The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, AUGUST 6th, 1921 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, AUGUST 6th, 1921 THE WEEK.

The eventful August 4th fell this week. Seven years' ago now how the awes fly - Great, Hritain was taking part in the Great War, and though the thunder of the guns has long ceased, the. aftermath of tin* war is still very much with u.s. The war ha* been an epoch making time for the world at large. The war spread its effects to every corner t.l the earth, practically, and though we are now in peace times, pence is a much perturbed period by reason of the exacting conditions left by the war. Still, none with a genuine desire of love of country would have sought to prevent Great Hritain entering the war, and fighting it to a finiuh The

response within the Empire was a testimony to that loyal spirit. -It was realised that there was something to light for. something which if not allayed would have robbed us of our national security, and made our boasted freedom and liberty but bywords. Before the ravages of war could have achieved thpt, other countries which were bulwarks between us and defeat, had first to lie conquered, so from the outset our aim was to defend those countries, and securing them, win also a continence of the national freedom which had for so long been our boast. The toll of Avar was great. The conflict was long drawn out. From a, period of three or six months’ duration, ii extended to four years and three months. In the titanic struggle Avhich resulted, everything practically went into the melting pot. But withal we may well lie proud of Britain’s part in the Avar. It spared nothing and left nothing undone which would pave the v.av to victory. It Avas a wonderful period of national sacrifice, and the historians Avill write dt down as the greatest! in all our history.

Wiikn the Avar broke out seven years ago. the strength of the British position in the first blush of the conflict was its nival supremacy. By a happy set of circumstances England was able to rush her noble battle fleets to war . positions round about the coasts of the United Kingdom, and by that very act . secured the ocean highways. Tn a trice 11io enemy squadrons tvero held at hay, ; and that advantage was the stepping • stone to the ultimate Avinninp of the war. '‘The sea is England’s glory” as the noet has said, ami throughout tb,> long dra'vn out period ol I l ' war, no greater'testimony to this fact could be looked for than the splendid service of the British navy and mercan- , tile marine. Tn the hour of difficulty and danger the navy justified itself, and the vast expenditure it had cost the nation. It is well to keep that positive insurance in good working conditions. and the fact that four new modern battleships of the superior class are to be added to the British Navy is one for ready endorsement. The Hon Amery in putting the position before the Commons stated the position very clearly and fairly. It was a surprise to find Hon. Asquith al captious critic of the proposal. Mr Asquith Avas the Prime Minister when the war opened and none should know better than lie what a service the Navy was in those desperate opening hours of the conflict. If Mr Asquith were in tho responsible position to decide now, as Him. Amery and bis colleagues have had to decide, we doubt if be would shirk the obvious national responsibility. It. *s clear that Britain must not weaken on the seas till a definite understanding is reached at the disarmament conference. Till then, it would be criminal to neglect responsibilities for safe guarding the ocean highways which are the very vitals of the Empire’s security. The New Zealand parliamentary session is beginning to east its shadow before. Parliament Avill open Text month, and a prolonged session is expected. The last session had to 1,< ‘ hurried, and many matters left in ,-heyunce. In any ease, being die mid-ms. s ion of the parliamentary term, dm present session is invariably ihe most important of the period. To the ordm ary work, will lie accumulations from the past, so that the forthcoming meeting of Parliament is destined to lie one of unusual interest. Disguise the position as we may. there is nothing more directly concerning tlm Dominion’s welfare than matters of finance, and the Government in this subject •done has a most difficult task ahe of it. The Acting Minister of T*inanco has told us that the Treasury is empty, and though the country las borroAved oil the .London market there are not any visible signs that the posi tion is easier here. The Government is still restricting expenditure on public works, and other enterprises are held in alieyanee for the want of funds. iA. large sum of money has to !>e found in the near future to red 'em war borrowings. On top of that there hits been the growing increase in deI partinent'al exptendvtu're Many State I services are not showing the profits they once did. In point of fact, actual deficits are being created. There mis to be some readjustment of taxation, a revision of the customs duties and a complete departmental overhaul. ’! 1 financial task alone is work enough for a session, but to it must be added many large public questions for intention. The session is certain to ex tend over Christinas. Tt is as well Parliament starts in this knowledge, for it means that there will be more time given to practical legislation i loss time to hasty action.

Thu Minister in Chprgu of Mental Hospitals 'has greatly reproved Bisho; Julius for rushing into print over con ditions’ at the local institution hefort ascertaining the full facts. The Hon Parr has stated the case very faith and though in some instances there were certainly evils in need of immediate attention, it must be confessed the conditions of the patients was not seriously prejudiced in physical health

nor through lack of medical attention. The Department has now determined on a definite scheme, for its postponement there tvas a set of circumstances in regard to which no one could reasonably control. What was of first importance was the expert direction of the institution by a qualified medical officer dealing with the special class of patients. This appointment has been on the tapis for many years but for obvious reasons the specially trained medical officer was not forthcoming. Having secured the officer of eminence it is perhaps but natural he should act with tho all embracing effect of Hie efficient new broom. He saw at once reforms were necessary in the modern treatment of the patients. Greater freedom and less restraint were gr < -tod The unfortunate inmates whose malady sails for care at every step were retreated on different lines, and it is not surprising they are responding to that treatment—-hut it need the assur ante of tho trained officer to venture in radical measures. It has to be lo'-ne in mind, also, that the inmates of the local mental hospital are in the aggregate very aged people. In "lost institutions of th o . kind there are often many who are in fairly robust heabh. and who can do certain labour about the place which is helpful to their tin nta| condition. This does not obtain at the local institution.

Many of.the inmates are too far advanced in years to work and are not asked to. Their docripit conditionpermit only that they may sit about indoors or bask in the sunshine. I hoy are in their second childhood, and are indifferent to reforms going on about them. The best that can be done for such is to give them all the personal care possible Interest them as may be in life and try by a brighter outlook to bring some cheer into their lives. This good work is being carried on patiently by the staff all the time. Reforms are now being attempted in regard to classification as far as accommodation will permit, and in this way very useful service is being accomplished. It lias to he remembered, also that in the past, overflow patients w°rc sent here from other institutions. Tn most instances there were bad mental cases, calling for special atteition, and from such the institution got no body of workers. There are some two hundred patients .at the local hospital, but of these, only about a- dozen aie cajiable of manual labour. This is a drawback, for it limits ihe possib'.v amount of local improvements which can Ik- carried out by ihe patients themselves. In most similar inst.t itions patients under proper direction are able to do a vast amount of ne>—ssa;ry worth [Maintaining buildings grounds etc. in satisfactory eonditi ni. and often launching out on lurg-r schemes of improvements. This plies also to the tilling of the bud whence so much of the local supplies are produced. Mr Parr mentions the fact that- tlu* land is not satisfactory, hut it could be improved greatly were the lalxir available to work >t to betlei advantage. Altogether it will be see'll from the publicity given to the matter that the Government realises its obligations, and has been alive for sometime to necessary reforms which are now being put info shape. '