Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY DECEMBER 29th. 1917. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY DECEMBER 29th. 1917. THE WEEK.

Thk Hamburg newspaper has given, quite unconsciously no doubt, a very excellent reason why New Zealand should participate in the war to the Ritter end. Germany has set her heart on retaining Samoa and other Pacific isles in order-to utilise them as naval bases and coaling stations to defy “Australian and New Zealand ambitions.’’ Ihe ambitions of .New Zealand are to remove a menace to the peace of the Pacific by obliterating a treacherous belligerent like Germany from any future control of the southern seas. What applies to New Zealand applies with equal force to Australia which has lately decided that defence matters are not of public concern, but may proceed on happy-go-lucky methods—if the men are forthcoming well and good; if not Australia is to take her chance, and u hat a' chance she will have against an organised enemy 1 The defeat of Germany s o far as New Zealand is ■concerned, is essential now in order that the neighbourhood of our happy isles may not be menaced by a reckless foe who knows not honour or justice. If Germany wore established in Samoa with complete defensive rights. New Zealand might at any time b 0 tbe prey of the wily foe. Her absence is much to be preferred to her company. Before the war we thought we know her and trusted her. Now, knowing her the better for the future tranqu the better for the future tranquility of the Pacific. Therefore New Zealand fight on.

Tm: latest apologist for the German escapees is the Naval Adviser stationed in New Zealand. He has issued a remarkable “statement” and one wonders what we may expect next from those in high places who are expected to be using their talents towards winning the war. The Naval Adviser says it is “to the credit of the country” that the German prisoners have been returned to New Zealand—conveniently passing over the discredit to the country that the men were allowed to escape. The Naval Adviser considers the prisoners obeyed carefully the normal rules of war, even though they broke their parole. The apologist fails to recognise the disregard of meum and to. um in the manner of their escape and the careful preparations made for the humilating event (to New Zealand!. Apparently |he appropriation of a pri-vately-owned launch and the country’s supplies are all in order. The trick adopted to seize the Moa is evidently regarded as “normal,” even though the outrage is carried out under the deception of the New Zealand flag, which at the Inst and critical moment is replaced hy a German ensign of insignificant size! And so on. The oceasion and the manner of it, does not in our opinion demand any apology for the German prisoners. TJiey have shown marked ability to take care of themselves and evidently know, too,

how to ingratiate themselves into the favour of the authorities . But when we contrast the treatment of the Gorman prisoners with that of the British soldiers and sailors and even civilians similarly placed, we marvel at the placidity of our riding authorities in these matters.

The holiday season has disclosed the flourishing condition of New Zealand in quite a marked degree. On all sides there has been heavy traffic generally. Poverty has been eliminated in a remarkable manner. Although the cost of living and pleasuring have alike increased, the wage-earner lias in many cases found his earning power increased. Certainly there seems to bo plenty of money about even if the country recently locked .up so many millions in the war loans. The prospect for the March war loan should be bright indeed in the light of what is now forecasted. The dislocation of trade for the hotelkeepers caused by the early closing, and the inconvenience caused to the public by the lack of train connections during the holidays are the chief topics of' adverse comment. Both catpes are creating imuch comment mostly unfavourable and public opinion is evidently not at all satisfied that either effort is going to have the least effect on winning the war. A dissatisfied public is not a helpful means to any end, and the authorities should make plain just why the assets of the country are not used for revenue-earning purposes at a time when a rich harvest might be garnered without tlie semblance of extra taxation—which will, otherwise, have to be put upon the people in due course. The silence on this and other matters at this juncture is really being felt and is adding to tlie depth of the dissatisfakrtion.

The resignation of Admiral .Tellicoe as the First Sea iLord seems to be the culmination of agitation against him since the Battle of Jutland. In that fray both sides claimed a victory. The British claim was traversed by Admiral Henderson, the boldest and strongest critic of Admiral Jellicoe, who has said Jutland was a victory for neither side, and only an inconclusive action in which the strategical and tactical honours fell 1 to the enemy—and it is no use denying They gained their object of avoid- J mg a decision and of getting back to port, while he failed to take advantage of their discomfiture and missed the chance and our object of destroying th<4m by a failure to understand and apply the principles of either one or the other or both. We missed it because at a criical moment when a torpedo attack was threatened on the rear squadron—which was Hie only part of tbe Fleet- in touch with the enemy, the loading squadrons being in advance of it and not engaged—the whole Fleet was turned several points away, as stated by the Germans instead of the squadron affected. Precious minutes and touch with the enemy were lost, as stated in our own despatch; because Beatty, who kept in touch with and was still engaging the enemy, wa s unsupported, although lie asked for support; and because no detailed touch was kept with the enemy fleet during the night and its whereabouts was apparently unknown in the morning, although it had passed during the night astern of our fleet and was already inside of it and to the south of it at daylight. These are only some of the causes of our failure; they can he deduced frnjm the study of such documents as are available, and are supported by the common knowledge that is in existence on the events of the battle There are those who bold that the British should not have sought victory on that occasion, hut annihilation in order to bring the German grand fleet to decisive battle. Since then two convoys have been lost, and these untoward events have been the subjects of further attack. The convoy lost in October was commented on very stringently by Admiral Henderson in the public press and no doubt, the latest unfavorable episode lias been similarly seized upon. Prom the outcome of this lias followed the resignation of Admiral Jellicoe.

That Mr. Lloyd-Georgo is not wholly considering war matters is indicated by a very fine domestic speech he made to the Scottish trade unionists in October last. In this issue there is his wonderful speech on the defence forces of the Empire which we commend to all our readers as a thrilling grasp of the most brilliant page in all our history. Briefly, now, by way of contrast, read also this synopsis of his humanitarian speech for the care of the nation after the war has rolled by, and study what difficulties will present themselves to the situation. The British Premier said: ‘‘The prospect after the war is from a purely parliamentary point of view a perfectly appalling one. There will he a hundred and one questions, all of the greatest magnitude calling for immediate attention, and it' would certainly seem that it cannot be done without the most drastic alteration in parliamentary procedure. If it is to be done at all, then purely local, and if I may say provincial, questions ought to he delegated to purely provincial and— I am not afraid to use the word—national assemblies. If you a'sk-ine, to pledge myself in the middle of the war to bring in a Scottish Home Rule Bill, that is something which I think is beyond the I contemplation of the most daring soul in his deputation.” As to the blind lie said that a committee presided over by Mr. Hayes Fisher, had made recommendations quite recently in favour of the provision of further accommodation and workshops for the blind, additional funds to provide pensions for those incapable of earning their living and maintenance for those who are being trained. In regard to old-age pensions he said: ‘‘We started by spending £8,000,000. This has grown to something like £18,000,000. I hope the State will go on extending the obligations its owes to those people. It is not a question of benevolence. The Civil Servant when he gets his pension does not say: “Thank you for the alms ( which you are giving me.” He regards , it as his recompense for his faithful and dutiful toil .throughout the years I of his prime, and I think that the worker in any rank of life ought to he able ) to claim as a matter of right fropi the community the- same security against.. indigence and squalor and misery when [ his strength has given out. Those are j the things which the State has begun to recognise. There has been a new attitude, and it was becoming clearer and warmer and more genial than before the

war. I think that- the war has opened people’s eyes. I think that it. has deepened sympathies, it has cleared visions, St has given people a greater social and communal sense. I believe that a United Kingdom shouldering the heavy burden of a war it. has fought, as i > f’think, for a righteous cause, will be in a better temper and a better frame of mind to consider every other cause which is righteous, and Ithink the cause 'of the blind and the afflicted and the aged and the miserable among us is of that kind.”