Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd., 1919. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd., 1919. THE WEEK.

'l'lfE present wecik is a sad anniversary j for this district. A year ago the fatal i epidemic was rife, feiisy carrying off its victims. That anxious time - cap bo looked back upon with many feelings of regret for the many dear ones carried off. It was a period of grave anxiety, illumined as it was by tho spirit of willing sacrifice with which so I many willing workers went about the task of affording relief and of doing i kindly acts to alleviate the sad situation i in which many families were placed, i

Several of the workers in their turn fell victims to the disease, and it is only lately we had in reverence the memories of those nurses who fell in

the devastating campaign. As the j years roll by they will have a difficulty in effacing memories of those sad days now a. year old. Science has not yet explained the mysteries of the epidemic which passed over the world with such J rapidity, and, left its mark everywhere. . New Zealand had a total death roll of ! | 5,471. The three weeks from November ! ! 18th to December 2, being the seventh, eighth, and ninth week of the period of the epidemic, claimed the most deaths, 4,347. The first week of the epidemic was October 7th, when three deaths occurred, and the last week (the thirteenth) was December 30, when 21 deaths, were recorded. a result of the visitation the Department of Health was reorganised, while a Royal Commission sat to investigate causes and suggest remedies. A great amount of experience was gained, and has been put to useful account, should another or allied visitation attempt to rear its head. While this is so, there still are memories of the trying experiences passed through, and of the grief put upon so many households by the fatal effects of the epidemic. To all sufferers there is abroad the keenest feelings of sympathy, in their sad bereavements and irreparable losses.

The general election compaign is now in full blast and the electors are being enlightened as to the sins and omissions of all and sundry, as well as informed as to the furbished policies for the future. It is five years since the last election, and th e trying period of war has had is effect on all. The contest is being waged with vigor, on all sides, and day by day the telegraphic news records an outline of the maiden speeches of the principal candidates. It is hot expected that there will be many members re-elected unopposed. So far one Reform seat, a liberal, and a Labor member, each appear likely to have “a walk over.” So in this preliminary, honors can be said to be easy. The leaders of the parties are holding forth with well sustained energy. Both Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have been addressing large audiences, and bombarding each other at long range. The Premier is confining his efforts so far to the North Island where Reform has its greatest hopes," but no doubt the South Island will be invaded as soon as possible. Sir Joseph is working north, and according to some reports has great hopes of augmenting his party at the polls. The Labor side expresses confidence, too, but the triangular character of the fight will produce many surprises no doubt, with the result that many calculations will be upset. Tho Labor side i s going to be handicapped in the centres as a result of the go-slow methods prevailing and if these tactics are continued during the polling period the chief surprises of the campaign will reflect upon Labor. Both Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward repudiate any idea of bargaining with extreme Labor after the polls in which case should neither bave a working majority either a fusion Government will arise or a fresh election will have to be faced.

i I To those who are looking for some meaI sure of coalition between the domin- - ant parties to carry on the government of the country in preference to leaving the balance of power to the extremists, 1 there is not much encouragement from speeches such as Mr Nosworthy made during the week. He openly attack- ■ ed three of th e members of the late National Government, the secession of 5 whom was so lately deplored by the Reform press. Mr Nosworthy is a man 5 of strong likes and dislikes, and his remarks take a very bitter turn at > times. With this exception the rival" campaigning is proceeding in . rather ■ good taste. The parties which differ express their disagreement without a personal touch, and this absence of bitterness js to the credit of the dignity with which party warfare is generally carried on in this country. There is ian absence of scenes such as mark I politics in some countries where feelings are allowed to run high, if not to riot. It is noticeable that where there are disturbed meetings it is usually in those cases where the friends of the contest- I ing Labor candidate make themselves I obnoxious. These folk are of the ex- I treme category no doubt, and their con- I duct cannot ho helpful to their cause j if they would consider their actions I in a sensible light. They are always I boasting about freedom, but they deny I to their opponents the freedom of I speech by their instanced interruptions I and efforts to upset a meeting. The I. day for this class of campaigning has passed long ago- Democracy as a whole I is a lover of fnir-play, and desires no- I thing more than free speech to assert I itself. Public meetings are the safety I valves of democracy and no true demo- I crat would seek to imperil that outlet I 1 for public feeling if he valued the I * rights of his class at their true worth. I •' 1 Polling day has been fixed definitely I f now for December 17th. A week be-1 i fore Christmas is a very latp da,te, see- s ing that there lias been so many months I f in which to prepare for the event. It I has long been known that the poU I wohld be taken before the end of thp < year, but it was never contemplated it I j would be left so late. There are many protests at the lateness of the poll, for I the upsetting nature of a general elec- J SE tiou operates adversely to business. w However, presumably the authoi ities I a ■ould not be ready for sift earlier date, md the decision has to be observed- TJie ™ mlling hours in this electorate will bp { i a.m., till 6 p.m. There was some | uggestion that the closing hour might 1 J ip extended to 7 p.m., but wo learn on H nquiry that jfchp poll will close through tn ,„t the Westland electorate at 6 p.m. n the adjoining electorate of J3ullep, g he closing hour will bo 7 p.m., but ; r n lectors in Westland should bear in 0 t ijpd that tlifey will require to observe | ie earlier hour. With the issue of the Nq rits for the elections, the electoral roll bn( ill close) automatically. This date is ot known definitely yet, but judged by ,e period allowed in 1914, it might be i or about the 28th inst., say Friday S !U : nex t week. Those who have omitted ma , see that their names are on the roll, mo iould no longer delay, as the time is ort. The present election is the most ™ lportant in many respects yet to tran- w i irb. There is the rebuilding of a 10 iw world to undertake, and it is for C e people to determine who shall he —si 1

the builders. To neglect to fote is to shirk a civil duty which in the light of events should be regarded as a solemn duty also.

A very representative meeting of citi-

zens and country residents was held at Christchurch this week, backing up the Progress League in its endeavour to secure the immediate restoration of

the through express between Christchurch and Invercargill. To some extent the necessity for the meeting says the Press, had been discounted by the

statement in our columns yesterday morning, for which we had good authority, that the express will be restor-

ed in rather less than four weeks. But it will do no harm to let thei Railway

Department understand, as it will from the terms of the resolution passed by ' the gathering, that Canterbury is deter mined over this matter and is disposed neither to drop it nor to suffer procrastination. The statement by a Christ-.

church merchant that his firm exper-

ienced great inconvenience from the . present service, would, w'e believe, be 1 endorsed by every commercial and indus-

trial firm in the city, and district. While, however, there is an urgent de-

mand for the restoration of the pre-war

service, the community is not disposed

to be unreasonable and if it can be satisfied that the Department is re-ar-

ranging its time-table as expeditiously, as possible, there will probably be little grumbling if the desired reform does not materialise until the date abovementioned. It can easily be understood that the alterations involved in the change take some little time to work out. The fact that the Progress League has the support of Otago in this matter adds welcome weight to the League’s demand. The West Coast people are qlso in full sympathy, no doubt, with the movement to secure an improvement in the railway and coach services between Canterbury and the West Coast. It is ridiculous, especially in view of the development that is taking place on the other side of the ranges, that communication should be restricted to three days a week. The Progress League lias done well in keeping railway grievances prominently before the Department, and we hope very soon to be able to congratulate it on the complete success of its efforts.