Hokitika Guardian & evening star SATURDAY, MAY 25th, 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & evening star SATURDAY, MAY 25th, 1918. THE WEEK.

In pre-war days it was always a pleasing figure of speech to say that the ' Empire was held together by a silken cord of affectionate sentiment. It seemed so alight a binding for so massive a concern, but it was strong and unyielding when the Empire called for the greatest sacrifice its sons and daughters oould give—-tlie gift of their lives that the nation might live. Nowadays the bond of Empire is cemented by the. nation’s blood. Tho vast Empire spread abroad in every clime has sent its sons freely, a willing sacrifice for the cause that must be upheld, and all colors and creeds of the homogeneous nation answered in the true spirit of Britons. Tho war has helped the Empire to find herself aud the great peoples realiso now that they are one in unity on all points which are necessary to secure stability and lasting purpose. But the

war ia going to do mere than tfcb for the world. Not only is the British _ Empire going to lie stronger and more lobust than ever it was, hut it is going to be allied for all time to the greatest confederacy, the planet lias ever known ---a League of Nations, the creation of which will give the world lasting peace and the opportunity for doing good eternally. The wonderful outcome of tho war’s dreadful clash of aims with all its ruthlessness and inhumanity, is going In he the great recompense for the trials and suffering placed upon the nations of tho earth. This war is so great in o its ramnifientions that there is no part of the world which has not felt the rude backwash of the devastating flood of warlusb penetrating everywhere, and taking toll In so many I dreadful and awful ways. The experience will prepare the world for a ready enjoyment of the reign of peace once that good time can he rung in.

Thrive was an example the other day of how this now brotherhood- of nations i- going to work out. The guarantee that it will work, out is the spirit in which tho future is faced and the desire to do good one to the other. The war is having a purifying and ennobling off. oct on folk. That material change is being demonstrated not only jn individuals, hut in communities also. The

example we would quote is really ,> stupendous one. Wo icfer lo the proposal seriously outTonvnid in flic United States to ‘.vine out Die debt France lias contracted with America in the great war. According to the latest figures available (Nov. 1916) the loans granted in too United States to France were £131,210.000. Those would. not be necessary 'll national lor.nr., hutmany millions would have been added to tlie total within the intervening eighteen months. Franco will ho thus heavily indebted to the United States and it is seriously proposed to wipe out that vast debt. Could there be a more tangible example of the new brotherhood being created among the nations? France, of course has been the heaviest sufferer of the Allies in (his war. She has lost, her manhood, been bled white, an-1 how nobly have they fallen! The war has recreated France as though passing through a fiery furnace, and emerging a more and more perfect nation. The action of the United States in this matter, so splondidly unselfish, as it is, is a guarantee of the spirit which will‘•dominate the League of Nations. In any such amalgamation of nations, the United States must, he one of the predominant partnevs, aiul tlie spirit here disclosed is a warranty that the union of nations will he perfect from the very outset. TTerc thou we have tho promise of the first fruits of what a real victory will afford.

The pause on the western front by the enemy is an incident much questioned by ail as to the cause. Opinions or. ho hazarded onlv ) and to our way of thinking the lull is caused hv entirely hopeful circumstances. Serious ns was the situation at the time of the Gorman advance in late March and early April the advance failed entirely to reach its objectives—or oven approaching the decisive goals it was intended to reach. Indeed, the whole German force was badly mauled and sadly broken, wand to this fact might be mainly attributed now the halt that has hocn called. The ononiy forces are finding a diffic.ulty in re-organising. They are being harrassed continually by tlie Allied airmen and artillery, varied by gallant Frarioo-Tlntish and American advances, and the careful preparations necessary to launch another attack more stupendous than any which has gone before, are difficult of fulfilment. The spirit of the German soldiers, we can quite understand is not what it was in early March last. They were then being prepared for an offensive which they were led to believe would be a triumphant success. The stern disciplinary methods under which they are trained prepared them to undertake an attack upon conditions which their military strategists regarded ns certain to pierce the opposing lines. But flesh and hlood are not superior to machine guns and artillery of all descriptions which play upon advancing humanity as a. hose might play on a rolling flame. It is conceivable that the Germans rea. liso that their ideas of capturing positions hy wealth of numbers are not realisable where modern fire was to he met. Any success is trifling and not worth the tremendous cost. Here is a sign that the German spirit of assured victory is breaking and the true position is being realised.

The report of the death of General Hindenburg which has heen made by recently captured German soldiers, still lacks confirmation. The event, if true, might easily have some effect on tile course of the war, because Hindenburg who is quite a Bismnrkian figure Tn Germany has been a name to conjure with so far as the enemy is concerned. Of late the control of the war has been more largely in the hands of Ludendorff, and to this extent the exit oi' Hindenburg is not of so serious consequence to the enemy armies; but in the matter of prestige, the name stands for a great deal not only with the soldiers, but nlso for the nation, which at one stage of the war was disposed to set up this great, military figure for hero worship. When the Allies lost the guiding hand and direction of Lord Kitehened in June j 1916, the war still went on, and so in ! this ease, Hindenburg’s death might depress and dispirit the nation but it will not in itself be a direct cause for war weakening. The control of the army of tho German Empire is essentially Prussian, though it retains certain federal characteristics. The smaller states actually conform to the Prussian lead. The military relations of these smaller states of Prussia are laid down in a series of treaties of which tliO' main point is that the King of Prussia, and therefore the Prus sian General Staff, are in suTireme control of operations. If General Hindenburg full of years hits passed away ,his duties will devolve on others, and the well regulated German military machine mav be to ru" no loss smoothlv. Even thou ah he stands as a tower of strength to the nation, other figures will be found to replace him to attempt to onrrv on to victory the merciless war which Germany has put upon the world Let us hope tho course of events will soon disillusionise even the Prussians.

The Westland Patriotic Committee is showing an earnest desiro to help the returned soldier to a full ctegTee of re*

pUtiVvtiOii tjj €*Zl'J c jiTw *o pSl'cltHpate on behalf of the local men who care to take* tin the course, in a farm training scheme, the Canterbury Society in hand. To aid in ' tills very desirable action of placing capable men on the hind, the Government has placed an area of good country in the Southbridge district at the disposal of the East Coast Society, and the scheme is being devised to provide training farms of an experimental and instructional character to give men an insight into farming and settlement work. The cry to place the men on the land is a popular one, hut to perlorm the. task thoroughly it is necessary to see that the men who are put on the land are capable of doing themselves and the land justice. Inexperienced men will soon waste their own substance if they lack the knowledge of how to set about their work, and to overcome this risk and give all who wish a fair chance to succeed when on the land, the idea is a very worthy one, and deserves to be a success. Incidentally the time seems opportune to raise once again the question of a Soldier Settlement in Westland. In other parts of the Dominion the country is paying very high prices indeed for land for soldiers. The high rate places a heavy annual charge for rent on the men who take up tlic land. Cheaper land would be more favourable for their means, and particularly in regard to dairying much cheaper land can he got in Westland than in many parts of the North Island. The subject is one requiring careful handling, but that is no reason why it should bo ignored altogether. It is high time a suitable scheme for this district were taken in hand.

Tim report published in respect to County linance makes interesting reading, as the Council being the principal local body of the district plays an important part in the comfort and convenience of the community. Despite the fact that these are war times, and labour and material is costing more and more, the financial year shows a surplus of £746. A year ago when the Charitable Aid levy, jumped up by fifty per cent., and a demand for £G62 in excess of the County estimates was made, the Council to meet the position without imposing extra rating on the ratepayers, adoptod under Mr. Norman’s presidency, a scheme of retrenchment. The test of the success of that administration is demonstrated by the figures now produced. Not only has the Council provided for the excess in Charitable Aid Expenditure, but in addition it has come out with a surplus, and the two sets of figures put together means providing £I4OO for the year to achieve the result. This result has been gained probably by some sacrifice to the efficiency of the roads, for it is noted and the fact is a surprising one, that the Council has paid out in the year more for the maintenmice of hospitals and charitable aid than it has done for the upkeep of the roads. Seeing that County Councils were primarily created for the care and maintenance of roads and tracks, if this volume of expenditure is to go on similarly in the future, it will mean that a new constitution will require to be drawn up to oxplai;i more amply what are tlie duties of such local bodies and where they ejul. The details of the receipts and expenditure supplied are very interesting, and will be instructive to those who take an interest in the fortunes of the local Council.

The separate riding system is not proving the qualified success it was hoped for. The weakness is in those ridings, tlie area of which is limited and the revenue curtailed. Ilow best to meet tlie position without recasting the boundaries and reducing the number of ridings, is difficult to - say. Differential rating would modify expenditure no doubt, though it cannot be said that in any riding- is there now undue extravagance. There is invariably, a period of Jnetuation in all-communities, and it might be as well to look to the average period than to one particular year. In times past the southern ridings were a burden to sonic extent upon the rest of the County, but that period is past, and the communities are coming into their own. Tho future at an immediate time appears to hold something for those districts which are weakest, financially to-day. Important mining developments are being carried out which cannot hut have a marked effect on their fortunes. Beyond this there is the time coining when tlie district will be linked up by rail with Canterbury. That wo hope is by no means remote, but come it soon or late it will greatly enhance the ratable value of The whole Coast, and this accretion of wealth will add to the revenue producing powers of the district. Generally speaking, therefore, the future is of such promise that the fortunes of all the ridings of the Countv will in due season work out their own salvation financially. If these hopes are realised, the separate riding system which counts so materially for economy in administration, will come into its own, and the ratepayer generally will derive the advantage of that solvent situation.