Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1921, Page 2

This week the. United States witnesses a chance in the occupants of the presidential chair. Mr-Wilson gives place to M.V Harding. President Wilson now retiring into private life, has filled a large place in the minds of the people during his term of office. lake many another statesman the war and what , ,'t carried in its train, affected his reputation. The strain of all that the war meant affected his health, and he goes lout of office a broken man. Up to a certain point he exercisftl a wonderful , influence over the political councils of {the world, but when his health gave (way he lost his grip, and even amongst , his own people his inann departed. The last, presidential poll was a sweeping verdict against him, and was one of tho most remarkable results in- the political campaigning of the United States. Still, we have to remember that it was the force and personality of President. Wilson who made the League of Nations covenant as we have it to-day, possible. Tt is remarkable indeed that although the head of a nation like United States, should dominate the Allied peace Conference and mnk 0 the world peace covenant, possible, yet in the end that great country should itself T'ofuse to subscribe to the covenant — even with reservations. Wo are reminded over and over again that the United States is a very complex nationality. There are millions of aliens within its borders, many of them of enemy origin —for strange as it is America is still technically at war with Germany and her Allies. Milch will be expected of Air Harding, though at th e outset perhaps much may not he hoped for. Mr Harding has still to win his spurs and it remains to be seen whether he will display the same independence of spirit as Mr AVilson when the latter was in his best form. There p* a call for America to join the League of Nations or some combination to assure peace. "War clouds hang between Japan and America just now and the sparring which is going on, is not conducive to host of feeling between the two nations. .There is the race for superiority in, armaments also. Mr Harding has difficult times ahead and a great call will Ik* made upon his genius.

Tjik present season has been a good ono, and Westland soil lias responded to the climate with excellent effect. There has been good growth of crops, and more winter feed saved this year than for many a season past. Perhaps this is not to he attributed altogether to the equable climate enjoyed. There has been more cultivatiqn than liere-to-fore. The plough is being used more generally, liming and fertilising have been more in evidence, and the farmers are reaping the benefits of their energy and enterprise. No doubt the satisfactory experience the settlers are having this year will encourage them more and more to cultivate. They will find that if you want to get a return from the land, you must first put something into it. Fields that are fallow year after year become exhausted ,and in agriculture to produce crops successfully, nature must be encouraged and the moro lavish the expenditure in energy and enterprise in reason, the better the response. Stock prices are justifying tho action of the farmers in storing up winter feed, so that at no time of the year, the stock will bo allowed to go back. This will be an -imperative necessity when the Canterbury market is open directly to Westland. With the means of regular through railway transport, the settlers will find it will pay to have ■ their stock in the best of condition to take advantage of the demand always ranging across tlie ranges. Last week we had a special train from the south taking twenty trucks of lambs to Otira, to lie walked over the Gorge, and then railed to the freezing works. When it will be possible to do this trip without a break "for the exhausting walk over the Gorge, the farmers will reap tlio advantage in the higher price they will obtain for improved condition in which Prime Westland will then become as re-

putable as the stock of any other pro vincial'area. It is Well for the settlers to build up their holdings now for the business soon to be done in stock raising. Land can be cleared, and paddocks brought into profit to supply ample feed, and tlie return will lie derived quickly to recompense for U |e outlay. Westland has yet to make its name as a great stock producing country and it has the land available to achieve that reputation.