occasion demand. Tb : s help will assist still farther to bunt down and out the menace of the submarine, and lead up to the day when the freedom cf the seas wiil ha again enjoyed by our merchantmen with impunity. The co-operation of the navy and the army in their respective spheres will thus contribute measurably to the victory we are all hoping for.

The Charitable Aid Board again wrestled with its difficulties this week. That matters with the Board a:e somewhat chaotic are indicated by the frequent differences of opinion among members of the s’aff as to what happened at previous meetings. The Board seems to have been very much at sixes mod sevens. It is now endeavoring to set np the O.d Peoples’ Home at Kumara, where the institution is evidently going to be of some Bubstauc*, as there are to be about 45 inmates there. Indirectly the new institution promises to be of greater material value to th 9 town, than the duly constituted hcsp'tal wa=t. Bat even so, medical atiendanca both for Kumara and Odra is going to be a costly matter, and it is Dot oleur that there is going to bs a great saving in the aggregate yet. It is at once seen what a financial burden Otira ia, and the Board should mike this plain to the Government, who, if the Board may rot close the Otira Hospital, should provide additional financial help to sustain the institution. The Board on Wednesday again incurred farther expenditure at - the Westland Hospital without waiting to see where the fauds were to come from For this institution there is a building fund and in the circumstances any expenditure for the upkeep cf the building should eome from that source aod not from the overburdened ratepayers, Either that, or holcKoyer alterations till the Minister has been here, and the Board decides definitely what coarse its administration is likely to take. Mr Clifton vacated the chair on Wednesday after doing yeoman’s service for the ratepayers. He has had to fill a very thankless task, and he has done

it much better than the average man might have done.

A meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association will be held this evening at 8 o’clock at the Club rooms. Eimu No 1 dredge washed up on Thursdav for a return of 42ozs 12dwts fer 9 days work. The Jane sailed last evening for Oknrn and Bruoe Bay. Mr W. Cnttauoe was a passeogor. The Saccos dredge washed up on Thursday for a re'urn of for the week. Tilt Military Medical Board arrived by lad evening’s train aud were engaged at the Dri.l Shed this morning examining halloed men. The Canterbury Education Board are inviting applications in this issue for a number of vacancies on the teaching staff, receivable up to 3Lst May. To-day's Guardian supplement contains a full budget of news, including in. terestins articles on “ The Russian Upheaval” and “Light W r Railways.” There was a large gathering of young folk at the juvenile dance in the Drill , ghed last evening, music being supplied by Mrs Houston, Miss Jecobs aud Mr Lawn, Mr T. Keen an having charge of the floor. The new B Hough Counoil last evening authorised the Public Works Committee to carry out one or two substantial works, including a drain in Sale Street estimated to cost £SOO. This work said Mr J. King, was one'of the mist urg’-it requirements of the -own, so as to prevent the flooding out of the residents in upper Bealey street at flood times. Members generally agreed to the urgency of the work,

Councillor Prescon hit the nail fairiy on the head last evening at the Council table. Dnnag the discussion on grazing charges for Cass Square, the question of when fees should be paid was raised, Mr Blank urging payment in advance. “ Cash on the block ” said Mr Prestou, using a well known butchers phrase of prompt payment, and this was agreed toLater when d'soussing the position of the proposed kerbing of a footpath tn I'itzherbert street, the member enlightened h's fellow members with the interjection “In front of Councillor Parkhill’s residence” there were some jocular remarks made of the attention giver, to his own locality by the CoansiHor mentioned.

The »ale of tte Mout D’or Gold Mining Cimpsny’i* properties on Wednesday n x" at 11.30 a.m., at Ros®, by Messrs W. Jbffriea and Go, will give an opportunity of securing a valuable mining property with all the necessaries for carrying on active operations on a large scale. For Influenza take Woods' GreatPepper* mint Cure, Never fails. 1/6, 2/C.

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