Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 10th, 1920. THE HERO OF THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 10th, 1920. THE HERO OF THE WAR.

In a recent number of the “London Mercury” Mr J. C. Squire raised an interesting subject of speculation. The greatest war in history has ended; who will emrge as its greatest figure ? Who is the man whom poets ajid dramatists a hundred years hence, or a thousand, will regard as the protagonist in this mighty tragedy ? Who is he who will stir the imagination through-all time to come, and assume the character almost of a legendary hero? The question is not easy to answer. There may be grandeur in catastrophe. The Nemesis that overtakes vaulting ambition, the crash of some

proud dynasty, have inspired poets from Aeschylus to Thomas Hardy; tho fall of Satan is the theme of England's greatest epic. Had the ex-Emperor William chosen to go down with the ruins of his country he might, with all his levity, have acquired some dramatic significance in the eyes of posterity. He might at least have stood as tho symbol of Germany’s downfall. As it is, he has thrown away his chance of immortality in literature even as an I arch-criminal. There must be dignity in tragedy; there was no dignity in his ignominious scuttle to safety. Of those who led their country in field or council chamber, none seems to possess quite the epic quality; Kitchener, perhaps, comes nearest of all; his personality and tho manner of his death alike captured the imagination. Tho French have a genius for the “mot juste,” and in a telling phrase a Frenchman has suggested the impression which Kitchener and his passing made upon France ; “He died, a legen-

clary hero, "with eyes of steel, a ship his grave,”. But Kitchener was nor long enough on tile scene for the future poet to make him his protagonist. There is something of the sublime in M. Clemenceau, the old “Tiger,” who symbolises France at the last barrier, but indomitable, a (Franco soon to triumph, a France which between 1870 and 1918 had seen the wheel swing full circle. Is M. Clemcnccnu tho man ? We cannot be certain. Of the others, Foch., Haig and the rest, great soldiers though they are, are too remote and impersonal; they lack the human appeal which literature demands. Somewhat unexpectedly, Mr Squire picks out Lenin as a figure that will endure, less for himself than for the atmosphere that surrounds him. “That ugly little face, with its swollen bald forehead, its slanting lids closing on straight penetrating eyes, its squat nose, its fleshy mouth, between moustache, and goatee, its smile mechanical as a mask’s | will be more familiar to our descendants i than to us. They will see in reverie the ! revolution, with vast ancient Russia as its background, and this doctrinaire tyrant as its centre, with his ragged nr- : mies, his spies and Chinamen, bis mot-

ley gang of clever Jews, brigands, and mild spectacled professors round him. They will fee] his magnetism, and. whether as hero of legend or devil of legend, they will celebrate him.” But although Mr Squire's reasoning s ingenious, n. Sydney paper wonders whether is not altogether on the wrong scent. The captains and the kingis, mighty though they be, are overshadowed by the immensity of the drama, in which they are actors. There is only one man whose greatness can match the greatness of the war, and he is anonymous. He is a. composite being. He is the soldier who strove and suffered and endured all over tiie world that his land might achieve victory. He is the millions who rallied to their country’s flag, so many of whom have died, “For some great thought but dim ly understood.” If the war has proved anything it has proved the extraordinary heroism and patriotism of the common man. He is the hero of the war; the humble soldier is the epic figure whom the future will celebrate.

The visit of the Pince of Wales to Westland is synchronising with a very promising new ora for the district generally. This is a very happy coincidence, and will serve to associate memories of the visit with an important epoch in our history. There is no doubt about the marked improvement and outlook for the immediate future. There is the fact that outside inpit-

al is being expended here in thousands for a very promising mining enterprise, the success of which will give a new lease of life to the alluvial industry hereabouts. Success at Rimu will mean that other areas at Kanieri, Stafford, Goldsborough and Kumar a, to say nothing of the south country, will be taken up and treated with powerful machinery. Then there is the sawmilling industry which although it has been in existence for some fifty years, is as yet only in its infancy compared with the expansion yet to come when all ■New Zealand will bo looking to Westland for its timber supply. The exports responsible for the development of the forestry policy of the Government, 'tell us we have untold wealth in our bush, and in the very near future the wealth will be produced in voluminous pounds sterling. There is, further, the extension of the dairying industry and the expansion of pastoral pursuits. This grass-producing country must be brought more and more into profit. For there will be the demand for all that the land can produce, both in dairy products and in fat stock. A prime factor in this respect will be the railway communication. It is needed for South Westland, where timber carriage alone will repay the cost of construction over and over again, and make the line a highly profitable State undertaking.

The railway connection (through Vo Canterbury will provide a portal for the flow of prosperity at present quite undreamt of. The line? will be of great advantage to the dairy farmers and pastoral ist.s by reason of the market it will connect us with. This improved connection will put pounds on to the laud values of the district, for whatever the land produces, the railway wJI take it swiftly and directly to a certain market. The country districts in this respect will have boon times to avail themselves of, and the town will enjoy the reflected glory of this impo'-t. ant trade and trading development. This conclusion leads us up to the point we had in mind when referring to the new era. It is high time for Hokitika to prepare in advance for the coming business activities. Just now tho town is putting on a festive air, and presenting itself as best it can ’o receive its royal guest. . Having put the hand to the plough, the Mayor and councillors should, not look back, but go on with the permanent improvement of the town. Some months ago a loan scheme was mooted, but it has not taken practical shape yet. It might well be revived without loss of time, and ri definite proposal put before the ratepayers to do necessary works out 'of loan money. This would enable the works to lie brought into immediate utility instead of dragging over years while ordinary revenue strictly usable for maintenance only, could be so applied and the town kept in more spic and span order. Some where the other day there was a suggestion about Hokitika being a decadent town! Dry rot has not set in yet/and it is for the Borough Councillors to give a lead an 1 show, their faith in the future of .he town by putting forward a comprehensive municipal scheme to keep the place in its foremost position on the coast.