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Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1923, Page 2

I’l'ltseiN'G the subject further the writer went mi to remark that the pic-ent. abnormal stale of unemployment, is certainly dim to the la to war will he generally admitted. For over four dreadtul years the principal productive countries ot the so-called civilised world were aiinc; ; -ole.lv engaged in production for destruction, a condition of things for which we are now paving the penalty. As a result all our pre-run-eeived and accepted theories of economies have Ijootl blown to smithereens from the months of the guns. and 200,000,000 people, including the peoples of t'eniral .Europe, America, our own country, and the Near Fast, wliD used to 1,, the worlds producers and consumers, are practically out oi production or reduced to the very lowest point of ( on.sumptioii. Nations ate ■ni i lie verge of bankruptcy, and international exchange in a deplotnb.e state of chaos. While such a state of ulfairs exi--ts with the dogs of war still in the leash, it is utterly hopeless to expect any equitable diminution ol the tragedy ol unemployment.

What tin'll, the writer queties, i> the remedy? Many hav,. been and are being suggested. The imposition of a capital levy, and the abolition ol the system known as private entei pi i.-;e are amongst them. The first might be capable of application in years to conic; the second has been U iml in llm-sia, with the most disastrous icselts ber.iuse of the impossibility of artificially creating an i.asi- ol C ommunism in a de-nut of competition. It failed, as it was bound to fail. For. whatever, tlq. merits of the two may tv. this is no lime for mere exj eriincid. A bankrupt world and its woikless people in despair and bitterness are drifting to the very verge of hale of existing; institutions, and instead of bread they are offered a stone in the shape of foreign policies. Th ( . time may < nine w hen these artificial eh-tachs may ruthlessly be swept away by sheer force of cireiiiil-tames. for there is a limit to human endurance. The fear in this ease is the establishment of the other extreme, which would be infinitely worse than the pre-,-enr. with all its faults. Would it not be belter and safer for present humanity and the future entirely to wipe out all obstacles ill the way of the recovery ol life civilised world, rather than run the risk of a return to barbarism; and when wo get back to normal conditions to take the mote humane and statesmanlike step of preparing in times of good trade, by a small tax per ton on industry and a more equitable contribution to the nation's needs from those “who toil not. neither do they sniii,”*'instead of waiting until the evil

Tub community is indebted once again I to the good ohievs of Canterbury friends for a close interest in the railway connection between Christchurch and Hokitika. The community at this end of the section is being penalised still by the failure of tig, railway authorities to give a. reasonable or a convenient connection, it savours of the 'dark ages to compel Westland passengers to ! change trains at Creymouth. The vay this inactive is lieing maintained to (!,(• . an nova me of the public hero, suggests that the officers are acting deliberately —seeking to put an affront on the community. Wo make this statement deliberately for it is now over a monte . since i lie Progress League branch here iiu.de the sen-iUe suggestion that es - Saturday evenings at least, the carriages from t. liristi Imr'clt should be sent through to Hokitika. These precious vehicles if sent her,, could he returned to (ireyniouth the same evening - but the Department has not moved in the matter- the momentous problem is ''still under consideration.” There is a spark of humor ill the position in that the guard’s van can he sent to Hokitika. Inn not th(> passenger cat riages--they are retained itv Gteymouth to adorn an already conge.-ted railway yard. The ways of officialdom ate wonderiul at times. Tin; presence of all important delegation of the Canterbury Progress League at the Town Hall to-night should draw together an assemblage of local business people not only to honor the visitors, but also to take some part in helping their own town and district along progressive lines. The Canterbury League is a very live organisation. It is regarded as the most active and important in the Dominion, and this community is fortunate in being identified so closely with such an organisation. The gentlemen who will be here tonight are not strangers. They know the country and its possibilities, and are anxious to co-operate in furthering its prospects. They were visit ms hereto spy out the land prior to i t - completion of the Midland Railway They are here now to note the trading conditions which should be possible under the greatest convenience of the railway connection. It would be well therefore, for the public men and business people to assemble in force, and place local matters in need of attention Irefore the influential deputation. The pijbjje renti’.atic-n of

through such an organisation, as the Progress League is a stepping stone to success, for it means that action is at unco concentrated through an influential channel, and the possibilities of nioro immediate success are the brighter.