The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th. 1923 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th. 1923 THE WEEK.

Gkaduam.v we are hearing mute and more of Imperial trading and this week the cable news lias supplied special reference to the subject. For some r i;n< oast the trend of events has been in the direction of a development of trade within the Empire. I hat, of course, does trot menu the abandonment by Britain of her present trade connections with foreign countries, nor will she necessarily lose any of the inlliiemv she exercises in the control of world allairs. Bather by the strengthening of the. Empire will that intineiice become more potent and beneficent. That Britain’s inlluenee in ihc world lias almost invariably been of a liberalising and humanising nature is the proud and unegotistieal boasi of the British horn, and it is a claim which is often conceded by generous foreigners. Nothing caused the Australian representative at the recent session of the League of Nations Assembly more pride and satisfaction than the deference accorded by the foreign delegates to those from Britain and her dominions. When the war ended it seemed as if the British Empire were at the pinnacle of ils fame and inlluenee, and there were those who assorted that she could not attain greater heights; that rather from thenceforth her power would steadily decline, and her paramountry pass to the great Republic of the West Such prophecies have not been borne out. At international conferences hold subsequent to the Peace Conference the ascendancy of Britain lias been most marked, and it has been used in the traditional British way in efforts to promote amity and trade rather than to perpetuate militarism and hate hetween the nations.

That cerlain defects should become manifest in Britain’s internal organisation was only natural, considering that she was the country where the industrial revolution had birth. Masses of licr people had lost their ties with the land, and had become identified solely with industry and commerce. They were thus subjected to the fluctuations of national trade; and when the trade boom which followed the war ran its course the fact was revealed that, the country was carrying a population of some twelve or fifteen millions beyond her capacity, while at the same time the dominions were crying out lor people to come and fill their enipy spaces. The Empire rather resembled a human organism which suffered from a pressure of blood at the heart, while the extremities were in an anaemic state. It is to the problem of transferring Britain’s surplus population to tIn 1 dominions that, the energies of British and dominion statesmen have of fate been Ix'nt and which have resulted in ike passing of the Empire Settlement \et by the Parliament of the mother country. and the submission of plans for the settlement of migrants by several Australian States. .According to the terms of the Settlement Act one out of three million pounds to ho mathaiVnilable annually for fifteen years hv the British Government is to he expended in assisting migrants in tee payment of their passages, while the remainder is to he devoted to the training of migrants and to the development of schemes of land .settlement liy which they will he provided with a means of livelihood or their arrival. These facts and other- ; da ring to Commonwealth and State Government immigration schemes are known. Apart from the limited idivitb. of some or the State Departments, little or nothing is done towards assisting immigrants at that really vitally important time—the early days in the new land. Perhaps, says a Svdnoy paper. we do not require an Ellis T.lam! in Australia, but the need for hostels and for some provision f~r sorting out immigrants on their awr. d is obvious. At present many of ;ir-pi;, to he

dumped on the wharf and left to their fate. The future of this country is bound up with immigration. What a successful scheme would mean can be grasped. All must realise the immense possibilities which lie in the future if the immigration question is handled wisely. Great Britain's exports to Australia for nine months of the year 1922 far exceeded in value those to any other country in the world, with the exception of India, and her imports from Australia far exceeded in value those from every country but the United States. Tf, as has been said a trade with Great Britain exceeding in value that of almost every other country. can result from the labours of five and ;v half million people, what an immense trade with Britain and otliei countries would bo possible to an Australia properly peopled and adequately developed! AVith proper circulation of blond through that great organism, the British Empire, heart and extremities would combine to lift it to a pinnacle of beneficent power hitherto unknown or undreamt of.

In the parliamentary debate on Afr Wilford’s adverse motion, a good deal of interest is being centred in the remarks of Hon. Downio Stewart, the Afinister who “followed” the Leader of the Opposition in the debate. As the Lyttelton Times remarks, Mr Stewart seems to have been instructed to send out “5.0.5.” appeals on behalf of Tiis Party. He admitted frankly that while the Government may survive the present challenge by a narrow margin it cannot hope to carry out a legislative programme and continue to discharge efficiently the duties of a Government without the backing of a woring majority. He therefore devoted the greater part of his speech to making appeals for Liberal support. He asked, plainly and frankly for “some arrangement.'’ even if temporary, to enable the country to proceed with its affairs, domestic and Imperial. Tie went on to oiler inducements, among them being a proposal for electoral reform. Afr Downio Stewart said that the Reformers all admit that some improvement on “first past- the post” must ho provided, and lie suggested (he appointmeiit of a non-party committee to go into the subject of representation. TTo also repeated the familiar statement that nothing tangible exists to divide tile main parti's which should combine against the ipmeinlists. Hon. Nos worthy, speaking later, however appears to have been trying to remove any effects bis colleague's reijol ings may have had. for lie declared that the policies of the two branches are identical, and threatened the Opposition with a dissolution and another general election if they dared to disturb the safety of the good Reform Government Tl may be that the Reformers have decided to try all sorts of tactics ranging from flattery and invitations to abuse and threats. but tlie.se things do not. mix very well. As Afr Forbes pointed out, the Reform Party cannot think that the difference between themselves and tile Liberals is

negligible and also think at tile same time (lint the Liberals and Labourites are uafuial allies However, it is probably that Afr Nosworthv’s aggressiveness is not fully endorsed by his colleagues and associates

.Mil I Ini.i, and lias wnn some kudos for liis tactical action of moving “an amendment to an amendment” and so getting ahead of Mr AVilford in the matter of first dividing the House on confidence in the Government. This is rather an unusual course to take, and even the Prime Minister doubted if the amendment was in order, hut Mr Holland secured the favourable ruling of the Speaker. A reference to “May”, the standard authority, shows that an amendment may lie intercepted be foie it is put in its original form, by moving: to amend the first proposed amendment. In such cases the questions put deals with the first amendment as if it wore a distinct question, and with the second, as if it were an ordinary amendment, the original question is for file time laid aside, and the first amendment becomes a-, it were, a sub. stantivo question itself. Inloss this wore done, there would be three points under consideration at once, namely, the question, the proposed amendment, and the amendment of that amendment. hut when the question for adopting the words of an amendment is pul forward distinctly, and apart from the original question, no confusion arises from moving an amendment to it. before its ultimate adoption is proposed. According to this. Mr Holland's amendment which really amplifies Mr Wilford’s bv stating details wherein the Government has lost the confidence of the country, will have to be determined first. At the time of writing a decision has not been reached. hut it seems unlikely that the Liberals as a body will vote with LMmr. If the Labor amendment is defeated, a.- seems most likely. Labor may act similarly towards the Liberal amendment. so Mr Massey’s position is doubly sure for the time being. But lii< majority is so slender and then only is "it likely to he effective on crucial questions, that it i< doubtful if the Premier will in the end elect to carry on with the loss of self respect entailed. Tn that event there might b ■ a general election sooner than is expected and perhaps before the winter is past.

Thk meeting at the Town Hall yesterday forenoon regarding the dairy factory centralisation proposal, did not make a r eat deal of practical headway. The tanners have had a good taste of local co-operative dairying, and on the • hole appeared to lie generally satislied with the loral factories. Tint when a question of progress arises, there must necessarily he some change, and apparently progress in dairying can he brought about only by a more comprehensive movement. That is what is

happening elsewhere. The real feeling is that the settler wants all he ran get for his butter fat. In most eases here be is being satisfied iif that respect, and is content to move warily in regard fo centralisation unless assured of a better price. Probably if n fairy wand rould Ik> waved, and a central factory brought about, and the settlers found it here ready for their use. they would link up. At "Ross for instance there have been abortive efforts to establish a local factory, but nothing concrete came of it. Yet COO cows are now being milked in that locality, sufficient to support n

local factory, and tho cream is being sent out of the district for treatment. The settlers are securing a satisfactory price for their commodity without liability or responsibilities of factory management. So. if ft factory were established here, tiie product of hundreds of cows from round about Hokitika and beyond would come in, and the industry would expand. But the fairy wand will require to be waved by the people themselves. It is a case i of helping themselves if they expect j material success. On all sides they j have l>cen advised by the experts, and j experience elsewhere justifies the movement. Advice tendered from various quarters, all quite disinterested except for the feeling of general good of the place, is all in the direction of centralisation. and it appears assured if tho people care to be courageous and launch out that success will he attained. . I.ooKiNt; to the permanency of the dairy industry, the capital called for appears a very safe investment. The analogy was made that sawmilling or dredging will pass away, but the land will remain for dairying. Time was i when the capital now called for in re- ; gard to a dairy factory with an assured future would be subscribed over and over again a little while ago if tho i money were wanted for either milling or dredging. Yet both the latter are purely speculative and certainly transitory—while a diminishing asset is being worked upon all the time. With dairying the asset is a growing quantity because the land is being brought more and more into profit, and the herds are not only growing, but also increasing in production. Dairying on co-operative lines under reasonably sound management should he an assured success. That being so. it becomes a question of placing a factory as central as possible where it will tap the luo-f suppliers. Hokitika is tho obvious centre, and the time is not far distant wo believe when the bulk of the cream to he handled by a central factory here would come from south of the Totara river and this notwithstanding the splendid district of Kokatthi and TCoitcrnngi so close at hand. There are settlements in the south not satisfied with their present existence. With the railway available, and the extension of the railway to the Waitaha. and motor traction to tap the valleys and out districts, a very large amount , of cream would in tho not distant i'ui ture come here, were a local factory I available, and if the factory is not here. | another town only 21 miles further i north, is not much further away. But ii is here, the legitimate centre of the district, where the factory should be , established, and let is be a co-opera-tive one and not; a proprietary concern. With the opening of tho Midland rail- | wav it is on the cards proprietary factories ill Canterbury will become Interested here. But that should be antieipated also by local action. Will tbc folk be up and doing, and help themselves in this matter? The resolution adopted at yesterday’s meeting leaves the way open to that end.