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Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1917, Page 2

-jTnk new terms of peace 'are to he promoted hv the Central Powers this week. Hut it is useless to expect ajjy

favourable? result from this move, unless the terms are in keeping with the

Allies. well expressed demand. In answering the off repeated query “When the war will end,” Mr. Lloyd George declared in his Glasgow speech of June last that “this war will come to an end when the Allied Powers have reached the aims which they set out to attain when they took up the challenge thrown down by Germany.” The positive objects of Britain and its Allies (including the United States) are fully known to the world. President Wilson has re-echoed the conditions for a permanent peace—nought else must suffice—in very plain terms. Mr. Lloyd George has been no less clear in his statements that the war will be carried on until the same foundations of liberty and reparation are laid on an enduring peace. It were idle to prosecuto this sanguinary war a day longer unless a lasting peace were possible, and an untrustworthy foe put completely out of action and prevented from doing further world outrages. It is impossible to road tho history of the war, commencing with the ravages of Belgium and Serbia right down to tho present day of submarine ruthlessness, without making up one’s mind that those responsible for such heinous offences shall for ever have their powers oireumscribod so that so great a catastrophe shall not again overtake civilisation. If, therefore the

Central Power s have amended Jerms of peace to offer, the amendments J must bo of a radical character ensnr- d ing their own «telf-effacement as mill- e

tnry dictators. It is, ol courso too much to expect just yet, but the limitation of powers hdfoin expressed, ir. the final gcnl to attain to secure the honorable ending of the war. at

G i;n Fjt.u. approval would bo felt the action of the Borough Council on Friday night in putting in a protest regarding tho reflections on the West Coast in reference to the administration of the jury system. The thanks of the community were well due to Sir William Hall-Jones for championing tho district, and tho fact an outsider had to take up the cudgels, again calls attention to the fact that the district is without representation in the Legislative Council. This "fact tho local Council did well to recall and remind the Prime Minister of the continued injustice being done to Westland by the want of a representative in the Second Chamber. In regard to the main question the suggestion has been put forward that if these aro the grounds for complaint then the authorities might well revert to the old system and nave the assizes again fixed solely at Hokitika. Herein the past | many memorable and important trials were heard without any suggestion of ! failure in duty on tho part of the jur- : ios. The reversion of the old order of ! things would not he any more costly to the country, but it would result In the trials being fixed in a centre where those amenable to service hafl had experience of the jury system over a long term of years, and who were conversant with the duties and responsibilities of the service. 'Hie object in removing the general court sessions from 'Hokitika, were well understood at the time, and seeing that tho action has been attended with such unfortunate results to the reputation of the West Coast, to say nothing of any other shortcomings, it would be well in the interests of all to see the old order reestablished again. \