Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 30th, 1917. THE WEEK .

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 30th, 1917. THE WEEK .

Tuh Mesopotamian Commission came to its conclusions with more direct decision than did the Dardanelles Commission. In Mesopotamia there appears to have been sheer bungling from start t° finish, with General Townsend’s surrender. The expedition was entrusted to th 0 Indiian Government, which, being near at hand, should have exorcised nu>ro intimate amtrol wef tho advance, ’ The authorities in India appear to have been not only blind to actual position, but deaf as to the appeals of responsible officers at tho front. Officers who ventured to ask for additional assistance appear to hu* M been dragooned iu a raorcilous manner. The high officials responsible for these methods of administration should bo dealt with severely. Their inhuman action and cavalier demeanor while men were left to thoir fate calls for condign punishment- A 'responsible Commission would not havo reported in th p strong terms it has at such crisis unless the* circumstances of tho enso fully justified the strictures and tho fixing of the bln:n c upon such high officials. Before reaching the decision the officials in question would have had tho fullest opportunity of justifying their, conduct and lack of human fooling. That they have not done so, leaves tho way open for tho British Government to punish incompetence and worse with a full sons o that ' they are performing a duty to the nation’s soldiers which will havo a lasting good effect.

"Now that Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward liavo returned hope they will take the peoplo of the Dominion into their confidence, and tell us tho wholo truth about the war, and what is required of us as a nation- They should I possess the fullest details of all aspects and with that knowledge they should take their "courage in both hands, and order the policy of the country with unflinching determination. The people would willingly place themselves in the hands of the loaders if they unut-i----stood that whioh was asked of them, was for the best and to win the, war. It is useless to. go on dallying with the subject and playing at make-believe that we we winning the war, H w«? are not. Reading tlie" English files by tbe mails this .week, and studying t ,w speeches delivered by e minent soldiers, sailors, and! statesman we ate persuaded that the feeling at Home is that the present jt ft time yf greftt crisis

l t t The submarine menace is far from 1 diminishing, and the food problem in Britain is-a serious matter. These stringencies will reflect oh tho Overseas Dominions, and they, as the Motherland, should ho ordered and directed j to meet the situation so that however intense it may grow, the Empire will ' he able to weather the severe ordeal. I Frankness in dealing with the people is the. surest way if winning their confidence. Our political leaders possess a golden opportunity to order tho government of th 0 country, and so fit it and the people to holp the more certainly and comfortably to win the war. .

Thehe was a good deal of truth uuu much plain candour in the speeches at tho Town Hall on Wednesday night. It was as it were a awakening to the full sense of the real issues of the great war. All the. speakers stressed, the point of the need for each and nil t.o do their duty in this great war. Sacrifices now being made at the front must not he in vain. They have been made readily, willingly, in fact that right, may prevnil. There must ho no thought of defeat, but a clear-sighted vision of victory must he before us ever; and then with the determination to win, all things are possible. Wo are encouraged to believe all along that the deciding theatre of the war shall ho in the A\ r est. If this is so, then there is reason enough to believe that all is going well, Tho Allies have held the initiative now ever since the dark days of Verdun, arid the hammering attacks and the spirited thrusts a, » probing, their way in. It is not easy, An enemy so well organised and equiued can build itself in, and the task jo to dig the enemy out. These are the tactics of Haig. It is slow work and expensive, but it is tho only road to victory. Haig must be, kept supplied with men, guns and munitions. These nr 0 the essential things of the hour, nnd the business of war must he maintained at its grandest scale. There is no occasion for loss of courage. Tho days are darkened at times, hut retaining tin, initiative the Allies can always call the tune and the enemy must dance to t.ho music of our guns.

-Tnii 'presentation of the - six - 'o’clock closing petitions to Members of Parliament for final presentation to tho House of Representatives has been well stago managed. The various organisations which had the matter in hand have dono their work thoroughly, indicating that thoir energy and earnestness in the cause of temperance, if not prohibition, is not one jvliit diminished. Apropos of the general, question. Air Lloyd Georg,, made a recent pronouncement to a prohibiuuu deputation which is worth quotingHo was discussing State purchase as a remedy, leading up finally to complete pi ohM fion. 1f o personally wan pod, he said, the strong hand of the Sta»~ to bo there in control instead, of powerful vested inrerests which had already beaten them in the past. rr«_ ..had hoped that they would reach a .judicial conclusion, and he Was sorry ;to se© tho disputo ripening into dogma. Let them, .consider the best inethoa of attaining tho sobriety of the people. He had faced obloquy in the past, and had not got very much support. Were its advocates quite certain tun*, prohibition would improve matters. He urged temperance reformers to take inf> account the- opinion m -labour leaders. It .would b 0 madness for nny Prime Minister in tho middle of a war to put forward a proposal in direct defiance of practically tne whole of organised labour in this country. Those sentiments were expressed only two months ago, and though the question has been revived again in England it is,still being deferred for a mor e convenient occasion.

As to New Zealand the pros und cons of six o’clock closing will ho thrashed out very fully on the floor of the House. There nro some influential recruits to the army of early closing. On tho other hand coge n t argument can bo used from tho opposite .., nnd the two forces will ventilate the subject, very amply. The decision at this stago can ho acceptable only r>a something necessary to win the w-i. - Without a fresh public appeal, except on tho whole general question, Parliament must take into account tho nublie veto of nearly t hree years a• ' That indicated that the country desired to leave things fts they were, an l in that sons o of comparative securityhi sinoss was ordered according'? La it year as it compromise to the early ■ hs'ng mjvemcnl, untnsl outing vn* resolved- upon, -That was supposed to rnec-t the case, but there tire now those who still a«k for liioro restriction still.. The curtailment of individual liberty is ft dangerous thing. Restrictive legislation in ordinary life js more or less irksome, and is resonieu. In the present instance it is not clear that universal early closing for the hotels is going t<> he very helpful to win the war. Th 6 restriction will bo primarily of great inconvenience to tlm travelling public who will he mulcted in further charges to keep tho public placed up to the usual standard of accommodation. And the consumption «f liquor, will that ho decreased? AA’e fear it will lend t-o hut further v. ocssos sttill. AVhift nro termed keg parties will .become more numerous we fear. It is a difficult process to inculcate moral suasion by stern laws and regulations.

The passing of Mr David Curie, tbe founder of the “Guardian,’' 'and tho changes now taking place in the local newspaper world, call to mand the trasformation since Mr Curio laid the foundation of the “Guardian"’ in the old office * u Tancred Street. At that time there were also published in Hokitika tho “West Coast Times,” the “■Evening Star,” and the “Weekly Leader.” Ross had two newspapers, and in addition to the “Kumar a Times,” the “Westland Miner” was published also from the northern borough. To-day only the “Guardian” remain®- Mr Curio was a careful and painstaking journalist who built wisely. He worked methodically, anu »*- always possessed the highest reputation for honest journalism. He was a well trained journeyman printer, and knew his business thoroughly, and his business ability helped him t° amass a competency. Although the local press has declined in numbers, there are great- changes in the possible local business • since the days.when 80 many newspapers flourished here. As in all business pursuits in a mining community the fim e S make their

presence felt. But now while mining may to some extent he moribund there is tb e knowledge that it still has possibilities. But apart from tliis, pastoral settlement with dairying together, with the timber industry and th© opening up J>f the country, all give the promise of ' a future which will enable the district to maintain its position, and finally show that improvement and general prosperity which will recall the busy days of the past-