Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1922, Page 2

Ontk again ‘'England to herself has proved true.” No sooner was there a call to arms than the splendid response was made. New Zealanders, though most remote from the Motherland, were the first to answer the long distance call, and did it in a way that tlie sincerity cf the action could not he doubted. The “little” New Zealander—that small hand within the country s<> ready to decry everything British—thinks lie should he specially consulted by some form of referendum, well knowing all the time what his answer would ho. But the loyal section of tho Dominion, tho vast majority of tilt* people, need no time to consider the straight answer to a straight question. Their loyalty is the genuine brand, not ; a lip service, hut a personal service horn of a true pride in their country, and the need for maintaining its prestige. And so with the Old Land. The British Cabinet lias decided to see the Dardanelles crisis through by tho help I of the Empire alone—if necessary. And , the task will he undertaken with tho ! same indomitable courage as ill 191-1, i when Britain sprang to the rescue of ! Europe when threatened to be overrun by Germany. There is no occasion to stress the position beyond remarking that Britain will be solid 011 the matter ot doing its duty, and the hold assertion to do the task single-handed is proof that the leaders of the nation have made up their minds as to the wisdom ! and justice of tlieir action for the com- j mon good. j Thk issue in the East will end in de- *, fining the position between England and France more clearly. For some time now the entonto has been sadly and Franco Ims pursued an independent pot to spy vexatious,. |ipp of

f action, which has frequent jeopardised British, interests. The French attitude at Genoa might he recalled as an example of her recalcitrant mood. So with her opposition to the bankers’ commission regarding reparations and her stand generally in reference to , the reparations, going to the very brink j of creating a fresh European situation 1 without a thought for her Allies. Then in connection with the Near East, I Fiance in October last carried out a ' secret treaty with the Angora government which dominated a large tract of the Asia Minor territory. There was a ' aood deal of friction when,that compact was revealed, and we do not know that the position was ever healed satisfactorily. France cannot refuse on legitimate gi onnds to maintain the treaty of Versailles as affecting the Dardanelles, hut it would appear from the French press that France will stand for a compromise with the Turks. If she does why not n compromise with Germany also? French diplomacy was never very successful probably because France 1 is not stable enough in its public opinion. There is a test at hand for John Bull has put his hand to the plough, and he will not bluff, nor he influenced I hv bluff, where stern duty calls for ac- , tion.

It was rather remarkable to find as was disclosed at tho Progress League meeting this week, thnt-the annual report of the Tourist and Health Department made no reference to the scenic resorts or the activities of the Department on the West Const. It has been suggested before that responsible Government agencies of the Department know very little about the "West Coast and its scenic attractions. Now we have the further revelation that there are no activities of the Department on the West Coast worth reporting on ! A Department which ignores so remarkable a scenic resort as the chain of scenery on the Vest Coast provides, suggests at once that it has failed to carry out its obvious duty of developing resorts in all parts of the Dominion. It would have been thought that at this important stage in (he history of the Const on the eve of the opening of the Midland Railway, that the annual report would have contained some reference to the future policy of the Department in the new territory to he added to the scenic glories of the Dominioin. Travellers from all parts of the world praise the unique attractions to be found oil Hie Coast—a district where nature has lieen bountiful in her gift and where there is no need for artificial decoration to adorn natural surroundings. The omission of the Department calls for attention and should he made good by the Department as quickly as possible.