Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1918 AN ADVANCED PROGRAMME.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1918 AN ADVANCED PROGRAMME.

Tiik Wellington Central bye-election take s place on Thursday, and the most remarkable feature of live contest is not tin* number of candidates who have come forward, but the advanced programme issued by the accredited National candidate. The platform put forward by 31 r W. Hildreth of pronounced Liberal leanings is an all embracing one. and reads more like a broad policy fo r a party manifesto, than the views of an individual political unit, to whom there is very little political freedom these times. The fact that the candidate with his pronounced platform is being readily accepted as the National Government’s choice/i s very hopeful for the future. In expounding his policy, Mr Hildreth will be doing the spade work for the new political policy to be put before the. country when an appeal is to he made, more or less soon now, by the Government in power. The proposals are radical enough in all conscience for one Parliament to work out, and if they are sincerely accepted and acted up to, the country will have reason to he not ungrateful to the war, which by causing a fusion of political parties, has from the leaven of the inter-mixture worked up a forward policy destined to do great things for the people. Mr. Hildreth is prepared to prosecute the .war to victory with unswerving loyalty to King and Country. He would have a loyal Labouy party, and secure contentment with adequate wages based on the cost of living. Ho pronounces, definitely for proportional representation, which must come, though perhaps not in time for next general election. He stands for the repeal of the present method of settlement of Labour disputes, which means dropping conciliation and arbitration, but-he does not suggest any new order to take its place. On the liquor question he plumps for the proposals of the, National Efficiency Board as a short cut to the final settlementprohibition by a bare majority with compensation, or State Control under •similar conditions. Mr Hildreth would effect drastic reductions in the cost of living, but never a hint how ho will work his magic stroke. The education system will he safe in Mr Hildreth’s keeping, and he believes in Statocwned ships—-this latter being a necessity forced by developments arising out of the war. Tfe favours a Repatriation Minister to deal solely with the return of the soldiers to civil life, and in this connection lie might have plumped for the repeal of the Conscription Act at the end of the war. Financially he proposes to increase payments for •Jhrors, end witnesses, warders, and teachers, and assistance to friendly societies. He favours an increase in v pensions to widows and dependents; a vigorous Public Works policy, the cutting up of estates, the fostering of industries, and generally so advance the country as to provide “employment for nil. Mr Hildreth’s policy doe s not exhaust the political necessities of the hour, but it supplies a large amount of work for Parliament to give effect to tlio proposals. If Mr Hildreth is not returned, in respect to which there is doubt expressed, it i s to ho hoped his defeat will hot cause his policy to lie lost sight of. His alvanced ideas on many subjects are worth adopting and in any case they may come to pas a at no distant date. Ho platform proposals are as straws indicating how the political winds blow, and give some idea Gf the political atmbsphore which will exist, when, next year the country passes through the throes of a general election. Tkk opening of the Flanders offensive i s of great interest, settling once and for all tho pretentions of the enemy to advance successfully to the Channel coast and ports. Great- value was set on the littoral by certain parties in Germany, it being considered essential to the future expansion of Germany abroad in search of world power to have a freer outlet by sea, and a point whence Britain’s mastery of the sea could be menaced always. The opinions in this direction were very influential, and the Kaiser was among those who desired to see the British Army in Franco and Flanders swept in to the sea a H a necessary prelude to the Gorman occupation of the Channel ports. “On to Calais!’’ was his cry when the German forces tried to extinguish the “Contomptiblofi,’’ and the historic German occupation in the early days of the war. German designs in that direction have never varied, and there must be strong defensive posts in Flanders country erected to hold up the Allies. But th(, general success on other parts of the Western front have warranted an attack at the northern extremity of the line, and it is opening successfully too. The Belgian onslaught is north of Ypres 'and it is progressing towards Ronlers, which would he the central objective in this theatre. At the time of writing there are no particulars of the advance along the sea coast, where the Allies would have splendid help from the Grand Fleet, if need ho to effort important brunches. The rolling hack of the enemy along the coastline in of value as lessening possible exits to tlie sea of German submarines, and so minimising the effectiveness of that enemy instrument for disaster. From this special point of view the advance i s of great ■!imjphi 4 tinnco. The recovery of Belgian soil at this juncture is important likewise, and the object of keeping the whole western front active can he appreciated by nil.

Ci.;n bad quick icr.il.*;.nor, for yjSitcrlay’s issue appeared the news that the whole front was ablaze., from the English channel to the Gorman boundary at Alsace. There are four main offensives, the Flanders attack; the British at Cambrai and St. Qucntion the French to the south of St. Quentin, and tlie Americans in the Verdun sector. All reports were favourable, and each recorded the capture of thousands of prisoners and hundreds of guns. An attack so far-flung might well be described 'as General Eyeh’s grand offensive, and this, it i s likely the great advance .will develops into. The enemy is being caught with a series of surprise attacks, and it is the unexpected nature of the developments which is leading up to the demoralisation of the enemy forces. Rearguards ol’ the enemy must be surrendering In great numbers, and this loss is causing dire confusion among the retreating forces. The loss of effective gun-power is an indication of the condition of the enemy forces. Not onily are these guns lost, but they are guns already at the front, and it will take days to replace them, allowing that Germany lifts a reserve supply of big .guns, which is doubtful. Having put the German armies into tIVi s condition of confusion and perplexity, it is to the advantage of the Allies t 0 maintain the pressure to the fullest extent as long as possible. This is being done with surprising effect, considering the conditions of a modern battle. The tavourahle development of the course of events on the western front is most inspiring and with a taste of victory now obtained there will he a keen desire on all sides to push forward the attack to the final victory in the shortest time possible.