The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 8th, 1924. A GREAT FIGURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JANUARY Bth, 1924. A GREAT FIGURE.

With Italy, Spain and Turkey practicably in the hands of a despotic order, it, (Mine-, r.s a great relief to all i who value the establishment of free I Government to nolo the recall of Af. I \ enizdos to Greece. 1 lii.s remarkable I C'letan who lauded in Athens years I ago and, within a matter of a fow 1 years, doubled the size of the ffvlievic , Kingdom, is one of tins greatest state*• , men ot the, day. .Few- men have had i a more remarkahlo valuer, for lie was i born under the Turkish Hag, has been 1 a. rebel in the Cretan mountains, led , the movement which at last secured the inclusion of the historical island within the bounds of Greek territory, and as Premier of Grecce itself, welcomed Llm first Cretan deputies in the Greek chamber. His lias been a career devoted to tho difficult tasks of constructive statesmanship. He revived agricult in e, encouraged tho study of arts and letters, and made the ancient Kingdom a force, in the Mediterranean. The Balkan League that defeated Turkey was the work of M. Yenizelos and it was his prompt decision, having [ailed to induce the King to join the Allies, that enabled tne Allied army to land at Salonika and immobilise the hulk of the Bulgarian forces. For this service Greece secured the .Smyrna vilayet and other aieas in Asia minor. Since the dawn of history the Greeks had played a great, part in that land, and it looked as though another great chapter in the development of modern Greece was about- to open. But, unfortunately, poor souls with stunted vision were at work, ami the man who had led the country along the road to renewed greatness and prosperity, was rejected. From tfint day the affaiis of Greece have been troubled, and disaster lias followed disaster. Her colonies in Asia Minor have been shattered and .scattered, her dynasty is tottering, while Italy humiliated the nation. Burdened with the rare of the lives of thousands of refugees, and looked at askance by th( Great Dowers, the Greeks have again sent for the one man capable of retrieving the position. Years ago, when the Cretan first arrived at Athens, the crowd that welcomed him shouted loi a constitutional assembly. The new leader said—“A revisionn.l chamber first.” Again came tbe demand for an assembly, and again Mb Venizelos refused. A third demand and a third refusal, and the crowd was silent. Here it- recognised was a real leader; one who would not how to public clamour. On

this occasion M. Venizelos goes to face a powerful demand for a republic. It is typical of the man, of lies firmness, that he has refused to countenance any revolutionary change. Let them just consider what form of Government "ill host meet the needs of the nation and then proceed to establish it in a constitutional manner. The return of this great statesmen to Athens ensures a policy of friendliness with Britain. A vars ago. when living in a rehol camp on the white mountain, the Cretan studied the English tongue. He has proved his friendship on many occasions ar.d, now, lie-may reap some reward as bo seeks assistance to repair the damage wrought by incompetent politicians and scheming kings _ to tho great national structure which ho built.

Tin: high ro.-t tl' freight.'ge through the tunnel tm route East and West "as discussed very freely before the holidays. Events are happening of late which suggest that the matter should have further consideration. It is of national importance that the Midland line should he used to the fullest capacity possible. Tim cost of the line requires that as much traffic as can he seemed should he catered for in order to help to pay and utilise the costly plant daily involved, to the very fullest extent. I!(Terence was made last week to the extiaordinary rliarges piled up nil a consignment of lidi sent from Hokitika to Lyttelton. The example was a startling one of how freightage can lie calculated, and when so imposed, how it will drive trade thorn the railways, and patronise and encourage sea transit in permanent opposition to the line. In tins ordinary course, of business methods it might be expected that tin- opposite tactics would be Hie ease. If ever there were occasion for prefe'ontial treatment of goods traffic, it is in tile case of flic East and West Coast lino which has the rivalry of shipping long established to deal with. Vet, instead of encouraging rail transit trade is being diiven hack to the seaborne transport. Not only is this so with regard to the matter of tinned fish for exp'oit, but tile dairying industry is affected also. The butter factories are finding tin' costs of forwarding to Lyttelton for ex| ort far too high, with the result that steamer t'an.spnrt to Wellington "ill revert, and the railways and Canterbury will lose the benefit of iit is trade "hieli is growing more and more important as time goes on. Now that cool storage Inis heel established in Hokitika, shipping daily produce by boat becomes suler. li addition, Greymouth contemplates providing cool storage, an action which would lead to the capture of further sea-borne trade in daily produce. All tlm while the Railway Department remains passive, while its possible trad' is jeopardised, and important industries and development are affected. It is a matter really beyond llm departmental aspect, and for that reason seeing that a Minister of the. Grown is with us this week, representations through that channel should lie made to the Government for a review of the position from all points of tie" to preserve the industries and foster trade and interisland development.

'I tin Exhibition is new well into its fourth week, and is stiil going well. Ti is week, in view of the jubilee celebrations, is one of the most important : u the period set apart for the Exhibition, and the exposition is certain of large patronage. Indeed tin* ariivnl el patrons just mi" bent .solely for the Exhibition i- larger than at any oilier period. It is very gratifying to learn that the financial prospects ot the great Undertaking are very roseate. The attendance has been so well maintained that tho estimates of receipts lluiil that source promise to he reached. Generally therefore the outlook is very gratifying. Wlmt is very pleasing about He (i.va.sion. is the large contingent of ex-Coasters drawn again to the scenes of their voutb, and to find that tlm ties that bind are as strong as ever. Ail stem to recognise that the district has set out <m a new era of progress —ami no doubt it lias. The coming of the railway has supplied a. 1 octal for prosperity to How in. and once railway freights are adjusted— as they must be sooner rather than later the (list!ict "ill derive a great fillip in general pros] erity. The Exhibition marks the l a|']y prelude to tHo prospering days.