The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, SEPT. 15th, 1923. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, SEPT. 15th, 1923. THE WEEK.

Tiiosk who go down to the sea in ships, see the wonders r.f tile deep. But the modern ship itself is adding to the wonders ot the btiny. Tne revolution ini sea travel over a. period of a. low decades, is within the knowledge ot all. Larger and faster ships, fully equipped in every respect, have made possible to-day a degree of comfort and safety unknown to our grandfathers. In witness thereof we recall the transition from sail to coal and from coal to oil. from the wooden steamship to the steel motor-ship. But within the past twenty years another revolution in

ocean voyaging, not so obvious porliap as the one I lmvo mentioned, writes

.-hipping enthusiast, but still important, lias been going on. To assist the naval architect, even to take over from him •some ol those duties which hithcilo ho had regarded as his very own, the land architect has keen called in. The naval architect is no longer supreme in everything relating to the design and and construction of the passenger ship. His v. ord, of course, is still lav as regards her ship lines, and tie remains responsible for her sea-going qualities. With him rests the working, out of siieli questions a< size, length and beam, draught, tonnage, and speed. Nowadays, however, the land architect claims a voice in other requirements of her specification. How the ‘'dry" architect arrived on the scene is easily explained. The demand for luxury and comfort on the part of sea voyagers is probably mote insistent than the demand for safety and speed. Hence shipping companies within the past two decades have been accustomed to call in experts to advise upon the necessary requiiements of the modern liner—not merely the decoration, furniture, electric ligliting, heating, ventilation, and lift installations, but also the actual designing of the passengers’ accommodation itself. The land architect has gradually assumed responsibility for these features, with the result that he is now brought into consultation with the naval architect at a. very early stage in preparing the plans of the ship to be built. AVb see the influence of the “dry" architect at work in dividing the smoke stacks of the T.e via than and leading them up the sides of the ship so as to assure a magnificent suite of rooms and a vista of no less than 300 feet right through the midships poition of the vessel. After all, what can the “wet” architect know about plaster ceilings and mural decorations? Naturally there must oc the most cordial team work between the “wet” and ‘dry" designers, else their labours would be in vain. Yet there is at heart a conflict between them. The “wet architect- is prone to think always, and rightly so, of the ship as a ship, and woml fain retain everything of a shiplike character on board her. But the “dry’” architect, with equal reason, insists on the necessity of giving tlio unaccustomed landsmen who travel by sea the illusion of being all the time in a seaside hotel or a country house. And as most of us are landsmen, and uncertain seamen at- the best of times, we lean to the “dry" architect’s ideas, even although noble Grecian columns, which stand for strength and immutability, may heel over at an absurd angle in a storm.

One of the finest, things in human experience is the readiness of the. world generally to assist any nation hard hit by calamity or misfortune. An active and spontaneous expression of this spirit of help has been prompted by the terrible earthquake disaster in Japan a disaster described as the greatest of its kind recorded in history. While the limits of the disaster are as yet only vaguely outlined, foreign nations are already doing what is immediately possible to assist in relieving the Japanese victims, and plans of assistance on a much more extended scale are rapidly taking shape. America in this matter is setting an admirable example and giving the world a splendid lead. As may be seen from the cablegrams her own people freely recognise that America must contribute, and is able to contribute more than any other country’’ to the reconstruction of the Japanese devastated areas. Tbe effort planned in the United States to this end is on a noble scale. The American Bed Cross has nearly .completed a canvass for a fund of over 52 million dollars, which it will expend in relieving immediate distress and. suffering in Japan,

On top of this n national compaign has oponetl in which it is proposed to raise 100. million dollars for tile purpose of aiding Japan to restore her devastated areas.

Tiie spirt manifested by the people ol America comments the ‘‘Dominion” is the more creditable since on the eve of the disaster the American-Japanese rivalry was the factor above all others which caused the Pacific to be regarded as the future .storm-centre of the world’s affairs. The agreements reached at the Washington Conference did something to limit the immediate expression of rivalry between the two nations, particularly their competition in the heavier types of naval armament, but fell far short of bringing them to a complete understanding. A wide ‘‘zone of non-fortification” was agreed upon at Washington, hut outside this zone both Japan and America are, or lately were engaged upon extensive programmes of dockyard and naval base development. Japan tins year was to spend two millions sterling on such works, and the United States is strengthening its const fortifications. It is perfectly clear that where the two nations which confront one another across the Northern Pacific arc concerned. the Washington Conference modified, hut did not by any means end, the competition in naval armaments. The much-discussed proposal to develop a battleship base at Singapore is perhaps best summed up as a measure of defence precaution by the British Empire in view of American-, ] a panose naval rivalry. Much as it is to he deplored on all other grounds, the Japanese disaster may change for tlic 1 better the whole face of international polities in the Pacific. As the London “Morning Post” pointed out in a. recent article, the reactions of the disaster on international affairs arc likely to he far-reach-ing. Stricken as slio is, Japan, for some time to conic is likely to he. under the nccessitv of limiting as narrowly as possible her expenditure on naval and other armaments At the same time help, and assurances of further help, are reaching her from all parts ol the world, and nowhere with greater promptitude or a more geneious scale than from America. As a whole these circumstances appear to favour, if they do not dictate, an early reopening ol the whole question of international relationships and the limitation of armaments in the. Pacific, along the lines on which tentative progress was made as the Washington Conference. In the end, the proofs of fraternal sympathy Japan is receiving from other nations, most of all from her naval rival, may count for much more than the depletion of Japanese resources in opening the way to peaceful understanding. The losses she has suffered must in themselves, however, make Japan inclined to look favourably on proposals lor a further mutual limitation of armaments and an extension of international guarantees of pome. Progress on these lilies is very obviously to he desired for its own sake, irrespective of the conditions of the moment, and America, our own Empire, and the other nations concerned should he very willing to 'meet Japan half-way in making such progress possible. The projected development of Singapore was undertaken without aggressive intent hut. admittedly bore a relationship to the intense naval rivalry in the Northern Pacific. If new conditions arise in which that rivalry is abated, it- is quite possible that Britain may find it tunieeossniy to proceed with the Singapore project.

Tins district was never laggard in the support financially given to the hospital. 'Pile benefit this week was another example of the generous sup]a>rl the people are ready always to extend at suitable opportunities. Those associated with the success of the hall have every reason to lie pleased with the marked success of the function. The gathering is now reginleil very fittingly as the social event of the year, and the. management should he encouraged to do even better in future years. With the Horticultural Hall available, it should on subsequent occasions be possible to arrange for the use of the Town Hall for the overflow, and thus relieve the marked congestion which prevails on such occasions in the Drill Hall. While the buildings are being adapted for exhibition purposes, certain alterations will require to he made, and those connected with large public gatherings such as the Hospital Ball, might with advantage in the future, see that improved equipment is available for the supper room while the connecting alley way between the two main halls is improved. Indeed, it might, he possible by an annexe to the Town Hall to considerably increase the available floor space for that building-ns much material, serviceable for such a purpose, would 1>» available at the termination of the Exhibition.

Tub fortunes of the Exhibtion, hv the way, continue to trend in a, most favorable direction. Gradually the large undertaking is assuming a definite' shape which grows more and me,re satisfactory as tlio tinic goes on. The applications for space are coming in so well, that it would appear the area to the value available, some £3.000 worth, will be taken up. The sub-committees seem to be functioning very well, and lbs regular reports published suggest ■methodical preparation. It is very pleasing indeed to see that the accommodation bogey is being slowly hut surely dissipated. The hotel-keepers aie lising to the situation, and private folk are doing well. Grevmout.h is coming into line in regard to this matter, and with the extra fast train service expected to l>e established over the period of the Exhibition it will bo possible to make u-e of available accommodation in the northern town. The big event- will place a large amount of work on the shoulders of the organisers, 1,111 they are perserving steadily, and most, no doubt he encouraged greatly by the promising prospects as they reveal themselves, which seem to assure that the event- is going to he something of an unqualified success. It is certain at all events that- an un-onding scream of visitors will he drawn to the Coast ns a result of the Exhibition.