The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MAY 1st, 1922. TURKISH REPARATIONS COMMITTEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MAY Ist, 1922. TURKISH REPARATIONS COMMITTEE.

Tr is a recognised fact thht, in the efforts to raise the volume of the British export trade up to its pre-war magnitude; the recovery of the old oversea markets is of primary importance. British manufacturers and exporters remarks a commercial journal, are struggling manfully not only against adverse economic conditions but in soino cases against the apathy of the Government to bring this about. At the outbreak of the war the United Kingdom supplied about, 10 per cent of Turkey’s import trade, and this in spite of the keenest competition from Germany. Those British traders who were responsible for this satisfactory state of affairs were, on the outbreak of hostilities. obliged to leave Turkey and abandon their property to the tender mercy of the Turk. On their return they relied entirely on the support of tile Government to save the situation. That support has failed them. As a result their own position is desperate, and the general export trade of Britain to Turkey has fallen to second place, America, having gained a substantial lead. The Turkish Rep rations C. mni ttee has been formed with the object of bringing to the notice of the public and of the Government the unfortunate position of these people and the necessity for granting them adequate and immediate assistance by advancing money on account to all those who have approved claims against the Turkish Government. It is not a question of using the taxpayer’s money for that purpose. The Government are ad. ministering extremely valuable properties in Turkey, Palestine and Mesopotamia, which formerly belonged to the Turkish GoveVninent, nnd these Would constitute all ample security should the Turks not carry out their Treaty obligat oils. Further, (Jermniiv has, under the Treaty of Versailles, guaranteed payment of all these reparations claims. The claimants’ hardships ’ nve been increased hv the fact that the trade conditions in the Middle East have been almost disastrous for some time. The Russian and most of the Black Sea market is closed. Smyrna, formerly the most important outlet of the Asia Minor trade, has, owing to the Greek occupation, practically ceased to he a business centre, and cc inmeree in the Balkan States, on account of the exchanges and general unsettled conditions is very difficult. In Britain, nt any rate, whatever may he the conditions now, there was a boom after ihc Armistice, but in Turkey there has been general stagnation since the cessation of hostilities. The men who built up the British pre-war trade with Turkey cannot carry on the unequal struggle indefinitely. The offici. I reply that no funds are available for an advance comes with very little force from a Government that does not hesitate to go to the financial r escue of nearly •■•very country in Europe, continues the London paper. If there is money avail* j able for Austria, and for the relief of famine in Russia, presses the critic, it is difficult to believe that nothing can lie done to help British business men to carry on in Turkey till their claims against the Turkish Government can be settled, and thus enable Britain t > regain her pre-war position in a veiy importnnt market. Comment on the lines just quoted shows how tiie asl cets of Government administration are changing ‘as a result of the conditions brought about by the war. Of the newly imposed duties upon a Government there is no end. Yet commercial men often storm at, government interference. There can be no set rule in these matters The old saying that circumstances alter eases applies very aptly hi the new order evolving, is plain that Governments more and more must become interested in trading affairs, indicating tile prime necessity of having a pronounced leaven of business men in all parliaments, men versed in the ramifications of the world’s trade. Prosperity centres upon the success of industry’, which in turn to llourish must have plenty of markets, ample outlets for surplus products and so build up a secure balance of export trade over that, of imports. The stability of the industrial portion of a country becomes a matter of first necessity and governments cannot be too solicitous for the steady seeufutv of thp highly important branch pf the publip welfare.

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in reference to the South Westland bridges. The completion of the Little ] Waitaha- bridge approaches is still has- : tening with painful slowness, and the Department, notwithstanding the late visit "f the Hon. Minister of Public Works, i- n°t causing any acceleration in the rate of progress. This crossing is urgently needed far the f< rd is hot’’, difficult and dangerous: It is some weeks now since tenders closed for the Waitnugi bridge but there is iio indication of the acceptance of a tender With the successful floatation <f the five million loan there should be the money available for the work. It ts an Uigent ncessity—this bridge as the forj of late has been very bal. It is one of the worst served crossings on the south trip lor auxiliary aid, as there are no readily available horses near at hand. Horses procured from a distance are very ex; ens:ve with the result that the Waitangi crossing is a serious harrier to the development of the local service. The difficulties and expense in negotiating the crossing is going to deny the district south of the benefit of the twice-weekly m; tor service this winter. That is a, handicap very unfair to the district, which is unholy penalised because of the delay in going on with the bridge so long autaorised, hut so long deferred. The people have a great deal of confidence in Mr Coates, and his promises to see the main streams speedily bridged, but the delay experienced of late is testing the faith of the people, and the feeling is growing that the country is slipping hack to the old order of long ago, when important public works were ‘ kept steadily in view” and were a long time materialising. I

It was not very cheerful last week ttt find the members of the Hospital Boa d expressing the view that the levy for the year, high as it was, was not likely to be adequate for the year’s requirements. The local bodies have to find £3422 this year, but it would appeal even this large amount may he exceeded. This levy is a toll on the rate payers, whether collected by a special rate or embodied in the general rate. The demands are increasing every year, and the trend ol legislation under the Public Health Acts i- to t latgelburdens still upon the ratepayers, tn times past there was a definite agitation to place the whole burden of the piiolic health administration upon t’ e consolidated fund, just as education is so placed. There is more and more reason now for agit.V v.i ai-’tnt those lines to be revived. The special taxation imposed upon ratepayers as a whole, for hospital maintenance is unfair, because in most districts the hospital institutions are • centrnlised, and readily available only to those in the centres. While ratepayers in the out districts have to contribute largely there is no direct benefit for the direct taxation so imposed; Those who pay the bulk of the rates do not derive any material benefit for the contribution. Tn f act they are penalised, for money which should go on the roads nnd give them improved access nnd means of communication, is diverted to the maintenance of costly institutions quite remote from them. The fact that year after year such lnrge amounts of paying patients’ fees are written off, and the loss thrown hack on the ratepayers, shows that in general principle the cost of administration should he n national and not a district matter. As the Min* ister of Hospitals and Public Health is to he here very soon the opportunity to revive the agitation above referred to should not be lost sight of.