Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20th., 1920. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20th., 1920. THE WEEK.

Since his return to New Zealand this week, the ,Hon. Sir Thomas MacKenaie has been interviewed. He made a remark abo'ut the liberality of the Dominion in contributing of the Home funds for patriotic purposes. New Zealand appears to have, been the most generous donor to the Belgian Fund. A return to hand this week shows that generally the people of the Dominion have contributed most liberally to various funds arising out of the war. The total funds raised and accounted for to the War Funds Office approximate £.5,700,000. This is an average of nearly a million and a half for each year the war was in progress, or roughly about £5 per head of the total population of the Dominion. These figures are certainly creditable to the generous giving of the people and show how sincere was the desire to help in every way possible regarding aspects of the war. At the end of last March over a milion and a half was in hand in New Zealand with the patriotic societies etc., for war relief purposes. With careful administration this substantial fund should go a long way towards the main objective of the generous donors in lelic'f funds for the needy soldiers and dependents of the future.

The doubt cast upon the solvency of New Zealand by Canadian exporters, has arisen in all probability from the bank methods of doing business. All countries are bent on keeping as much cash as possible within their own territory, and Canadian exporters are finding difficulty in doing business through the banks, as credit against documents is not readily obtainable. No doubt in Canada as elsewhere, bank accommodation is being limited, and with overdrafts restricted there is a difficulty in securing advances against bills of lading which is a form of advance Usually open to the average Trader. The banks are now restricting overdraft accommodation, often where gilt-edged securities are offering. Tilts of stringency naturally chtecfys imports, which financiers toll us is necessary now, because of late, New Zealand has been importing too largely—too much money is going out of the_ country as against money coming in for .exports. TTie balance of trade is against us, and this contingency invariably tightens the money, market and till the position becomes easier, • there is safety in restricting credits.

The unfavourable advertisement given to New Zealand credit by the Canadian bankers bas drawn Forth a rejoinder from Mr Massey who sent out a tabloid message to the effect that finan-

cial affairs of New Zealand wets novel* in a sounder condition than at the pte* sent time—which is- a fairly aweepitlg statement; also that trade is good, money is plentiful and the country prospcrous.< Outward signs as to trade being good, money plentiful (vide totalisator returns), and the country prosperous, are to be seen on all sides. No doubt the increased wages which the workers freely spend are assisting. 'in the general air of prosperity, but oven so Mr Massey had to remind the House when in session of the possible stringency ahead, and the present glow might shortly be succeeded by a gloom. Some ec{io of these remarks might have found their way to Canada, and careful banking men would note them, and begin to antiepate the possible worse even before the New Zealanders woke to the fact. In calling “wolf*’ Mr Massey evidently had a wider audience than hje antiepated and those most distant paid most attention to his warning.

From time to time there are indications that though there may not be any outward signs of activity working for an internal peace in Ireland, there are forces operating silently towards that desirable end The Government is bent —as it is pledged to do by honour and right—to put through the Home Rule Bill. That measure will not be received with acclamation by tlie people. Yet those who condemn it do not offer anything in its place short of cutting the painter from the Einpire—which is unthinkable unless the League of. Nations arrives to end war and presents Ireland being used, as a base for hostile operations against Great Britain should the latter ‘be embroiled in another war. Those of the moderate section of Irish opinion—to wit Lord Dunraven—who say the bill will not meet with the support of the majority of the people, do not offer anything in exchange for tlife (Government measure. Moderates such as Mr Asquith agree that the rights of Ulster to remain attached to Britain must be respected, and with these conflicting ideas there is no middle course and but little possibility of a compromise.

The sawmillers of the district who will be producing timber shortly for export from this neigh bourliood are much perturbed about the lack of local means for loading. There is not sufficient skid stacking room available in the railway yard, nor about the water front along which the station line extends. Indeed there is but a restricted space in the yard, and even in regard to ordinary goods, the shed accommodation is often taxed to its utmost. 'Hie volume of rail way trade locally is not catered for as it should be. It should as a matter of fact be quite unnecessary for the millers to go to the expense of sending a deputation to ‘ Wellington on the present mission. Ordinarily it might be expected that as a business proposition the Railway Department would cater for the trade without the users of the railway having to go cap in hand and ask for the facilities to enable the public line to earn move revenue. This indifference to the practical business side of affairs is one of the great objections to Government control. The official mind does not seem to comprehend the business side of the issues.

Another aspect of the industrial side of Government control, is the delay imposed by officials. They invariably quote regulations and rules and what not, and the unfortunate one has to set about seeking to move heaven and earth before by some long drawn out process the official, or his superiors, may be led to see matters in a practical light. The request for accommodation locally • has gone on for a long time. At Kumara Junction, similar appeals have been made over long years and still the Department fails to move. Matters at intervals are brought to a point where some high official or Minister promises to get a report and there is a promise to see what can be done. But nothing is done, and so the time goes on, industry is hampered and loaded with extra cost, and the public services of the country lose revenue. This plight of affairs foredooms nationalisation in the minds of numerous people, and brings the Department into unfavorable repute with the public who feel that they are paying very dear indeed for the bureaucratic form of government so often indulged in nowadays.

As to the particular request here, the suggestion is to have the station railway yard extended up Gibson’s Quay to the town . boundary by which means skid room will be available for the additional sawmills now ready or almost ready to begin cutting. The alternative would be to acquire land about the station yard and extend the accommodation into adjoining blocks. This would he for more expensive, however, than the simple extension of the Station line as suggested up the Quay. Already there is the extension down the Quay to make available through the courtesy of the Harhor Board, the space in that direction. Proceeding up the Quay some reserve areas can be brought into use for timber storage and loading purposes and the difficulty would be overcome as far as the present demand is concerned. The cost would be trivial compared with the extra revenue to be earned. There are some twelve mills to be served and their output would average more than 25,000 a wedk, so that at least a million feet a year from each sawmill would .lie available for freightage. These figures suggest substantial railway revenue over a long term of years.

What is required is a comprehensive scheme to deal with the certain trade which will bo here to be handled. While the Government dally over the position, the people in Canterbury and the North Island who have orders placed for timber, cannot” be supplied, so that the restriction on the,local trade is adverse to the public interests in other parts of the Dominion. Lately the Christchurch people bombarded the Government to undertake the “Hilcy Scheme” between Lyttelton and Christchurch. This was to give greater facilities for handling the goods traffic. Here we want a scheme, to give facilities to an industry which is the main contributor here abouts to the railway revenue. Soon the Otira tunnel will be an accomplished fact and there will he the direct means then of forwarding timber to Canterbury, and tho East Coast gene-

• rally . But the Railway D«l artment must provide the facilities for picking up this valuable freight and earning the ready money reyenue. At the same time it will give a fillip to industry and production, which are so essential to the general well being of the country. From every point of view, therefore, the millers’ req'uest is worthy prompt attention by the Railway Department.

Withal events are said to bo shaping more satisfactorily towards internal peace. The restrictions in the way of British payments to parts of Ireland which are in open revolt, are having some effect on the public mind, and there seems to bo a feeling abroad that a tendency towards the acceptance of the inevitable is at last manifesting itself. The true friends of Ireland seqm to have a special opportunity at this juncture to advise their countrymen to take what is being offered and make the best of it. A tranquil Ireland is more likely to.impress outside public opinion, than an Ireland in revolt. With murder and carnage abroad public opinion is not going to concede that folk responsible for the reign of terror are capable of directing the affairs of the country. Those folk stand very much discredited at the moment, and for that reason it is essential for Ireland to win back the respect of the people at large, and by gaining the confidence of the public be in an improved position to ask for and receive the measure of internal government they show their ability to direct. That seems to be the state of the Irish question now.

Russian affairs, following the complete defeat of Wrangel, are again in the fore front for consideration. The sudden turn of the tide in Southern Russia is yet another surprise to the outside world. Wrangel has been defeated decisively and lias had to flee the country. His forces are in a sad plight, as barely a quarter of the number have escaped, and those left to their fat© have desperate issues to face. The Bolshevik rule is again firmly established in Russia, for the reports of a fresh revolution in the region of Moscow indicate that the affray had no serious consequences. Russia remains still the great menace and the serious problem for both Europe and Asia. Th© League of Nations may take a hand, but without force to back up its action it can make but little impression. Russia perhaps is not ruled any better than it deserves but its form of government is ruthless in the extreme, and an example to shun rather than to imitate. Lenin and Trotsky, its extreme leaders are again very complete masters of the fortunes of Russia, which do not take a very pleasant course by any means.