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Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1923, Page 2

At the opening of the Impel ial Conference there was much said in compliment to the visitors. This was in Keeping with the hospitable s; irit of the .Motherland. The Biiine .Minister’s s|>oech as given .mi to the world was rather a relno-h ot rc*'Ont history, a twice told talc. with \nry little that was new. and til,* speeches in reply were not much more help! ill. Mr Massey (who has arrived home in good fettle, we are pleased to note, and had a notable reception) made a lengthy s; cecli chiefly of platitudes ot the | ions order. He ‘appealed lor action. The future of the Em] be needs it. lint we must not he overoptimistic about the results of the (’(inference. There are so milch in the way of serious details on which the delegates will be at vaiiaitee. that these will he dillieulty in reaching unanimity. But there will be a clearer unik*i Rla 11 ding of inler-Doiiiinion difficulties. The way will le o] cued to com] romises. It. was very line to note the attitude of tile Free Stilt,' delegates from Ireland. They maintained a (bsposition no less convincing tiiau w Jieii grappling with l tie desperate difficulties they had to handle 111 Inland. They have* enteicd th,. Cooler cnee in the right spirit-.

! M.vttkus affecting the handing over | of tho Arthur's I’ass tuimcl an- still | very indefinite. It does no! seem |:o.s- ---; silffo for tln- two Departincuts coni eerned. Ruhlio Works ami Railways, Ito agree (.11 the point. It was hoped | that now that (mo .Minister controlled both Depart inents, there would he some hope of a speedy settlement of the matter. The Hon ,1. (». Orates is expected to visit (hirst early in November, and probably about then some agieement may he reached. It is not likely therefore that the line will be operating tinder the one Department lor the ( hri.stchurch November Carnival, but possibly very shortly after that traffic, and well ahead of De--1 ember traffic, the line will he in the sole control of the Railways Department. The present arrangements are unsatisfactory because of the two section rate, and the dual control which appears to restrict- the Railways Management unduly in the transport of goods etc. Evidently those affected must control their desires for a month or so longer, before the final hope for the clear through traffic will be possible.

Tiie vi-it this week of the representatives of the Navy League will, it is hoped, stimulate something more titan a passing interest in defence matters. The maintenance of the British Navy as an effective arm of defence, is vital to the security of the Dominion of New Zealand. Set in the southern seas, this country occupies splendid isolation, but has to use the ocean highway for the life giving stream of trade iiuiis|>ensabic to its progress. In the more remote parts, such ns this, the great importance of the subject is liable to be overlooked. We mu-t not forget, however, that it was the interests of defence which helped to complete the Midland railway. The netwl for the across the Island railway was one of the strongest levers to hasten the finishing of the work. In that wav the Coast has become linked up with the whole defence movement. But in any ease, all parts of the country are intimately connected with dofenee. which counts for national security. The people must take an intimate and intelligent interest in the subject as being the first principal step to secure the stability of the country and ensure uninterrupted trading developments resulting.