Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 27th 1919. PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 27th 1919. PEACE CELEBRATIONS .

One can only wonder in vain as to the reason for the profound secrecy with which the Government surrounds the occasion for the peace celebrations. Liie mystery is unnecessary surely, for there is nothing more desirable than to ring in the peace of the whole world. The National Government is taking its instructions from the Home Government, which appears to have fullest knowledge on the all important matter. It were better that Air G. W. Russell had kept , his eeret entirely to himself rather than to half tell liis story and leave the whole situation so filled with mystery to those outside the inner circle of the political firmament. It would appear however that" the official celebrations of peace is at hand, and certainly all concerned should have the fullest notice. There have been

programmes of various dimensions on die stocks for some time, and the inter-

val and uncertainty is allowing enthusiasm to cool down. The jollification to

mark peace is likely to be curtailed considerably in comparison to what would

have been tho case were the event to

have been ushered in at an earlier stage .'daily events have transpored, and the folk are settling down to normal con-

ditions after the rigors of war condi-

tions. The after effects of the war are leaving the people much unsettled, and there is a widespread feeling of unrest in regard to domestic affairs. All this will detract from the full celebration, or the complete realisation of what peace—the end of tho Great War —means to the security of the world at large. There is the opportunity to

reorder the national life for the war has changed living conditions to an extent which of’itself creates a new order.

There is, however, one way in which peace should be celebrated, and that is in rearing a monument to those who served, and particularly those who fell. It is due to those who served so gallantly that their services should be marked in some public way by a memorial of the Great War, the outcome of which affords the opportunity for the world at large to be emancipated from the military thraldom which overshadowed the Old World and reflected its dangers on tho New World. It is due to posterity, also, that there should he some outward visible sign left 1 behind by which they will note the great sacrifices made over the war period to ensure the liberty of those who come after. The people owe it to themselves to personally acknowledge the service done for them, and to rear a memorial which will be a sign post for all time of the wonderful part played by those who won for this district, for this country and for the world at large the freedom and liberty wo still go on enjoying day by day. No celebration of peace can ho adequate which does not provide for some artistic monument being reared in Westland which will he a fitting tribute to tho purpoes

for which it stands. There will he much divded opinion on the form the monument should take; but before anything else it should be ornamental and worthy in an artistic way of the occasion which calls for its erection. Mr Craigie M.P., has made an admirable suggestion for Timaru, where he suggests a If all of Memories should he erected. Whatever it is, lot it be something worth while. Something which will stand inspection and will for its own merit anl beauty draw people to look upon it,, and not tire of admiring its artistic proportions or tlio grand purpose it is to serve.

Hokitika- is to have very shortly the benefit of the metallic circuit to improve its telephone system. The work after a very prolonged delay, is now well advanced, and it is only .the slow arrival of necessary material which is hampering its more speedy completion. But already some of the connections are being linked up with the new system and gradually the subscribers will find the service improved. The metallic circuit will ensure a more private service. This is secured by providing two wires to each connection, and so make a complete circuit for the particular machine only. At present the earth wire of the connections does not permit of the privacy to he obtained from the metallic circuit, for the earth is a good conductor and carries on the sound. Tho system appears to be complicated, hut in reality it is very simple. Tile wires are in pairs, and it is only necessary to separate these from, the cable and give the required attachment, and the services becomes complete. It increases the telephone wires by doubling the number, but in the more congested parts of the town the cable is put underground, and it is only at certain posts where it is necessary to bring the required wires up to the insulators and’ carry them to the buildings to he served. The town when this new service is completed will have a private connection in every sense of the word. Hitherto it has been customary to hear the conversations of other people, hut the metallic circuit system will cut out the outside induction, and the privacy will bo complete. The advantage of this is, of course, apparent, and ill's satisfactory to know that this convenience is to fall to the lot of the subscribers of the local telephone exchange.

Speaking of tbe dangers of Bolshevism which threatens to rear its head even in this country, Loi'd Birkenhead, the Lord Chancellor of England, in the course of his remarks at a gathering in the Motherland, —went on to soy: | “The Bolshevist movement is diffi- ‘ cult to define, to describe, and to un--1 derstand, but it is very necessary to attempt to understand it. It is an ailment so curious, so mysterious, so diffi- | cult to analyse, that if we do not see it vital and progressive, it will be hard to believe that there are so many men cajjable of a reversion to what seems a sheer form of political insanity. It is a claim advanced by, and'founded upon a conception of the proletariat. But every previous proletariat claim has grounded itself upon the view that the will of the greater number should prevail. Bolshevism is avowedly based upon an admission that the proletariat should indeed ostensibly rule, but that under no circumstances whatever should the proletariat rule upon an appeal to and a decision by the proletariat. In other words, it was a reversion to the old tyrannical form of government of the ancient Creek States. It was as completely divorced from every form of democratic conception as was the Government of the Czar’s of Russia, or the Government of Germany in July, 1914, or as our own Government at the time of the Tudors and under the rule of Charles 1. The world was confronted by a threat advanced by men who did not pretend to have the slightest respect for the sanctity of human life. It was astounding to find this influence overlapping the boundaries of countries and engulfing the population of a great part of Europe. The attention of the Paris Conference has been constantly engaged by the menace. The question whether the ghost of the Russian bear, which played such a great part on the side of the Allies in the early days of the war, could walk over Europe, unhoused, unquieted, had not been neglected by those to whom the interests of civilisation were to-day committed. But the difficulties of a solution were as great as the necessity of a solution.”