Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 24th, 1920. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 24th, 1920. THE WEEK.

The Christchurch Labour Party is looking forward to the time when New Zealand will bask in the sunshine of a Republican Commonwealth. These reactionary ideas need discounting without delay, and it is “ up ” to public men of all shades of political opinion to unite for the common purpose of moulding public opinion in such a way that what we have in the way of liberty and freedom we will hold loyally to the end. The reactionary ideas referred to above are taking root in this country, and seem to be an offshoot from Australia, where General Birdwood had occasion lately to refer to the subject. What lie said is emphasised by the Svd. jiey “ Jerald,” which went on to sav:

- »c»i vii lu say ; General Birdwood’s downright declaration that Australians should pursue their national development under the existing Imperial tie is timely. There are two main conceptions of Australia’s political destiny. One is that she shall grow in power and influence and material prosperity as a member of the British group of nations, at once lending strength thereto and deriving strength therefrom. The other is that ■she shall, perhaps not immediately, but certainly and unmistakably, withdraw from affiliation with the Empire, and ultimately set up for herself. Of the latter there are several variations. To that which is based on a- devotion to the principles of republicanism the reply may be made that we have as much liberty as if we were a republic. Why should we deprive the Commonwealth of the prestige and other advantages which Australia enjoys as an integral part of the Empire? For that form of cut-the-painter propaganda, which cloaks itself in burning solicitude for Australia’s welfare, while being little

more than an expression of intense iiatred for England as the rallyiu ,centre of Empire, one can have nothing but contempt. Speaking to the pressmen of Sydney, Geiv-"' Birdwuod, an astute observer, whose point of view as • a visitor the company desired to know, cited the retention of the Imperial connection as the first of Australia’s great needs. To men who, despite occasional outbursts from those who would disrupt the Empire on general principles or for the furtherance of a particular end, take Australia’s continuance as a British Dominion as a matter of course, the raising of the question in such a way was noteworthy. I't seemed to indicate either a notion that there ie in this country a growing tendency to regard Australia as having a future apart from Britain, or a readiness on the 1 part of our visitor to attach to re- !

! publican or anti-British sentiments of which he has heard or read, an importance greater than they assume in the Australian mind. Large questions of national ami Imperial policy are being faced, but whatever the decisions wit' l regard to them we can assure our distinguished visitor that there will he mi deliberate or conscionsly-permitl-d weakening of the Imperial tie. Whatever may be the effect of Australia’s determinations with regard to Impend federation or the questions of nave' policy and Imperial defence, our present creditable place in the Empire w be retained. What, unfortunately, does persist in the Commonwealth is a, disposition to believe that no more positive effort is

What, unfortunately, does persist in tho Commonwealth is a disposition to believe that no more positive elfort is

needed on our part to keep the l!n'; 1 strong against all the tides of inter- 1 national development. There is per-1 ] haps not a little danger to-day that.]: exhausted by her efforts in the great j i war and condemned to bear a huge in-j 1 debtedness on that account, Australia : will take her future security for grant. : ed, and omit those extended precaution, ary measures to preserve it which Low 1 Jellicoe, for example, advises as an expert in naval science. General Birdwood did well to stress Australia’s dependence on the might of the British Navy. But for its readiness in 1914 and its capacity in the intervening years to maintain the mastery of the* seas, we should not be in a position today to discuss freely our national problems and take those-courses which seem to us to be best. With the shifting of I the centre of gravity from the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, Australia will have to rely more directly than before on naval strength • for her security. Of her jown volition , she could not command naval forces sufficiently powerful to guarantee her j integrity against possible attack. While j her Imperial connection is maintained i ishe would not be left to her fate, oi course, but the first obligation to pro- j vide for her defence is upon herself. ' That is prmarily a question of up-to- 1 date warships, properly manned and i equipped, and suitable naval bases, but j of at least equal importance is another . factor in defence which General Birdwood enumerated. We must have adeqtiate man-power to enable us to hold . this continent. This is a moral even more than a physical question. j are the trustees of a great heritage, i Under our control is a vast land ; capable of producing many of the commodities for which the world is hungry. If we do not use the land to reasonable extent ,we cannot be said to be making good our title to it. o cannot thus use it without a great in- , crease of population—an increase which would come too slowly were wo to depend only on natural increase. Our great opportunity to get suitable immigrants is now, while the thoughts of Britons who have been rooted out of their grooves by the war are turned towards new lands as fields for their newfound energies. But care must be taken to get men and women of the right stock who regard and venerate their country for what it has been, what it is, and what it can be made. Loyalty of purpose must go hand in hand with loyalty of service, and in that firm security the nation-makers will enjoy peace and prosperity.

The British Budget is as stupendous a document as ever. Naturally it is being received with mixed feelings at Home. It is interesting to-note that while it is the product of a Coalition Ministry in which the Conservative element predominates, its most favourable reception is from the Radical side of the House, the supporters of the Government supplying the chief opposition to ! the Budget phoposals. The finance of Great Britain is of world-wide interest ' and it speaks well for the security of | the Empire that the Old Country is j making good despite the enormous debt which was hers as a result of her I mighty effort for civilisation in the { Great War. As to grappling with the great financial issue as follows: —The • expenditure for the past year, £1,665,750,000 was certainly about 231 millions greater that Mr Chamberlain’s revised ' estimate in October last year, but : against this must be set the fact that j the revenue £1,339,500,000, was higher . by close upon 171 millions than ho then expected it to lie, and 4501 millions above the revenue for the preceding year. The estimate of the Budget de- • licit in October placed it at £473,645000, but results show it to amount to ! £326,000,000 or 30 per cent, less th a n was anticipated. The British taxpayer cannot yet, however, look forward to any relief from the burden of taxation except in one direction, that of the income tax, in which tlio exemption for married men is raised to £250 and to single men to £l5O, instead of the present exmeption limit for both classes of | £l3O. In other directions still heavier taxes are to be levied. The postal and telegraphic rates are to bo raised, heavily increased duties levied on wines, beer, and spirit®, which the returns of the past year show to he legitimate objects for higher rates, an excess profits tax goes up from 40 per cent, to 60 per cent, and there is to he a new “corporation tax” of Is in the £ on the profits of limited liability companies, which may, in future, be substituted for the excess profits tax. 'Beyond these sources of increased revenue there is the possibility of a

i levy on war wealth, a matter which has ’ lately been the subject of investigntior 1 by a. select committee of the House ol > Commons. In regard to this question, 1 a passage in the report of the Budget 1 speech in yesterday’s cables clearly mis--1 represented Mr Chamberlain’s views. Ho was reported as saying that ho >n--1 tended to propose the ( imposition of a capital levy when the report of this committee was received. That suggests that he is in favour of a proposal that was put forward last year, that, for the purpose of reducing the National Debt, a genera] levy should be made on capital. Mr Chamberlain, speaking at the end of October, specifically declared that “he could and would have nothing to do with it; if it were decided upon he could not carry it out.” But he had authorised an explanation of the ground regarding the suggesting special levy on wealth accumulated by reason of and out of the war. It was in the abstract equitable and attractive, but the difficulties surrounding it were immense. For all this taxvation, actual and proposed, there is an excellent excuse, j Great Britain before the war was a nonI borrowing nation; to-day sbe owes a j vast debt. Sbe proposes to reduce tin’s j and thus restore in full her former ere- j dit, by further measures of self sacrifice, I measures which must bo regarded ns j heroic when it is remembered that to- • day the financing of the country’s re- I quirements imposes a grievous burden * upon her people. Already sbe has ! ceased to borrow and has begun to pay j off her debt, showing thereby a strength and a power of recuperation from the dreadful strain of the war, that augurs well for the future. . Tun short period set down for the collection of funds for the Westland War ' Memorial is drawing to a close. Tomorrow ends the period of collection, but it hardly seems likely that the full sum asked for—£l,soo, will be realised. It seems a pity that the district should

lose this opportunity of doing the right thing in the right way, and it is to be hoped that by the time all the lists are in, the grand total will show an amount approximating the major sum sought. The occasion is not one needing to be specially stressed. Our gallants went forth to war not counting the cost. It was a magnificent spirit which answered the call, and as they did their duty nobly and steadfastly, so the living might answer the call of duty, and do something tangible to keep the memory of the fallen green. We should like to see a very worthy memorial reared here. Something not so much a credit to the district, ns an honour to the memory of the fallen. It is a formidable list which testifies to the splendid sacrificing spirit of the Westlanders, and those who come after will always revere their memories. Year by year, as Anzac Day comes round, there will be always a solemn assembly round the Westland Cenotapii to honur the dead who died for the cause of their countrv —which is our cause.—Ere another Anzac Day 'comes round the Cenotaph will be in its place,, and the recorded names of the-fallen will be a permanent reminder of what the Great War meant to this little community —<» community which, we hope, will prove not unmindful of its foil duty. %