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Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1921, Page 2

It has boon remarked that the decision of America to exact payment of the debt due to her by the Allies makes b»r interest in the German reparations a eery real one. Europe owes the United States 11,000,000,000 dollars in war loans, and the total is likely to amount to 12,000,000,000 dollars before interest payments begin. Germany is the real source from which this money must come. If the Germans are allowed to default in their reparation payments the Allies will he so embarrassed that America will have to wait in her turn. Recognition of tin's probably accounts in part for the prompt intimation of the Harding Administration that it holds Germany responsible for the war, and bound to make good the damage she has wrought. The Allies have called upon Germany to pay a sum equal to 56,000,(100,000 dollars in forty-two years, and representing a present or capital value of 21,000,000,000 dollars. It is thus clear that about half the. German indemnity is required to satisfy American claims, and the balance can remain in hand with the Allies—if they are lucky enough to get it. Britain, of course, has large sums owing to her by the other Allies—indeed, most of what she borrowed from America was for other nations whose bills she wn s backing. Much of this, such as loans to Russia, is irrecoverable, and mere of it, it is not intended to press for. All if it, however, will have to be made good to th 0 United States. Most of the money went to resist Germany during the period before America entered the war in April 1917. That resistance vill therefore he entirely free of charge 1 ;o the Unjted Stqps although she de- *

rived as much benefit from it as did any of the Allies.

“Hastening slowly,” as tho Romans had it, appears to be the rule of tho Public Works Department in regard to the bridges on the main south road leading into Southern Westland. It is years now since the policy of bridging the southern rivers was entered upon. .Session after session Parliament votes and revotes money for the works, which the Department is so dilatory about. If the sum of all these amounts voted and revoted were aggregated, there would be a total large enough not alone to build the bridges, but to put through tho railway also! There are two bridges at present in hand, after very long delay—the Little Wait aha and the Tatare. It is months in each instance since the contracts were let, so that it would appear the Department is as little concerned about the prosecution of the works (wen when announced, as it is about the initiation of the works when the parliamentary votes are sanctioned. It was hoped with a younger Minister in charge of the Department, and with the promise .also of a more vigorus Engineer-in-Chief, the methods of the Department might bo smartened up. But the motto of “hastening slowly” is still observed and works are allowed to he 'delayed to the great disadvantage of all interests concerned in the** matter. At present there is the same hesitating delay over starting the bridges at Little Wanganui and Waitangi, to say nothing of other smaller bridges on the route. It has been stated authoritatively that these works have been authoirsed, but still there is no sign of early commencement. Yet there is no question as to their urgency; there is no doubt as to the Minister’s intention of doing the work. Then why the delay? What is wrong with the Department or its officers that these highly important arterial connections on a main road route are so long delayed? These are questions, looking to the personnel of the heads of the Department, we are not able to answer.