The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MARCH 20th., 1922. THE RAND RIOT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MARCH 20th., 1922. THE RAND RIOT.

Thu experiences through which South Africa, has passed of late, is h reminder once again that extreme means against the powers that be are of little avail. The rioters were foolishly led, for once authority was aroused they had to submit to the inevitable Authority was rather slow to move, giving the rioters a brief opportunity to show their hand, The occasion evidences the fact that authority needs- to keep a sharp look out and above all to be prepared for untoward instances. It was remarkable to note the amount of arms and ammunition the rioters were able to accumulate. This should not have been and countries cannot to be strict in the restrictions affecting the use or storage of arms and ammunition by private individual. The rioters were given a good deal of rope before the Government resorted to martial .law. It would be well, if at the first sign of suo)i an outbreak, authority bestilrrefi itself, by securing the leaders of these outbreaks and so saving bloodshed. There is an element of revolution in- most countries. Just as the Rand was not free from this desperate class, so other parts of the Empire are not free from such objectionable citizens. We notice in both Australia and New Zealand the red flag of revolution was known, in sympathy with the fallen rioters. Their death was of course regrettable, but it wa a their own acts which brought about the condign punishment. The authorities in Australia? and New Zealand pf they read aright the South African lesson will not tolerate tbi6 parading of the red flag. To grant free license for the harboring and breeding of the revolutionary spirit for which the red flag stands, is to assist in fostering the spirit. There is no occasion for our own Government to show an v weakness in this matter. It has ample authority behind it to impose law and order upon the people. It • is manifest that it requires to maintain the power to exercise that authority to the fullest extent, but there would be less occasion for disturbing thoughts { about the matter, if the flying of the red flag and cultivation of the so-called international spirit were cut short at the outset. To permit the flying of the flag is to cultivate a spirit of anarchy, and to preate a condition of affairs, which as in the case of South Africa can bf settled only by bloodshed, and *

!at enormous cost to the community, through the dislocation of trade and industry, and the organisation for a ' state of war such as a, civil upheaval 1 leads to. It would be better far if : iliese red flaggers wer provided with means to leave the country, and to seek some other place more ill keeping with thir own ultril colored ideals of national existence. The revolutionary elisS should hot be given a footing in the country. That is the safe and sane way to provide against a course of events which can but carry disaster in its train if not checked betimes. In this country there is no question about public opinion backing the Government in any acts to secure the safety of the country from the consequences of such a state of affairs as arose so suddenly in South Africa. It is for the Government to take the lesson to heart and see that the course of events is watched very closely,