Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE, 25th, 1917. AN OUTLOOK, AND AN INVITATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE, 25th, 1917. AN OUTLOOK, AND AN INVITATION.

Since the war broke out rapid changes have taken place in public opinion on many vital questions. . The land question, the labour question, fiscal questions within and without .the Empire, Imperial and local defence, State control of industries, have all assumed different aspects, owing to the different perspective in which they are nowviewed. What tho final outcome will b 0 it is hard to say, but many and radical changes are ponding. This is a history-making epoch, and probably many old and fixed beliefs will have to go into the. melting pot, and party lines of demarcation will have to be readjusted before anything approaching finality is reached. The outstanding tenet of Liberalism that tho Government of the people must bo by the people and for the people will hold good in the future as in tho past, but just what form that Governmeut will take is not clear.

“Win the war,” is the only wutch•word now for all parties. -Every loyal British subject, every elear-tlujnking man and woman must realise that until the German menace is removed, and the. sinister influence of aggressive militarism as represented by tho Prussian military faction, is checkmated once and for all, and in the only possible way, by utter a.nd complete defeat, there can ho no world-peace. The terms of peace, when it comes, are bound to be such as will ensure to all nations, great and small, security from aggression. Then, probably, each nation will have to set its bouse in order and will have a free hand to do so. Until this timo arrives there is, and must ho, a truce to party warfare and disunion. Political parties later on will have to bo re-cast and new problems will have to ho faced and grappled with in a new way.

It is safe to assume that tho iw» governments of tho world wilj be, in the main. Democratic au<3 Liberal. But it is not possible to go further, or even to definitely defines what the new Democracy and, Liberalism may--1 moan. In the British Empire at present wo have a Democratic form of Government —in some parts moro thoroughly than in others—and therefore know that democratic control is practicable with a monarchy. In other nations democracy will bio more likely to tako the form of republicanisr. Liberalism, too, aa we know jt, covers a wide field and elsewher 0 its equivalent may be known by other names. Thbro will still remain the more prigyessive and tho more Conservative, sections in all communities. Party Government in its wider sense is not likely to cease for many generations to I come. There will still ho people with 1 views differing materially as to what is. practicable and expedient, even as to what is right and what is wrong. It is impossible while the’nations of tine earth hav 6 to seek after truth and wisdom, and happiness and security, that this can be avoided. The spirit of enquiry and investigation will probably' be found aotive in all the* nations when the vital issue which u 1

now being triqd Cut on the blood-j stained fields of Europe has been decided —let us hope for all time. The conditions throughout the, world have been unsatisfactory from tim e immemorial, and during the past few years it has been realised by many that either radical changes would have to be made, or an upheaval of soin# kind was imminent, gome of us, perhaps, living under favourable conditions in parts of the world removeu from the throbbing heart of industrial activity, and the bitter struggle for existonce which hither.'o lias been inseparably connected with it, may not have realised th© position. But evidences of world-wide discontent wero constantly being brought to our notice, and we aro now learning that the condition of every section of tho community must ro-aefc-in some form on the community as a' whole. We now know that no unhealthy economic or social conditions must remain if the- units of ( our Empire are to combine to form a ; powerful, united, happy and prosperous nation. Many great and vital questions are now being asked, and will have to b 0 answered, and the solution if many perplexing problems found.

We would like to se e , freely discussed in our columns any of the political, industrial and economic questions which are now faeng tho worm. Amongst our readers we know are many with widely divergent views. A temperato statement of their opinions will always b© welcomed, and they can rely on courteous, fair and impartial treatment, Wo would be particularly pleased to receive contributions from those who are in touch with, or have studied industrial and economic matters. We do not wj.,.1 to encourage any acrimonious newspaper controversies, which too often degenerate into personalities. But we do want to se 0 big questions broadly and thoughtfully discussed with all toleration ,for tho viewpoints of each. Tho fact that the “Guardian” has for many years supported, aitd still supports the New Zealand Liberal Party, th 0 Party which Sir George Grey, Mr Bailanco, Mr. Seddou, and Sir Joseph Ward have led, will not, we trust, detw those who may not have seen eye 'to eye with this Party, from freely expressing their views through these columns. This is no time for Party bickerings and jealousies, and it woum b© well if they were never revived. The Party leaders, have given a good example in this, and tho aim and object of every well-wisher of this country, and the Empire of which it forms part, should, at present, he identical. Tho first object must, bo the successful termination of the war, and after that the free, impartial and candid discussion of all vital questions affecting the future welfare of the peopt, and the prosperity of the country.