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Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1921, Page 2

It was pleasing to hear from our Wellington correspondent a couple of issues ago that gir Joseph Ward's health is on the mend, and that he is possessed of overflowing physical and mental energy as evidence of his improved health. At the moment Sir Joseph is not disposed to talk polities nor eager to re-enter politics. We are persuaded that the people as a whole would he wishful for his opinions on matters political, and are quite satisfied that people of all shades of political opinion would welcome his return to Parliament. It is repeating a truism to say that Sir Joseph Ward is very much missed from the present Parliament. The issues besetting the country just now are such which Sir Joseph Ward in particular is eminently able to deal with. His long experience as Treasurer of this country and Ill's intimate knowledge of the financial operations, give him special advantages which few men in tin’s country have to-day. His advice and direction would lie invaluable ill till* period of stringency through which the country is now passing. Once before a stringency was in sight, and in those days Sir Joseph did not wait for it to arise, but went forward boldly and met it. For bis foresight in stemming the situation successfully with retrenchment he was put out of office—but the service was to bis credit, and it redounds to bis credit to-day. When in the National Government lie accumulated large funds from surplus revenue for effective use as required but a less inspired Treasurer ‘‘collared” the nest egg for other purposes, and it was not long before the people bad to bear extra taxation to make good the situation. Sir Joseph Ward, as always, has faith in the Dominion. He lias his finger oil the pulse of the country and knows its ability to retrieve itself No doubt in

good time lie will come into his own. His political loss, inopportune as it was for tho country, lias caused his absence tu accentuate the need for his return to Parliament and whether as n private member or ns a member of a future Ministry, his return will be most welcome for men of his calibre and exjierience are urgently required at this juncture.

Tin: American Federation of Labor, under tho leadership of Mr Samuel Gompers, has taken a very strong stand in favor of Disarmament, or steps for the reduction of armaments. This means presumably, says an American exchange, that they believe that all disagreements between nations may lie, and should lie, settled by conference, negotiations and arbitration'. It is an intelligent and enlightened view. It assumes that there is a just basis for Hie settlement of every dispute, according to the principles which every civilised country is interested in having maintained. The same considerations apply to industrial disputes. Every industrial disagreement is subject to settlement upon general economic principles which promote the common welfare. Every industrial contention should he brought to this test. It is just as desirable that those disagreements shall he settled by conference, negotiation and arbitration, without i trike u lock-outs, boycotts or physical violence as that international differences shall be settled by the processes of reason. A strike is a resort to force. no different in principle from a resort to military action. This is a view which lias been often put forward a-s to give effect of a strike, but organised labor continues its policy of striking an dholding up industries and communities at its own sweet will. There is lack ;>f rnm.iricmy in the two atti-

tudes, and they are noticeable all over the world.