Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1920 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1920 THE WEEK.

inn recurrence of Armistice Day during the week has called to mind all that was meant by the cessation of hostilities on November 11th., 1918. It was the end of the great war, and great was the relief thereof. This year the celebration of the ' anniversary was marked in a very special 5 manner. A British soldier who fell in the war, and who was buried where he fell, has been disinterred and with every pomp and circumstance befitting the remains of a great warrior, the remains of the unknown one have been taken across to England and reinterred with a noble ceremony in Westminster Abbey. The recognition of the part played by the, rank and file in the great war is thus appreciated in a very peculiar manner which must give satisfaction to all parts of the Empire. The whole ceremonial and obsequies were conceived in a very appropriate manner and discharged with a splendid national spirit. From the King downwards the greatest honour was paid and in paying it the great services and sacrifices of the rank and file were tributed in such a way as to command the respect of all. Britain has done her duty right well.

Another phase of the war was emphasised during the week, and that was the special recognition meted out by France to Australia in the wonderful ceremonial at the Amiens Cathedral. This event recalled those surprising days of August, 1918, when the Australians broke through the enemy defence, and began the rout which ended the war. The French compliment to Australia was a very fine one, marked with the intensity of feeling characteristic of the nation. The Australian troops excelled in the war period, and played a great part in helping to save France. All oversea troops played their part no less gallantly, • but to the Australians was given the opportunity of turning the tide of war definitely against tho enemy and they used that opportunity with greatest success and elan. The inner history of the war now being revealed shows how desperately the enemy strove to break through the FrancoBritish line and cut the support which France was receiving from England. The enemy effort failed, and Australian troops turned the tide of battle and relieved the pressure on France. For this the nation remains t'or ever grateful and honors Australia specially.

Before Parliament finished its crowded siession this week the Reformers found occasion to honour Mr Massey for his ability and leadership with a special presentation. The honor done Mr Massey has been well-earned. He has proved a capable leader of the Reform party, and has done his supporters yeomen service. Though one may not agree with Mr Massey's polities or that of his party in ; what might be essential principles of administration, one must must admire -bis resolute energy and persistence, and bis determination to carry through what he takes in hand. Mr Massey’s personality has developed greatly of late years, and though holding such power and prestige, he is withal a modest man, ' and though lie may not he serving his country brilliantly, lie pursues a line of persistent attitude which gives • him strength and power. For the time being be holds a very powerful position, and he seems the right man in the right place for tho Reform party. That party would 'miss him greatly, for lie has qualities which contribute to the solidifying of the party’s interests which do not appear to be enjoyed by any of his lieutenants. The party has done well, to honor and appreciate Mr Massey.

The session which finished up this week ; has produced a fair crop of legislation. All that required to bo done has not been done, and so there will be plenty of work for the years to come. The land policy which Reform espouses, we do not like, yet the party has a following which is strong enough to do as it pleases and take what it wishes of the country’s freehold—-and it is doing it. Finance is not tho forte of the Reformers, but the policy was to deal with matters as they arose, and not set about a comprehensive policy for the reduction of taxation. Borrowing has gone on and more interest must be paid, therefore more taxation. Mr Massey has taken it where he considered it would be least felt, but this opportunity will not present itself always. Sooner or later the country must prepare for the future by a reduction and not an increase of debt, and by a decrease and not an addition to the taxation. The finances of the country are of paramount importance, yet looking to the record of the session they appear to have been of least concern. In criticising the Government, it must be confessed to be honest in the matter, that the Opposition put up has been weak and not to say inferior. The compulsory change of leaders which the Liberals had to make has not been of apparent advantage. Mr Wilford has kept his foot on “the 35ft pedal,” to use one of his own expressions, and the Liberals as a party have not appeared to singular advantage. Labor has kept up a bold front: Its leaders have no)t hid their light under a. bushel, and though numerically weak they have kept up a steady not to say almost continuous attack on the Government stronghold. Opposition is the life of politics, and the aggressive attitude shown has assisted to keep the Government up to the too often leaning toward tlie extreme, and those excursions discount so much of the other good work the party is capable of doing. On the whole the opposition shown to the Government is weak, but it was always a forlorn hope because the Government stood so strong aiid united on every question. The strength of tho Government being so pronounced one would have expected to see Mr Massey go forward more rapidly with the Reform policy. Many of the platform promises of a year ago remain unfulfilled, notwithstanding the golden opportunity which lias been open. During the past week or two there was a great rush of work. But it was ever thus, and one parliament has been as bad as another in that respect. , Tho opening weeks are dull and business long drawn out. Then with enfeential matters, often kept back to the last, there is a rush, and hasty legislation finds its way on to the statute book, only to create legislation and trouble afterwards. In tho closing days of the, present session the House dealt with important industrial matters. These are of moment if they will assist to bring about industrial peace. The discussions and opposition from the Labour side did not indicate, that this would he so, so we need not rejoice over the situation. The country needs industrial peace as the sure means to production, and till that happens many of the things we are heir to will remain as great sores as ever. Duiiing the week the citizens showed their appreciation of Rev. Dr Holloway’s talents by a, small present for an appropriate purpose —the furtherance of his scientific research work for which lm is so eminently qualified. Dr Holloway in his reply referred to the present association to-day of religon and science,' and apropos of this view the London Daily Mail recently had the following comment:—“lt is a pleasing sign of the new co-operation between religion and science that a recent sermon, delivered at Cardiff immediately after the British Association meeting, is appearing in both the scientific and religious papers. The fact opens up what is described by tho general secretary of the British Association as “the possibility of a great reunion—a removal of the barrier be. tween religion and science which ought not to have been allowed to grow up.” Of late years scientific imagination has immensely widened. Simultaneously the Churches have paid more heed to the findings of science. Canon Barnes’s acceptance of the present scientific view of tho origin and fall of man is more complete than many men of science would themselves think necessary. He recognises what, after all, is a conjecture as an irrefutable fact. He is more scientifically minded than the men of science themselves. But his view merely follows an even more remarkable confession of scientific faith made at the last Lambeth Conference, where it was so to say, officially laid down that the Church would not go farther in its acceptance of spiritualism than the views of science warranted. If Canon Barnes’s now famous sermon gives a common, platform where the leaders of religion and of scientific thought may co-oper-atively meet, it will be of good sorvice towards towards the ideal they both aim a t_the advancement of truth.