Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1918, Page 2

Lord Uoiikut Cecil, speaking at .the luncheon to commemorate the third nn■iiivorsarp of Italy’s entry into the war, after a tribute to the gallant wav’ in which Italy had come, out of last year’s trials, said the year had been mi even greater and more searching time for our enemies. In the summer the situation in the Central Empires was serious. If Russia had but held out a little longer the, .war would non have been over. “It is astonishing, lie said, bow tenacious is the belief of some people in tIIG efficacy of words when you are waging war. We arc constantly criticised by well meaning people who say that if wo would only use language of a conciliatory kind to Germany the iGormans would hold out their hands to us. The Brest Litovsk negotiations gave, a very fair trial to that aspect of the German character. Russia has been completely degraded, and a tyrannical peace has been forced on Roumanin. A complete change has also come over German relations with Austria. Once again German chains in Austria. Germans has succeeded m riveting more securely the German chains on Austria. Once again the Gcr man professors of preaching the gospel of blood and iron. In these circumstances we must- increase our individual efforts and not allow any political preoccupat ion to interfere. Yi c must hind closer still the alliance that binds us to our Allies. We all welcome unity of command in the field, but important as it is, it can only have its full effect if it- represents the unity of the peoples behind it. Above all we must not forget the principles for which the Allies are fighting—for. justice and the freedom of mankind. People sometimes talked about the dismemberment of Austria ns a solution of the, present position in the 31 itlclle East. He has no weakness for Austria, but thought the true way to regard, these racial problems was not the disi memberment of Austria, but the liberation of peonies subject: to tier rule.

Ykstt'.upay's cable told us that the conference of Federal and State Unionists interested in industrial matters had met hut had failed to reach an agreement which would prevent the over lapping of State and Federal Administration. A Sydney correspondent ref orpine to the conference said there was necessarily much overlapping in regard to finance. Interminable adjustments are required in regard to Customs, m connection with loans front the Com'.nionwealth to the States, in _ carrying the Commonwealth mails on Stflto railways, in maintaining Federal pensioners in State institutions, and so on. The conference will endeavour to find „• system to do away with vexatious.delays and lengthy arguments. But one of the- greatest sources or irritation as between the States and the Commonwealth has to do with industrial arbitration. There are both Federal .and State arbitration courts, and it has been the practice of the disputants to go to the- court from which they expected to derive the greatest benefit. This, as can be readily imagined, has led to endless trouble and confusion. There: is never at any time aiiy sort of permanence or content among the labour unions working under awards; and tiie two courts, each working under a different system, and making awards on a different basis, made eonfusion worse confounded. It is now proposed that the States shall leave the control of the following industries entirely to the Commonwealth; shipping, except intor-State, wlia'rf labourers. coal lumpers, shearers, sugar workers, ooal and other miners, all employees engaged in shipbuilding. It was also proposed that a general tribunal, representative of each State, shall fix from time to time what is a fair living wage, and that this shall form the basis of the various awards.