The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, AUGUST 20th., 1921. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, AUGUST 20th., 1921. THE WEEK.

Tin-; (il'tli and last test cricket match has passed into history. It ended, like the fourth test, in a draw, but as Australia had won the rubber already. Armstrong was playing as he put 't ‘Toir the sulccess of the * tour as a whole,” and was not disposed to take any risks by marring in any way the wonderful record the Australian Eleven has put up at Home. The Australians are going on winning all their matches practically—for where the win is not possible, a draw inevitably results. It is a great feat in the sporting world, and niches a record which it will be j hard to equal in years to come. CerI tainly the English teams have done : better in the latter matches, but they were never allowed to obtain the mastery. Their apparent mastery, has I been more by concession, than any real l excellence in regard to improved play. The wonder about the play of the Australians, is that going Home directly after a strenuous season in their own country, they have not staled in the hard round of fixtures they have had to fulfil day by day in the United Kingdom. There are two remarkable fea-

lures about the Australians play- the discipline they submit to. and the organisation they display. Perhaps this should count as one summed up in the wonderful personality of their captain who dominates the team as he dor- the field when in the field of play. Armstrong stands out as a great personality in cricket, eclipsing in his all round capacity many great cricketers who have preceded him, and who in their day were the peoples’ idol. Between England and Australia in particular cricket has created a great bond. r lb pastime has helped to bring the two imjHiTtant parts of the Empire very much together. The great rivalry arrested the attention of the whole world. It would he difficult to conceive a place where the test cricket matches have not Iveen heard of, or a country where the results have not been closely canvassed. Thus does the great outdoor sport of the Motherland, and her | daughter nation not only forge tlie links of Empire, hut also creates aiy atmosphere which is even enjoyed bv onlooking nations.

Tiik affairs of Ireland, or rather the matter of dealing with the Irish representatives of the Southern counties, are more complex than the world could have believed. The state of affairs rather illumines the situation and it 1 difficulties which Britain all along has had to dea] with. The cable news has supplied a generous detail of the particulars and views of the principals in regard to the negotiations. According to Mr dc Valera’s spoken word the magnanimous offer of the British Prime Minister is rejected, hut the written reply did not convey this complete decision. The negotiations are at a very critical stage just now, evidenced 1the fact that both sides are preparing for eventualities in the event of the truce being ended. Meantime nine'" advice is being offered in regard to the situation and practical exhortation to the Irish recalcitrant leaders to accept and make good in time their full demands. There is another independent opinion expressed also in the voice o'' the press of the United States whence Ireland has drawn so much financial and even moral support. The New 1 York Times newspaper may he taken as a typical expression of press opinion. and the remarks from that source should he impressive as realising what the British offer means as a fair deal to Ireland. The paper says: —“lf \] r Lloyd George’s terms are rejected hy Ireland outright, the general verdict u ill he that the Irish have shown themselves unreasonable or impossible. In particular, it would be hazardous for Mr de Valera to attempt political tricks with the most adroit and most resourceful politician of his day. M* Lloyd George might seize eagerly upon this occasion to bring on a general election, wherein the issue ~ould be made the keeping of Ireland in the British Empire. He would emerge strong, er than ever politically, and Sinn Fein would he more isolated and more helpless. Tt is to lie hoped Mr de Valera’s more sagacious advisers will impress this I set upon him in these critical days.”

Mkantimk there is a silence which can be felt on the part of the churchmen of Ireland, who really in such » crisis should he heard at this juncture. There is so much at stake that silence seems to favor the very attitude which t l '- ‘‘"looking world is deploring. Tt is r time (or fearless opinion from aH sides .Mr de Valera is courageous to the point of heroics and it is but right that the world should know how far his extreme , attitude is supported b v th ( . leaders of the people in another inood who shout' rise superior to all political prejudices 1 at such a moment and indicate whither wending. The British Government continues to view the position temperately, and on that account we believe, hopefully. Nothing is being said which would tend to aggravate the position. ; Mr Lloyd George made his pleat- an t definite statement, and the authorities tre permitting that delivery to be di«tributed among the people and sink into their minds. Air de Valera’s speech wns more or less inflammatory, but it is well in such matters to have a safety value. After all there is little in his statement which is impressive enough to outweigh th ( , virtues of pence winch a moderate capitulation of republican ideals would result in southern Ireland under the terms would be far more favourably treated than the lov north i s under its enforced consl’tution. For ueacc sake the north sacfleet] certain of its ideals, hut the south will not make any sacrifice at all. The alternative to the ultimate breakdown of the negotiations is to enforce authority on.lreland. This in the nature of things means a state of civd war. Surely .such an alternative is repugnant to all ideals of citizenship, and the issue becoming so desperate is I t} ie more reason why the voice of moderation should now be beard. The Irish nation is not universally extreme Moderate opinion exists in the aggregate, but the extremists hold sway by theirf assertive methods. If ft-einnd is to be saved from itself it will have to be apparently by The moderates who sdiould wake no before it is too Into and with reason and commonsrmss to kg a leading hand in affajrif.

“The play’s the thing,” after all. This was evidenced by the amusing play which entertained the folk at the theatre on Wednesday night. The change to the spoken play from the silent picture was a pleasing variety, which appealed to be enjoyed by all. The play itself might almost have been considered of the propaganda order. The niollusea feeling and life pervades the human branch of the animal kingdom, and everybody knows somebody who can be molluscan at times. Perhaps we have the feeling too, invading corporate bodies in the aggregate. Take the Borough Council for instance. We all know how keen the members were a few months ago to get back to office, and do things. There were many promises given and implied as to what was to he done, hilt having got the power, Mrs Baxter—like the councillors sit back and while still believing so many things are necessary, find it too much worry to trouble about doing them. They suggest that the matters be kept steadily in view. The works are to be done, oli yes, just as Mr Baxter agreed tilings should be done—but why bother now. There will he time later, and so matters drift. The microbe of the inactive mollusc has got into the veins of the councillors. Then there is the Beautifying Association. We all remember the flush of energy with which it started off. It all was splendid, hut, alas, too good to be true. The microbe is in the veins of the members, lor there is nothing really done, not even being attempted by the Association which having gathered the same sinews of war is resting contentedly on its little nest egg, and t'ass Square, and all the other works proposed, wear a more neglected air than ever. Also, there is the Hospital Board, the members of which seem to belong to the family of the mollusca. They have quite a large nest egg, and much work to do with it. But words and not deeds are the easier, and however dilapidated may he the old condemned Hard, insanitary as it is; how uncomfortable the quarters of the staff, these conditions must just wait till the habits of the mollusc are overcome. This week, also, we have the County Council being railed at for neglect of duty, and that body must see to its administrative health or it, too, will be dropping into the category of the molluscan family—which means depression, stagnation, and non-utility will pervade the town and district.

A worn) in season to remind our public men of the duty they owe to the public and their town and district, we hope will not he out of place, and will stir some conscience to realise that the dolee far monte spirit should not be encouraged these days, when the people must he ready to help themselves if they would set si Lout stemming the tide of industrial depression that is overtaking (he placy. At the Progress League this neck, some indication was given of possibilities in regard to the effect ot the timber slump. The memoers dealt with the matter as best they could, but it is well for public opinion to intorm itself on Hie general outlook, and not alloif the drift to go unchecked, or without some effort to retrieve the position. There are various building proposals and other works which might be gone on just now to try and minimise the unemployment trouble. The Borough improvement scheme might well he brought to the surface and the outlook faced. The worn out condition of the streets has got to Ik? faced sooner or later. It is time the councillors took their courage in both hands, created a policy, and went ahead with it. None know better than they what is required, and t<> ignore the position now when unemployment promises to he rife, is to shirk their obligations and duties in the matter. No doubt, too, a good ( deal of work could be found about the hospital grounds preliminary to initiating the necessary building scheme, and wit.li the fact of the Acting Premier, throwing on the local bodies the obligation of assisting to place the unemployed in their respective districts, the responsibility should lie assumed and not evaded. It is not likely that the financial stringency which is the main cause of the troubles finding us out so all unprepared, will pass quickly. Until t.ho staple products of* the country are hack to a fair demand, the stringency will prevail. It is doubtful if it has readied its acute stage yet, which is all the more reason why the public bodies should marshal their forces add endeavour to create all the employment they can in carrying out useful and urgently required public works.