The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, DEC. 21st., 1923. STRANGE DEVELOPMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, DEC. 21st., 1923. STRANGE DEVELOPMENTS.

3 I. iKItK is something in the human mind 3 that demands anniversaries. We Jive in 3 Kicat circles, and, as t.iie anniversary 3 that marks tile completion of another 3 round is reached, most people like to 3 loo!, hack over the past year and review 5 its happenings. To the great majority the close of the year is the period for 3 reflection, and lor an inspection nien--3 tally, of the position as it stitnds he y the matter |>e-iKonal, national, c[■ oven international. Over five years ago the s f'leat War that was to make the world S '‘.safe for Democracy" c ame to an end. hi t the period under review has shown a most marked decline in things democratic. In Europe more than one nation has abandoned for the time being af any rate even the semblance of democratic government.. The dictator of Italy, .Signor Mussolini, has spoken of “tramping on the corpse of Liberty.” He lias summarily dismissed Parliament and has seen to it that the new House shall he elected on a basis that will ensure, not government- by the will of the majority, but government, under any circumstances, by the Fascisti. The electoral law has been so "rigged” that Signor Mussolini will only need to pull about one-third of the votes recorded to sc. ure fully ft) per cent of the seats in the House. Whatever that may he, it cannot be called a democratic measure, for the democratic form of government means government of the people, lor tlie people, by the people. In Italy, one of the great Allied countries, the year has witnessed a remarkable return to a more or less autocratic system of government. Following the lead of the Italian blacksmith, Spain lies temporarily abolished Parliament. The military dictators of that country have even abolished local bodies. Spain is ruled by a military junta. The German Itepublic is slogging along, with tlie Government acquiring more and more despotic power. A military party pinetically rules Bulgaria, and Greece hos witnessed a military coup. Indeed, tlie outlook in Europe to-day is most depressing. Tliere are more men under arms than there were in lf)14, and military cxiH-mlituro is greater now than it was: before the war. The war that, was to have ended war, appears to have ended in larger military preparations. The struggle for supremacy on sea and land has now been extended to the air, 1 and the year closes with Italy and France exerting evciy effort to build * air fleets of thousands of aeroplanes. ( Arid in the back-ground looms Russia, £ with more efficient, fighting forces, the fee of all forms of government not communistic. The most optimistic person t, will find it Jiard to locate in Europe toil;; y much that is cncpurnging, n

In cent.:;st. with the European countries stand the English-speaking nations. They evolved arid developed the principles ol self-government, and there is about Lem a .steadfastness that is impressive. Jhe Mussolinis and Rovien.s may lead their movements "ill* the cry of good government; the British people know that self-govern-ment j.s better than good government. At Home, ju>t at present, the political outlook is somewhat confused, hut the fact that the Government appealed to the electors is proof of the fact that in Biitnin government is carried on by consent of the governed. In Italy thoap- ] eal will have been to the Eascisti, in Spain to the Army, hut in Great Britain it is to the people. It may hu that the ict regressive signs noticeable in Europe are iuiL the swing of the pendulum. The win Id is tired of dictate: > and autocrats, and although one

or two nsiv lane attained to powo; hy promising peace and prosperity, sooner or later the | eople w ill icsuinc the duties of Government. In many respects this has been a remarkable rear. Not much progress has been made in solving the reparations prole lem. A week or two and the most puoductive area, of Germany will have stagnated in French occupation for a year. Tee Entente lias been rudely shaken. Hut this Commonwealth of Nations, the British Empire, has .stood four square, with a solidity, a stability, peculiarly British, and that may he the reason why tiie smaller nations of the world are looking to Britain to lead the wav towards a new horizon

in the coming year.

Tin: wooing of Westland G likely to p voiced with ron.-idei able aidoiu now that the district has been added to the rc.-t of New Zealand hy the South Island lailway system, with which Westlaud is fn inly linked at last. Already the Canterbury people have shown tile district very special attention, and now we learn that a party of Wellington business men are to come thi.s way at the New Year lonibining business with ple.,stlre. Later, a. party of farmers will elo.ss over from Rangioia, to he followed by other parties from (lie same province, while wo notice the C.'il istehureh pie-s. m l to he outdone bv Wellington, is advocating that the (Ainterhnry Chamhqr of Commerce should organise a. business tour (combining tile pleasure ol a visit to Wost‘ai.d's louiist resorts) of the Const during Jiinu.ry. Attention of ibis nature caiinoi do the district any harm, and folk lire wi.l hr disposed to sir“let them all come!'' Ihe inereisel attention hy outside business houses means greater r-(.nij ition; and that will lead to improved trading lelnHons from (“Very point of view. The railway has l.hus served the purpose expected of it 1 1 ; 1 1 111: 1 \- the discovery of Westland :is an imp-.rtnnt, part ol the Doit.inion. the Made of which is worth cultivating. The toast must iiece.-~al'ii\ iveeno the most diiect hen'lit. from tin railway, as the material advantages to he gained are so many. The removal of the isolation the district ha- lit': ored undei tor so long become ci one- iln- .stepping stone to the improved trading conditions now prole ling. Tile icadier means for a stable line of intnommiitiieai ion brings many nssuiniiees with it. not the least of which is the (ertaiiity that conditions will glow up which will establish the menus to the (old desired permanent pros] erity.

Looking round the Exhibition display, l lie most casu.il visitor finds much to plca.se and interest. .Many of the visitors sLill icinark how ambitious the scheme was. hut they add that the rcsilli achieved by so fine a show fully justifies tlie confidence of the (coplc which prompted the undertaking of such an extensive venture The special interest to the visitor is ice variety which is to be seen. There

is M.rnetliilisi to interest all, an.l in tin.t respect the management has hern ha innate indeed in drawing .so wide a selection of exhibits. Tile resources of tlm Const- as displayed arc in themselves of special interest ns disclosing Ulc potentialities for future develop incut. Hi regard to this aspect-, the Muller district display in outstanding. Tin immediate locality covered by the ( i limy of West land has done ralln.' poorly in tins respect. This is to lie icgrctted, -because the wares arc here to advertise. If it is not too late and we hope something will yet he done to tell in a useful scries of exhibits, the miii"ral resources of Westland.