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Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1918, Page 2

In regard to the issues surrounding “the freedom of the seas” it is interesting to note that the United States hersolf is bent on creating a mighty Navy. If “the freedom of the seas,” is to give us academic peace and security, why should the President’s Government thus attempt to perpetuate war bv preparing for what it believod to be the inevitable when the world settles down again after the present turmoil ? Or if it be a good thing for the United States to have a great Navy, why is Britain, tto bo denied a similar force, ,as is to bo implied from the marked emphasis hitherto shown by Mr Wilson in expounding his cardinal point for a future world poaco! In April, 1917. when America elected to enter t-lio war, the President still had “the freedom oi the seas in mind.” He said: “The principle of international law had its origin in an attempt to set up somelaw which would be respected and observ ed upon the seas, where no nation hac the right of dominion, where lay .th< free highways of tho world.” The high ways of the world are and have beci always free, as long ae they are uaet honestly. One baa tho froedom of : friend’s home, ao long as the licents is not abused. But where oouutrie traffic In contraband with a u enom; and thereby break the internatiom law 3 the other belligerent is en i

titled ,to take stops for self-preservation, This is what Britain did and doing it, saved tho world as General Pershing and Mr Roosevelt have alike testified. It :s the abuse of the highways of tho world and not their use, whereto Mr Wilson should direct his compelling force. Where the highways are fairly reasonably used there is no need for complaint but when abuses arise they must be corrected. Just as the freedom we have to move about out own towns and order our own lives is governed by restrictions, so ! must, “tho freedom of the seas” similarly governed, with tho power and , right to check and punish abuses.

The export restrictions put upon white i pine by the Board of Trade regulations ■bid fair to seriously affect the timber \ trade of this district bound up with the export of white pine. It is not surprising to learn that the new regu- j lations are causing alarm and already in operation, they are working most un- s satisfactorily and altogether illogically. It will not he possible, in point of fact, to carry on the cutting of white pine, as the amount to bo retained in New Zealand is far beyond all local requirements, and tho glut which will arise will . create a stoppage, and the ultimate waste of a product, which if allowed to go on a market where there is a ’eniand would bo a real asset to the country. The regulations as now >« forco work most inefficiently and so doubt instances of the loss and waste occasioned thereby will bo brought under tho notice of the authorities. Th e | position has become so acuto that Ui- ! geant representations have been made |to tho Board of Trade pay the ! long-promised visit to tho "W est Coa <t | and go fully into the matter with the i mil lore. Then, gleaning a personal i knowledge of the position in relation ito supply and demand, it. will be j for tho Board in the interests of public trading and industrial employment, to review tho situation in such a way ns to do a measure of justice to those who have capital invested and who are on a profitable industry for tho benent prepared to employ labour to carry of the Dominion at large. Up to the present it would appear that the representations of the farming communities in tho North Island carry undue i weight, and (they are able to exercise ! enough influence to secure conditions I specially preferential to their industrial requirements, irrespective of wliat happens to other industrial activities m the country.