Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8th, 1920.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER Bth, 1920.

TRUSTING THE PEOPLE. It is a well established axim of democratic policy to “trust the people”. And it is particularly safe to trust British people. Their long history has disclosed time and again the trust which can lie reposed in the people. In the Great War Period of most momentous import to the nation, they rose superior to all consideration, and by their actions demonstrated that right can be converted into might, even though there may be thos e who in their blindl’ ness believe that might can be right always. Since the war period the nation has had stressful times at its door. The war unsettled national interests to such an extent that the re-adjust-ment cannot bo effected either with eeL ferity or soreness. Our own Dominion has been no exception to the general rule pervading tha world. During the war period many situations had to be accepted at their face value, and folk had to take things as they came. There were those who during the war and subsequently, took advantage of the situation, and have been continuing to do so. But free license is not good for anyone. There has to be regulation and even curtailment. This has boon so with human nature since the first 1 records, and when prohibitory rules are 1 broken, the offenders have had to ans--3 wer by suffering the penalties for their deeds. In the course of the industrial turmoil arising out of war conditions, organised labor when led by the ex tremist section which was so much in evidence during the war period and since, has been taking matters largely into their own hands, and seeking to order, the life of the community to their own making. In so doing they inflicted a. great wrong on the people. Still the public remainjed indifferent apparently, and month after month went by with strike after strike ensuing, lessened production being design edly carried out, and the whole commercial and trading situation deliberately irritated 1 .. The Government cajoled or threatened and in 'the end! compromised. The spirit of unrest spread and even civil servants and State employees held up or threatened to hold up the country if concessions were not agreed to. Further compromise was agreed to by the Government, and this house of cards began to rear itself till it was in danger of toppling over by its own weight. .People began to talk r.f the increased cost of living, but this was more often the excuse for indulging the fancy in high living at any cost. Tlie lessended production, the scarcity of commodities, the shorter ■ hours all added to the cost of production were all factors in adding to prices and spreading through all branches of 1 industry and into every walk in life. This is the stage th e Dominion is at, now, and it appears to have come to the cross roads at last, and must now - decide which route it is to follow for ■ the future. There is the broad high- ; way along which peace and content- ( mont may be found again as in the ( | days of yore, and the narrow path f strangely made with unknown barriers ! ( ahead. The latter seems to lead to £ chaos ,for those who would direct the j mtion by that route are those with- ( out responsibiltv and stake, and who £ would recognise no authority hut their own. The world presents one example, r where a country so "<ovemed gives a j striking nJlTustvation —Russia. Italy wiims fat following the Russian ex.nmole despite the fact that Bolshevism n itself is discredited already in Russia. n T-Terc in New Zealand there is im room f ( for snob a form of Onvr"t..»,„.t_ P nd rreentlv the Prime M’uirt"” l-ns been g sneaking his mind on the snlve-t. He has threatened also to take certain stens and the threat has had a. benign . effort in one instanee. Now the neoole are beginning to "esn.-f tl'emtolm. " Thneo e”t,suh’ the r ' ( this despotic < unionism which seek to attain power in F

this cGlliitrjb fil'd being beard. Tiifit voice will be a very loud one. It has been heard before, and it ntay he heard again. If the latter lie necessary organised despotic unionism in the form in which it would impose its will on the people, night find its wings materially clipped, for if the Government elect to trust the people at this juncture, a very pronounced opinion would be given.