Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 19th, 1920. SECURITY OF TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 19th, 1920. SECURITY OF TRADE.

In the present troubled outlook of the world, every country must have its problems in regard to security of trade to enable it to weather the economic situation it lias to face. The >yar has brought about such a dislocation industrially and politically that there is a serious absence of that stability which should :)>e looked for, if nations are to make a genuine effort towards recovery from the ills the war lias made them heir tt), The obvious cure i 9 a better understanding man To man and particularly between the two great forces, the union of which is so essential to national tranquility. In Great Britain this need is very urgent, and the necessity of a closer and more amicable co-operation between Capital and Labour towards the recovery and expansion of British trade was emphasis ed by Mr G. H. Roberts, M.P., at the summer convention of the Industrial League and Council for the improvement of relations between employer and employed which was held, but recently in Manchester. Dealing with the great essentials which made for security in trade, Mr Roberts showed how the very uncertainty of the future would tend ±<?wayd .stagnation, unless while the employers kpey yhat Labour would the workroe/i .waptje<j[ gpcurfty <of wages be content with. Taking the scheme for the erection of houses a$ ap .example. they could see that th.e Government could not build unless those in the building trades were willing to put their hearts as well as their brains into the work In ttn railway and mining industries also he thought that both sides wore not pulling their weight. There was a' point when one could get nothing more out pf an industry, and Iwe were perilously near that sfage in industries to-day. If the railways did not pay, the builder, printer, and his fellows were taxed .to keep' them going. An industry op .that .basis was a parasitical industry and employers and employed must solve Its problems .together by making themselves fully acquainted with all facts. As to the solution of the high prices problem, Mr Roberts thought that this lay ip pur own hands, evidently advocating in- I creased production with a corresponding deereas e in the cost of the unit; while the contention of one of the dole- ' gates at the convention—Mr J. W. McConnel, deputy-chairman of the Fine Cotton Spinners’ Association—was that we should have to wait for a fall in prosperity before there would be any reduction in the high cost of living. There is no doubt that increased production will go a long way towards solving the problem, although there is something to be said in support of Mr. McConnel’s opinion having regard to the genesis of inflated values; but op this all must be agreed that the prosperity of this country will have reached its highest peak unless both employers and employed co-operate to |on o common end—the expansion of trade to their mutual benefit and the security of commerce and Industry, and this is a conclusion which must be arrived at also as the trade situation affects our own Dominion.

Homo affairs, is not n» dark as the clouds might portend. Wo must believe that there is a silver lining somewhere, and the Government has caught a glimpse of it, and are hopeful aecordingly. Despite all the bard tliingß the political press opposed to Mr Lloyd George say of the British Prime Minister, he pursues the even tenor of his way working nobly for the benefit of his country. He is a man who can be essentially trusted. The critics have got to the length of calling him names again, a sure sign that the Premier is scoring all along the line. >Some evidence of this and probably it is a presage of the silver lining is the speech of the French Premier who like all other sensible' men in responsible national positions, is most desirous of all for peace. The uncertainty of events in Poland is the storm centre of European politics just at present. Britain has elected to trust thp Soviet Government of Russia at all events as far as giving it an opportunity to live up to its promises. Russia can no more than any other country live within and upon itself for an indefinite period. Russia is as anxious ns the rest of the countries of Europe for international trade, which is tho life blood of the people. Best of all Russia would like to trade with Britain, and the British Prime Minister is prepared to negotiate upon a proper basis of goodwill and good faith. Naturally Mr Lloyd George cannot reveal all his cards in the intimate game he has to play, and political opponents arc only too ready to jump to conclusions and endeavour to use a falsely created situation to their advantage. It appears as''if Labour is bent in this direction, but as Mr Lloyd George has said so aptly why us e a sledge hammer on an open door? The open door is tho real security of the position and through it Mr Lloyd George promises to pass triumphantly as of yore.

The public meeting last night in connection with the visit of the Canterbury Progress League did not overlook the importance of the completion of the Otira tunnel. This, as ono speaker said, is the magnum opus of the Dominion, and as such should occupy a foremost position in the country’s policy. The time for arguing as to the pros and cons of the Otira tunnel is past. The work is so far advanced now that it must not be stopped. But everything points to the line being a highly payable proposition. Indeod some railway officials believe that at certain periods of the year there will be a difficulty in getting the goods traffic through the tunnel at all expeditiously. It may be accepted that the volume of traffic will be very great and it should he highly payable. With a prospect such as this it remains for the Government to hasten the completion of the line with all speed. There should be concentration of available forces 50 that the line can be made revenue producing. The labor troubles which for so long disturbed the progress of the work are now at rest fortunately. But there is a great, deal to bo done outside as well as inside the tunnel. While the latter is moving along so far satisfactorily, very little is being done outside the tunnel at the two ends to cope with the u - aflje. At times there will be some congestion of traffic, apd commodious station yard room must he provided. Houses have to be erected for tho railway staffs—yet there is not any sign of this largo work being undertaken. Least of all is there any material sign that the ejectrie power wjjl bo there when required to run the traffic through the tunnel. The meeting lafet night was wise in drawing pointed attention to this fact, and once again reminding the Government of its duty in the matter. It seems po be necessary to repent requests of this nature over and over again, before they are heeded. By concentrating the Government staff the men should be available to focus all the work there is to be done quickly, and the labor should be attracted to Arthur’s Pass and Otira to prosecute it without delay The Progress League has done well in emphasising what should be dpne in this all Important national wprk.