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Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1920, Page 2

What ha.-; happened in New South Wales threatens to come to pass in the Motherland. Mr Lloyd George reads the writing on the wall and is fearful that the trend of opinion is towards the defeat of the Coalition Government, to ho replaced by a Labor Government. Th British Prime Minister has made frequent appeals to the country to avoid such an event coming to pass. There was his Manchester speech of some two or three months ago wherein he pointed out that tile continuance of

national unity was still as necessary as it lmd been during the war period and irresistible' reasons wore adduced I by him why party government should ■ not yet be resumed. Party strife in | America, lu* added, had resulted in . jeopardising tile League of Nations, in the very country which took a prominent part in promoting it* “Was not tin's a. warning? We were not yet out of the wood.” Germany as wo already sec, is trying to take advantage of the situation created by the fiasco at Washington in respect to the ratification of the Peace Treaty. Again,

last week, Mr Lloyd George was moved to appeal to the Liberals for party support, and he declared open political war against the Labor party. 11l at challenge has. been taken up and the general election will be fought mainly on the lines the Prime Minister has laid down. The Labor party has a good sporting chance of reaching the Treasury benches, if we take a line from the great industrial unrest manifest in England particularly now. There has been an enormous increase

in the adult vote of late, and this is more likely to favor a change than to be exercised for a continuance of things as they are. The political unrest points to changes ahead, and it is not unlikely they will be on a par with those of New south Wales. The Repatriation Department has just started an After-Care Branch in connection with its operations among the discharged soldiers. Mr E. F. Wilcox has been appointed to carry out this new work in the Canterbury district, which includes Westland. A circular issued fnom the District Office indicates that the officer will deal firstly with tubercular cases and he expects to visitthe district in 'abciut a fortnight’s time when he hopes to interview every tubercular man. For this purpose be is equipped with information from the Pensions, Health and Medical Authorities of the Deence Department,, and

should be in possession of the medical history of all local cases Where possible the officer will inspect the man’s living accommodation, and if unsuitable will arrange for the Defence Department to carry out the necessary alterations to existing accommodation. Is the man’s health is not satisfactory He will arrange for a medical examination and if necessary further treatment at a sanatorium. Should the man be unemployed the Repatriation Office will endeavour to arrange for suitable employment for him. This is very practical help and the Government is to be commended on this proposal. Sound health is worth much money; and the line of assistance -proposed indicates that the men are not going to be neglected, and left derelict are to be a burden to tbenieslves and a menace to the publics health. There,. are other eass besides the tubercular to which it would be advisable to turn attention in the matter of After-care and no doubt theso will be brought before the Department as the occasion arises.