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Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1924, Page 2

Britain’s attitude towards the French occupation policy in the Ruhr is wellknown. The Government continued that the occupation of the Ruhr lessened Germany’s ability to pay. Then it: the famous Note of Aug. 11th.. Lord Curzon stated that “the occupation of the Ruhr, quite apart from expediency, was not a sanction authorlied by the Treaty of Versailles itself.” Yielding to Anglo-American pressure, .France has agreed to make the military aspect of her policy less formidable, and next week two committee-; of experts are, to investigate the financial position of Germany. There can be -no donht at all that the country is less able to pay the reparations than rt was a year ago for the very simple

rcason tluii from the day the p'raneoHcigiiin forces occupied the Kuhr. Germany paid the workmen of that district full pay, provided they refused to work and that awful drain upon the national finances continued for over 1(7 months. Germany must, pay. but the experience of ihc pa-t year has proved one thing, tlni; military pressure has not obtained payments in cost or kind. Less vr Imt niurp v/Foc-tico moans must he found, and that is the outstanding problem of this New Year.

I.x regard to motor transport, in respect to which the district is becoming more and limit 1 interested, because it is going to play so important a pail in the development an i expansion ol Westland, Hi. Frpnklin of the f’liiled States, where he is intimately connected with general motor services. Inis a, good deal to ,s:iy on motors and roads which ict allied intimately in the basis of prosperity. Speaking generally of motors, Or. Franklin remaiked that the

automobile came at an opportune time in the world’s history. ’I he railroad has its-distinct limitations; the horse is too slow [or modern transport requirements. and in America, at any tai,>, they were no longer building railways, tint were merely using great trunk lines, and building modern roads ami using motor lorre--' and passenger ears for transport on them. That was 1 l-e road of progies.-. and Australia was getting the benefit og American expeiiotiee, and must build big railroads, with country roads to feed them. "The motor ear did not come hv accident." t'e added, “but the time had arrived at the beginning ol this century when it was absolutely essential. We belli vc it to he the most, impoiiant civilising agent in modern times. If Australia has not every fa: ility that every other country has.” remarked Hr. Franklin, ‘•then 1 am blind. Von have everything to make a great country am! great wealth. But you must have g< od roads. ’Pilose of New South AVales are pielt.v good, hut they must he more o r them to develop this tremendous continent, with its marvellous resources. I have not yet analysed why the country is not more developed, blit from my observations everything is here available and only waiting action. AVheu the automobile came, its first use was as a pleasure ear. We are now making a r’solute effort to get lid ol that name, pleasure ear. It is a. passenger ear. The only real joy waggon the baby carriage.. The consequence of the introduction of the first car «ns 1 futt everybody wanted one. and there were so few that it was much easier fur the dealer of those days to sell inr, Considering oil Ihe strains the automobile suffers, the service it wives, urn I lie | corf* into whose hands it comes, it is a marvellous vehicle. Two million ears are to he sold this year i.. the Cnited States of America, where there are elrcadx I,'t millions. That grow th, in pin-di< alb f■) years, could not he merely fortuitous-, tint rather the response to a demand for a iH’COssitv of modern transport. The motor tar, the motor lorry and every other phase of the motor vehicle should he just; ns invaluable to the development of Australia as it has been and will he to my country. But you must have reads over the length and breadth of tae country. Build them, and the settlement of your country will proceed el. a marvellous rate, assisted by motor treimport, which will he not only possible. hut invaluable as a developing agent."