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Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1920, Page 2

Tub public accounts of the Dominion promise to disclose i! much more satisfactory result than was the outlook at the time the Finance Minister brought down his estimates. The figures for eleven months of the year have been disclosed, and they disclose a promising as. pect. The total estimated surplus for the year was under half a million but there is now reason to believe it will exceed a million and may go to a million and a quarter. These satisfactory figures show the general betterment of the financial position of the Dominion. It is apparent that there is a wave of prosperity passing over the gpjijj.try, and despite the high cost of living, np.'i the predisposition of the people to jpdulge in higher living, the public administration is being maintained in 1 ! very solvent state. New' Zealand o. s . * raped the financial .vigors of the war, and it would appear it will escape the ! difficult period of the aftermath. Cor. tainly it promises to he in a better po■iition to meet a. stringency should t arrive, as some of the financial critics ire forecasting. With all the wealth lowing into the country, it is to he loped that there is sot.ne /dya of thrift mderl.ving it so as to prepare for the •ainy days ahead. The improved and latisfaetory financial stability of the •ountry gives a prospect of continued jettennent, because it shows good roulfcs at a timo of financial uncertainty, n the midst of much complaining and eart burning. In spite of all the con.

fusion and the trouble, the country is more than holding its own. As it is doing -so well before the settling down has come, for which everyone sighed during the war, it is right to conclude that, once things get Iback to normal the Dominion will be fairly prosperous. If good reconstruction can lie added to the pre-war normal, the prosperity will be phenomenal.

The fresh ebullition in Germany, and the consequent change of government indicates that that much . distressed country is going through serious pngs of reformation and is reapjng a whirlwind harvest from the seed of its own sowing. The measure and meaning of the now change affected by the recent upheaval is not clear at this distance. American opinion is not surprised at what has happened for the reason that it was expected. The change appears to have been brought about by + bo force of the military strength behind the new powers that he, hut that need not cause alarm for it is a force only strong enough to control interior matters and cannot act externally. General Foch has been called upon to watch the position of the Allies. It will be necessary for some authority strung enough to rule a.nd maintain order to hold the position of government while the country settles down to the new order of things. The Allies lia.ve th° power to dictate their authority under the Peace Treaty, and the sooner Germany settles down with a realisation of this fact, the hotter for the peace of Eiirope. It would appear that the military party in Germany still exercises sway, but that power is now curtailed—except for the measure >f good it may do for the country itself. The navy appears to be with the new government, which is a further proof that it should be capable of maintaining law and order, and that condition of tranquility is essential to the future of Germany if it is to make good under the rigorous terms of the Peac. Treaty. It is certain the Allies wii watch the position closely to that end