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Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1919, Page 2

The protraction of the negotiations affecting the peace settlement is giving the opportunity for many fresh questions to arise, which give added diffi cultios to the delegates in conference. The disposal of the formor German possessions in the Pacific Ocean iB causing a warmth of expression which shows, bow easily it is for tempers to rise. The suggestion that the equator might he taken as a lino to mark tho sphere of operations for the Japanese from the north and the Australasian states from the south, appears to be a compromise to be fairly accepted under the circumstances. The zeal of the Australian Prime Minister for a White Australia lias prejudiced him greatly against tt'f near approach of the Japanese, but he must be mindful of what Japan did at: the outbreak of war and particularly of the efficacy of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance which enabled tho Japanese Fleet to he so useful to the farthing British Empire on the outbreak of war. The Japanese rendered signal service in convoying colonial troops when endangered by tho Germas Pacific Fleet, and the presence of the powerful Japanese cruisers avoided serious 'oss. The Japanese helped to drive tho Germans from their strongholds i* tho Pacific and these services should be requitted. Tho proposed line of dema'\ation appars to be a happy solution of a difficult problem, and once sott'.od would remain a territorial boundary and thus ensure Australia being free from Japanese designs in the future once the Jjcnguc of Nations bocomes established.

It appears that tho mail contract, Boss to Wchekti lately let is for a period of three years. The duration of tho contract would not bo of consequence were It not that tho mail is to serve cti'y between Ross and Waiho Gorge. This goes back on the service of twice went lv, and is a retrogndo action affecting the prospects of a go-ahead South Westland. ft is a departure also from (lie arrangement with tho Tourist De;nr< ■ ment which contributed to the service because it was twice weekly and so of greater service to travellers. Within this year the rivers to Hari llari should be bridged while beyond Hari Han tho moro formidable of tho streams should bo in tho process of bridging. Tt is almost certain that something will he done during this year regarding

the erection of motor bridges over the more troublesome of the small streams between “Wataroa and Waiho. These facts show how stupid it was of the Postal Department to fix a mail servio ; on the present lines. The action displays an entire lack of knowledge of the conditions or the requirements, lbe southern district is being treated unfU"ly and certainly unequally with more favoured places in other parts of the Dominion. A remote and isolated district is being hampered till more by th 6 withdrawal of a mail service, and a condition of affairs iB being created harmful to the place and distinctly unfavourable to the popularity of an administration which was supposed to have some special concern for the backblock districts.