Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY MARCH 15th. 1919 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY MARCH 15th. 1919 THE WEEK.

goiiE little comfort could be drawn this week from the report published in re. gard to an interview with the ActingPrime Minister in Otago referring to the gold mining industry. It is satisfactory to learn that in one quarter of the Dominion something more than a passing interest is being shown in gold mining. The deputation which waited upon Sir James Allen a week ago atLawrence, put forward suggestions for some improvement in alluvial workings. The revival of intei-est in the fate of mining, reminds us that this country which owes so much to gold mining, and particularly to the inrush of alluvial diggers in the early days is now without a mining policy. It is true there is a Minister of Mines and a fully-staffed Department with all the paraphernalia of office, but it would he interesting to know wliat this welloiled machine does in a public way to justify its existence. The salaries for the “head” • run into nearly £12,000 and in addition there are miscellaneous services in connection with the Department, absorbing another £28,000, in all over £41,000. There is a large annual outgoing, and the people would like to see something more tangible for the expenditure than appears on the surface. In addressing Sir James Allen the deputation spoke to a Minister who has a practical knowledge of mining, what it has done, and its possibilities, but the reply was not at all illuminating. Sir James is going simply to pass on the requests of the deputation to the Minister and so the round about game of government by makebelieve goes on. And still the country lacks a mining policy!

This is not- a new subject to our readers, but the time is again opportune to call attention to the apparent studied neglect of the industry by the Department responsible for the control of the valuable Industry. Nothing could be more colorless than the annual Mines statements put before Parliament and the country by the Minister and his Department. Ever since the Department was made an appendage of the Public Works Department, it has suffered from the lack ol interest of those in authority. There should be some way of reviving that interest. Practically every industry in the country receives some special consideration from the Government, and when there are signs of a decline or other evidences of falling returns, Commissions of enqquiry aro set up, ? or other steps taken to bring about a revival. If a move were made in relation to the languishing mining industry perhaps it would be possible to galvanise. enough interest Into the Mines Department, so that it might show some concern for its bread and butter. Wlmt was said at Lawrence shows that some friendly aid could do much to revive the industry in that quarter. Here, the same applies. This year the Department has a vote of £1,500 for assistance towards prospecting. The financial year is running to a close, and it would be interesting to know what real service this round sum has been put to, and if nought has been done why not get busy and put out prospecting parties where the geologists anticipate favourable results? Perhaps the mining committees of the Chamber of Commerce will take up this matter and seek to galvanise sonic life into a liybcrnating Department.

The Chamber, by the way, is showing some interest in the working of the telephone, both in South Wsstland and in town. The telephone is an important adjunct to the daily life, whether in town or country, and it cannot be maintained in too satisfactory a condition. The town service is notorious, for its leakage. It is some years now since the subscribers were promised, the installation or the metallic circuit to ensure greater privacy. For months, fully more than a score, the material for the work has been stored here, but the job is not started. Why there should be this prolonged delay is hard to say, except as another example of Government methods of not doing tilings expeditiously— notwithstanding that the work is in connection with a public department which was supposed to have a world celebrity for smartness and up-to-dateness. Then with regard to the southern telephone, the line is not maintained as efficiently as it should be, and there is room for improvemnt. The telephone means so much more to

Despite the extended periods of the armistice, Germany is probably suffer-j ing more now than at any time during j the actual period of hostilities. Internally she is bleeding at every pore, •while disruption and riot unsettle j affairs within to such an extent that, there is no security for life or pro- J perty. The severity of the blockade is , maintained, because Germany dallies over complying with the terms of the J armistice, and starvation stalks the land. The old regime of militarists have gone never to return again, but in the hands of the Bolshevik move- j meat, Germany’s latter state is worse than her first-. Punishment is being meted out to her in a manner which the head of man could not devise, and her Fate is still a problem for the future to unravel. The feeding of Germany is contingent upon the nation giving up its mercantile fleet. The chaotic conditions of the nation suggest that there will bo little hope of receiving large indemnities for the victorious belligerents, after reparation has been made to the continental nations which have suffered such grievous damage and despoliation at the enemy’s hands. Germany is likely to be a spent force financially as well as militarily and politically, and will be dependent for her very existence on the food offices of her sometime foes. The extreme social element now rising to the top in German politics, recognise the true inwardness of the commencement of the war. But this element acquiesed in the war at the beginning and are no less culpapable than those more directly engineering the outrage on humanity. The nation has to suffer for the wrongs done, and the sufferings must be great for the wrongs were a tremendous blot on civilisation.

the country people tsan the townsfolk who have other means for l-ea'dy communication, if the phone fails; but with

isolated settlers the case is difficulty and they are at a serious disadvantage r immediately an interruption occurs. - There are facilities required also for < additional connections. The southern '• district is growing, traffic is increasing and public use is being made : of the telephone. For back block districts the telephone is the first aid to < settlement, and the Government should do all in their power to see that such services are efficiently maintained for the public good. j I The cable this week announces that when peace is signed the Hon. A. .T. Balfour will resign his seat in the Bri-' ( tisli Cabinet. Mr Balfour is one of . the great men of his time, and his work and his worth during the war period will render him one of the great men for all time. He is an able lieutenant to Lloyd George who has been happy indeed in having Mr Bn four and Mr. j Bonar Law for his henchmen. The re- 1 markable phase of this alliance is that . while Mr Lloyd George was a Radical' of Radicals, iiis two confreres were— Mr Bafour certainly—blue-blooded Conservatives. The knitting together t of these extremists in politics, only j shows that in British politics the | party differences arc not that personal that the invective of the partisan speaker would lead one to believe at times. That this is really so is evidenced also by the smoothness and the closeness with which the three great Commoners—all without titles mark' you—have worked together. Nothing j could he more harmonious, thus show-: ing when their country’s good called for | the sacrifice, all personal interests went by the board, and each worked alike for the common-cause. Mr Balfour, as a Conservative, inherited a brillance for dealing with foreign questions, and his ability (in this respect must have been most helpful during the long days of stress. He has done his country a great service over a long period, and a lien he retires shortly of his-own volition, etc., he will carry with him not only the esteem, hut also the gratitude not of a nation but of an Empire whose far-flung interests lie lias had before him ever.

flutters in Germany are reaching that pass now that the Allies ai'c called upon to save Germany from herself. The task is not an easy one, because it is not straight forward. There are conflicting forces within, with the revolution and counter-revolution, till the rival factions arc as bitterly opposed to each other as the once united nation was lately opposed to its foes without. This makes the position complex, for there is a lack of stable authority, and the nation suffers in the draining process accordingly. The starving state of the people account no doubt for a great deal of the upheaval which pervades the country. Hunger drives the masses to extreme lengths, and disorder reigns supreme. The first task will be to feed the nation. In the interval since the armistice was entered upon, the Allies have been able to organise very completely for the benefit of their own forces. It' is four months now sinoe fighting ceased, and the Allies have had the opportunity of attending to the re-victualling of the devastated Allied countries. Germany’s first chance will bo to surrender her mercantile shipping to give increased bottoms to carry supplies overseas. Despite her internal plight her spokesmen maintain an arrogant view, and there are difficulties of various kinds put in the way of fulfilling the armistice terms. The peace negotiations are now hastening to a close, and once concluded, the Allies will have more time and thought for German affairs. In that direction much will be required seeing the torn condition of the country internally, and the divided authority in many parts of the Empire.