Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th. 1919. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th. 1919. THE WEEK.

Tiiiiitu is not the former, importance about the Public Works Statement nowadays. The restriction in the expenditure during the war period, and tho fact that a public works policy is not before the country, nor contemplated, have detracted from the importance of the delivery of the Statement, which is now a very formal document laid on , the table of the House and not read to Members. Tile important part about the Statement, is its appendage covering tlie Public Works Estimates for tho year. The Estimates are brought down invariably in the middle of tho financial year. On his occasion, we are at the end of tho seventh month of the year, and there remains only five months in which to account for the expenditure, within the limits of the actual appropriation. But it lias been tho invariable rule to carry forward the unexpended votes, and this goes on in some cases for years. This year j

the Estimates are notable for the fact that there is a considerable amount of “new” money on the Esimates. During the later years of the. war there was a curtailment of expenditure, first because money was needed more urgently for war purposes, and secondly because there was a scarcity of labor through the absence of 100,000 strong men from the Dominion. The reappearance of fresh votes is an indica- ; t/ion that matters iijre returning to 1 normal, and that the development of the country*is to be taken in hand more determinedly. The question of labor however is a matter delaying progress, there being still a marked shortage «ll over the country.

In Lord Jelicoe’s naval report there is a good deal- about discipline. In the main report there is a special paragraph dealing with the subject, while the appendix contains a special chapter setting out how discipline may be attained and its value The Admiral of the Fleet believes that discipline should not he enforced by undue severity, but to develop it as a sense of duty, beginning with the young. Those who understand the temperament of the youth can instil it with comparative ease. On the question of discipline and its importance Lord Jelicoe does not rely on his own judgment, but quotes his companion in arms at the head of the British Army, in justification of his own advice. Field Marshal Sir Dougins Haig in his final despatch on the great war said : —“Discipline lias never had such a vindication in any war as in the present one, and it is their discipline which most distinguishes our new armies, from all similarly created armies of the past. At the outset the lack of deep-seated and instinctive discipline placed our new troops at a disadvan-

tage compared with the methodically tra : ned enemy. This disadvantage, however, was overcome, and during the last two years the of all ranks of our new armies, from whatever part of the Empire they have come, was excellent. Born from a widespread and int-figent appreciation of the magnitude of the issues at stake, and the firm belief in the justice of our cause, it drew strength and permanence tram a common-sense recognition of what dis eipline really means—fiom a general realisation that true discipline demands as much from officers as from men, and that without mutual trust, understanding, and confidence on the part of all ranks 'lie highest form of discipline is impossible.” „

Thu present summer traffic into South Westland is expected to be considerable, the normal development accounts for a ! large increase in tlie traffic, while the tourist season this summer, now that the war is past, is likely to he in keeping with the pre-war times. Motor traffic has grown largely of late, and. tho erection of the principal bridges will give this class of transport a great i fillip There arc several votes on tho Estimates in regard to roads and bridges affecting the southern route, 1 and to hasten the works thero might wolf be some general effort to concentrate on the more important, and endeavour to have them pushed through. Tlie lack of labor has been the reason for some time past for works being alI

The Public Works Statement offers no ’ distinctive policy as regards pushing j the Otira tunnel through to a speedy finish. The annual vote is increased slightly, and it is- known that more labor is being employed, but there is no declaration of policy that the work is to be taken in hand and rushed in any sense of the word. There is very little information as regards electrification, and the lack of this suggests that the Government is not as earnest about completing the work as it might be. Sir W. Flraser, it is reported, is about to retire from the Lower House, and the present would have been the opportunity to associate himself with the work in a more determined and outI spoken manner. Now that the purse strings are being loosened as regards public works, the present is the time when the Minister might have made a bold declaration as to the intention to convert this national work into a revenue earning project with the least possible dtelay. Inter-island jealousy, combined with the North' Island pull, however, seems to block the rapid progress of the work and the interests of the country are being flagrantly prejudiced accordingly. In reference to local works, several new works appear on the list. The fresh money in respect to several South Westland votes will Tje acceptable, though there are still unexpended votes in that locality the expenditure of which will be a boon to the general traveller. Judging by the list of works, it would appear if their prosecution is taken up actively, there will be a considerable demand on labor for a long time ahead.

It was suggested in Parliament this week that the school cadet . system' should be revived. Although the present Minister of Defence is opposed very strongly—and has been for some time past—to anything of the kind, we cannot help thinking that the suggestion is one that should be taken up in a national way. The school age is the imperssionable age, and on e of the speakers at this week’s Nelson Day gathering at the local State School, told his youthful auditors what discipline had done for the British on sea as well as on land. Assistance to discipline and unity of action in bodies are derived from the cadet system, the drill for which has its physical value also. The training assists, likewise, in the esprit de corps of the school, and adds to the amenities of school life in the varying phases of the work. In some* of our public schools where the cadet system is earned on in a volunteer way, the organisation is a feature of the school 'life, entering in as it does so much into the outdoor life of the scholars. It fosters the volunteer spirit, and in the former days was the principal feeder to the volunteer system under which defence matters were organised. Now that we are utl hoping that militarism is disappearing as an essential factor in national life as regards material defence, there is room again for the volunteer element to come to the surface, if only as a useful pastime when such can be turned to practical uise in regard to discipline and physical training for the benefit of the rising generation. With this in view, it fcvoufil .be well\ indeed to witness a healthy revival of the school cadet svstern.

lowed to drag on, but more life requires to be put into public administration, and the works put through. There is often more delay and difficulty about getting works started than there is in obtaining the votes. This should not be if the people were alive to their in-. Berests. The public bodies concerned in helping to shape the fate of the district should take co-operative action, and try to organise the required labour so that the want of labour shall not be a reason to liold-up the work. If the I votes were expended more rapidly there

culd be a better chance of securing more fresh votes. Under the Government system amounts which arc nweted because they are not expended are totally against a district year after year, whereas if they were spent the place would be taken by new money and the district would be developed the quicker. There is the call for this in a promising district like South Westland, which is coming so rapidly to the front.