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Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1919, Page 2

The affairs of distressful Ireland are surely at a crisis when it is sought to repeat the Phoenix Park murders. The deliberate attack reported to have been made on General French will awaken the nation to the full gravity of the situation. Lord .French served his country and defended the Empire with consummate skill at the outbreak of the war. There is no finer record in all the war than the battles of Ypres in which General French figured so victoriously against fearful odds to save Europe from being overrun by the Huns. Yet this is the man whom the assassin levels his rifle at, or at whom he seeks to throw a bomb. General French i s a courageous man. He displayed personal courage about Ypres where he daily visited the front lines, and was under fire continually. He showed his courage when at the request of the Government he undertook the official position in Ireland. In the face of the menace against his life he continues to display the conspicuous courage which marks the true British officer. There is a reign of terrorism being attempted in Ireland. Murders are daily occurrences. When and how is it all to be ended? Force is being employed, no doubt at the cost of millions, and the position seems to grow worse. Yet the law must be maintained, and ordjer The Government is still dealing with, cause a.nd effect, without nearing, apparently, a peaceful solution. The present conditions are intolerable. The spilling of innocent blood is not to the credit of either side. The situation is so grave and serious that the Government should bring down their legislative proposals at once and endeavour to /supplant treason with reason.

Tiie Government, is doing well in regart to repatriation work. The demobilisation of the men, and their return tc civilian life is working exceeding!} well in this country, probably as well as anywhere else in the Empire. 'I he Repatriation Department is an excellently managed organisation. Its advantage appears to bo mainly in the fact that its constitution is elastic, and it is not governed by hard and fast regulations. The Department, further, is conducted on very sympathetic lines, There is the keen desire to help the men, and where the men show a disposition to help themselves the Department is ready to co-operate very heartily. In this district a good deal has been done in a very expeditious way to put the men on the land, establish them in business, outfit them with furniture. A proposition was mooted lately to put a party of discharged men into a sawmilling project at Woodstock. At the outset there were difficulties jn flip way, mainiy raised by other Departments which had a controlliifg say in the matter. The proposition however, had so much to its credit on the face of tilings, that the official opposition was withdrawn, and the matter is now in a fnjr way of settlement. The men willl be able to form a private company and go into the business just as any other civilian company might proceed. By this means a dozen men or so will bo repatriated on excellent terms to tile State. The Crown bands will be utilised, and the State will reap the royalty and have the land at its disposal afterwards. The proposition is a very practical step in the right direction.