Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 3rd, 1920. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 3rd, 1920. THE WEEK.

The financial stringency which is making itself apparent in Australia has been pointedly emphasised during the week by the Premier of New South Wales. .Mr Storey blames the. condition of the Federal finance for the difficulties of the State, and that the Commonwealth is in. need of funds is emphasised by the fact that it is going to float a loan .of twenty millions, and will offer <S per cent, for the money. This high per c-entage is due no doubt to the New South Wales effort tp borrow on the London market, when only 45 p,er cent of the money was subscribed by the public, the balance being found by tlie underwriters. Strictures have been passed from London also on the State borrowing in Australia, so that fhe Antipodes has not been receiving a very good advertisement. It can be well understood in these circumstances that the announcement in the Gover-nor-General’s Speech in New Zealand

Jasfc week that the London market was not favorable for New Zealand borrowing, was founded on good information. The internal loan of two millions in Now South Wales, however, .was oversubscribed, but this after all is a very small drop in the ocean of requirements. Tlie loan was made as attractive as possible, and it would have been disastrous indeed, had over .subscription not resulted. Mr Storey’s frank statement regardin.tr the general financial condition of the Common-* wealth finance makes it very plain that there are difficult times ahead for Australia, and these probably will reflect themselves in New Zealand also.

The Te .Ywnmutu spirit recalls the i public spirt- which made the town of i Seattle what it is to-day in the United : States. Seattle folk had great faith in their town and country and in them- ■ selves and they backed their faith with ready money to promote the best interests of the place. Te Awamivin is setting out on a somewhat similar recorl. This week £120,000 was required for electric lighting, and on the poll being taken not a single vote was east against the proposal. The voting was , unanimously in favour of the movement. ■ No pessimists there; all have a broad outlook, and are ready to assist when opportunity offers. The wonderful support accorded is a unique record for this country and is a fine example For other places to emulate when the chance of lifting the district ahead is offered. New Zealand will he making great strides in the utilisation of electric power during the next decade. This will be markedly so in the North' Island What is the South Island going to do

about it? Tlie northern half of New Zealand is outstripping the southorn half already, and if we are not to be distanced we must 'be very active. Canterbury already has its power scheme. Otago and Southland arc developing targe undertakings and Marlborough is to follow suit. Westland is going to take the lead on the Coast, if the people will hack it up. Soon there will be the chance to emulate the To Awamulu spirit here. Thu British Crime Minister takes a hopeful view of the fate of the present Home Rule Bill. He realised that there was no proposal which would be acceptable to Britain which would bo acceptable to the Irish people—hut still he did not despair. The best point he made was the clear assertion that there

was “no other party in Britain ready to give Ireland any more than the present Government was prepared to give.” This is absolutely so. The Government had sought among the Irish people themselves for a better solution and the conference failed to agree upon anything. Sections of British political parties have dissented to the present Home Rule proposals, but while thencriticism was destructive, when pressed for something constructive they failed to supply it. The eruptions taking place in Ireland are serious in the extreme and are altogether deplorable. In the face of local conditions in Ireland, Mr Lloyd George remains optimistic and he thinks “tlie practical good sense of tlu- Irish people would loassert itself; and also that they would accept the present hill.” If the situation is as hopeful as this, the best tiling to do is to hasten the passing of the hill, and give a full and free opportunity for its acceptance by the people. The Irish question is a disturbing factor, and the sooner it is laid to rest the lietter for the wellbeing of the Empire. There is a. wide-spread desire for an amicable settlement, and it cannot arrive a moment too soon

Apropos of the foregoing question during the debate on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill in the House of Commons (winch passed it, March 81 348 to 94), Premier Lloyd George uttered this opinion on the status of “President” de Valera : “I want to say this to our American friends, Mr de Valera is putting forth the same claim in exactly the same language as Mr Jefferson Mavis, and the ancestors of some of the men who voted for that motion in the Senate the other day, fought to the death against conceding to 'tlie Southern States of America the very demand their descendants are supporting for Ireland. The acceptance of that demand we will never concede. It is a demand, which, if persisted in, will lead to exactly the same measures cf repression as- in the Southern States of America. We claim nothing more than the United States claimed for themselves, and we will stand no less.

An American paper said that there were certain considerations which render these tw.o cases not quite parallel, but the British Government has been too patient with thp whole matter t > insist on making the Prime Minister’s analogy “run on all fours.” It is at least interesting to note, continued the New York paper, that a party of .shouting Irish republicans with banners were marching to hold a demonstration in the Capitol at Washington, but were forbidden by the authorities to enter the structure for such a purpose, And it is no less interesting to note this week that the proposed reception of Dr Mannix in Maddison Square, New York, was abandoned at the prelate's request. Yes, there is certainly some justification for Mr Lfoyd George’s optimism on the Irish question,

Wednesday was private members’ day in Parliament, and tlie feature of tlie proceedings was the crop of bills introduced by members. Those from Labour representatives predominated, practically each Labour member having a “little Bill” of his own to sponsor. They were largely amending bills, designed to elucidate phases of the principal acts affected. It is dear the Labor representatives have a well-organis-ed plan of keeping themselves and their mission before the people. Their effort is excellent propaganda work. Unfortunately the individual member without the favour or Influence of the Government in power, has not a fill! opportunity to get his measures far beyond the second reading stage. A Homo country humorist wrote the other day that “q i member of Parliament is a person of very great importance with v.ery little influence,” This is certainly truewhen it comes to the making of legislation—that is largely in the hands of the I Government in office. It is only on very rare occasions that the tail may wag the dog, but tlie dog is often wise enough fa bo influenced by the wag, and what the cal. may not do, the dog does in its own good time. Prjvpte .members’ legislation therefore depends on the fa- ■ vor of the Government which sets the i House to work from day to day bv its ! manipulation of the Order Paper. How ’ ever, Labor has got a good start, and will have the opportunity of advertis- j ing itself further on the second read- i inge. [

The Address-in-Reply debate opened on Wednesday was notable for Mr Hocklev’s exposition of a truly reform land policy. Ho laid it. down tliaf “in future no map slum id be allowed to bold land without using it, and up plan should be denied land if be could use it.” This carried into effect and Now Zealanders would witness a reform which would make ail the world wonder. It would retrieve the whole fijianeial position of the country and render New Zealand essentially God’s own dominion. It will he interesting to hear wha t the Minister of Lands -will say on the propositi, and to see what effort the Government will make towards giving it effect. It is manifest as time goes by and the unrest continues, that to assure tranquility, and to bring about more production for the country's needs, rndi cal attention must ho given to the land question. The old factions about freehold and leasehold need not he revived. They are not the issue now. The ques < - tion to-day is more land for settlement to ensure more production. The freeholders and lease holders alike are not in the main doing.their full duty. Many thousands of acres are fallow. This cannot continue now, and Mr Hocklev s plainly stated cure for the ills we suf-

fer from ,is the royal road to genuine reform which will give the relief and permanency so much to be desired, and at the present so far off, hut the question has been put: What is to be the Government’s answer P

The no-confidence motion from the Labor side of the House has had tlie effect of taking the novelty out of tlie more official motion from the Liberal Party. It is not surprisin g in the circumstances that Mr McDonald’s motion sliouid fall rather flat, especially as the result is a 1 foregone conclusion. In introducing his motion, Mr McDonald appears to have been rather forcibly feeble by reason that lie found it necessary to apologise for and explain the motives prompting his overt action. The debate beginning thus tamely, so continued. Mr Guthrie followed in a set speech, prepared for any old occasion, and not necessarily as a reply to Mr MacDonald. It was only by courtesy that the Minister replied to the Leader of the Liberals, who had nothing more important to say apparently that might have been said, like Mr Guthrie’s remarks, at any odd time. It is clear that the debating strength of th e House is not specially strong now. .Some of tlie giants of the pasture absent,_other.s are outside the portals of the House for some time at least. The debates are not likely to he crowded with much moving eloquence, and generally will bo rather dreary reiteration. The best that can be hoped for is to see the Address-in-Reply disposed of ns quickly as possible, and the House get into its stride for solid work. Here matters are moi’e hopefui, and if the Government give the right lead a very useful session should result. The Government certainly has tlie pulse of the people. The question is will their, actions beat in iesponse ?