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Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1918, Page 2

Tun bloodless victory of the Allied Navies off the coast of Scotland, as demonstrated by the spectacle of the surrender of the main shins of the German Navy demonstrates vet again the complete triumph achieved in fhe Great War. It is a stirring account which gives hut an outline of the culminating incident marking the downfall of Germany’s hopes and ambitions for world-wide sea power. No doubt great artists will reproduce the sdene the benefit of the world. Perhaps the cinematograph will record the movements of the principal figures in the most remarkable sen pageant the world has ever known. It would be a world loss if such does not be recorded, so that posterity no less than the present generations might witness a reproduction of an event marking the climax of the greatest- war of all history. It- seems unbelievable that a Navy of such power and such migln. should pass thus to its doom. With all the vast preparations Germany made for world conquest, it spent lavishly on its Navy. Yet. that arm of offence was never used to its fullest extent to help win the war. Just why Germany should use force to the utmost- limit on land and not on sea, is one of the peculiarities of the campaign yet to he explained. On the contrary, wily Germany allowed so powerful a factor as its Navy to he bottled up in the early stages of the. war is one of the remarkable features awaiting explanation. Germany might have done considerable damage had she gone to fight the British Navy at the very outset before it was fully organised and reinforced. Germany’s slackness in this respect led directly to her discomfiture and downfall, facts now fully demonstrated by the inglorious part just taken by the German Fleet in the North Sea surrender.

“Efficiency” has proved a very blessed word for the duration of the war. It has been on most peoples’ tongues very glibly, and it has come to be so hackneyed in its use, that in its application it has come to be productive of inefficiency. 'Efficiency, in itself ns a term, is supposed to te the power to

produce the result intended. In the aim to do this those responsible for rules and regulations intended to pro ducc the purposed result, quite miss the.mark, with, as we say, the production of inefficiency.. A case in point came under our notice yesterday. It appears that there is a rule that the fyrcai l iMoney Order ofiieo does not open till 10. a.m. At a matter of fact the staff to run thirt" particular branch of the service are on duty at 9a.m. Really the Money Order business is only part of the duties and at a comparatively small office, is not exacting. At 9.40. a.m. y est erdav t here was an occasion to make demand for the payment of an account at- the office. At the moment, the obliging attendant did not appear to be overworked, or pressed by other duties. When the demand was made the attendant momentarily turned to reach down the file to obtain the voucher, but glancing at the clock realised there was still twenty minutes before pay-out time I Very civilly the position was explained and the payee had to depart, the call being in vain. Now in the name of “efficiency” this way of not doing business is a fraud and a- reflection on the good sense of a Department which usually where the public is concerned has a. way of severing the bonds of red tapu so that sensible consideration for those affected might be served. The exception now is probably because of this mania for “efficiency,” which over-done, leads palpably to inefficiency.

It is exceedingly satisfactory to glean that the prevalence of the influenza epidemic is dying down. The result is a gratifying reward for the past days—days which have been strenuous and extremely anxious. The action of Government in permitting one of the military doctors to come to the district and assist in the fight will be greatly appreciated. The presence of another medical man gives greater facilities for attention to those in the neighbouring country districts whence so many cases have come recently. This extra help will assist to reduce the anxiety of those who hitherto have remained without direct medical advice. The local authorities continue to do admirable work, some of the members devoting the whole of their time to tlie organisation work n. order that the sick and afflicted might get the best- of attention. All possible remedial measures are being taken and, these should be continued till the danger of general infection is finally passed. Now that the visitation js being overcome it- would never do to relax the efforts to combat the epidemic and above all it is imperative that those who are recovering from the. complaint, should continue to isolate themselves and not seek to appear publicly without the clear authority of the medical officer. Most of the recent cases can he directly traced to actual contact, with others affected, and this experience, leads the authorities to expressly veto convalescents leaving their homes and mixing with the public except they are quite clear of the complaint, or have the consent of the doctor attending the ease.