The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const ’times.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16th, 1924 THE CHANGING VISION.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const ’times.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16th, 1924 THE CHANGING VISION.

In considering further the political trend of thought within the British Empire, we might refresh the reader’s mind by remarking that in the previous reference, we dilated on the effect of the war upon the nation as a whole. The nation owing to the necessities of the times, became organised for war, and with peace came a fresh dislocation which was not to he remedied or met ns easily and readily as the call to arms. The imposition of war conditions, and the carrying cm of many irksome regulations brought about a changing vision. It was Jiolitiea! largely, because the regulations and laws were of political manufacture. They were imposed at the will of those in authority. And here let is he said, that the war legislation was accepted h\ the people in a manner greatly to the credit of a law-abiding nation. But the conditions imposed indicated that from the people as a whole, sendee .was required nationally which before had 1-oon undreamt of. The principle of compulsion applied universally and brought home the fact thal within the Kmpiie all were equal and all must serve as the occasion demanded, and the response to the c-all was wonderfully good, really spontaneous. At that stage the political aspect did not present itself. That was to come later when there would he time for summing up and reviewing the history of the war. For the moment it was essential for the national safety to win the war. and having won it, the democracy had time to think, and began to wonder what ;t s reward might he. Here then liegan the fresh trend of political thongnc-p-

the moment when the war over, and safety preserved, those responsible for the great task sought a material reward. We have seen, though, how there were a now condition of affairs |>orvading the countryside. The ending of war did not mean the immediate return to ularmal conditions. Mail it done so till would have hcen well. II conditions could have been put back to early August, 1011, they would have sufficed; hut instead the conditions of November, 1018, had to go on. Those conditions might lie summed up as a general dislocation of trade, a shortage of money, a scarcity of food, and a natit mil state of exhaustion resultant from the herculean task of winning ilu war. The nation still trusted its government of the day. It was a coali-

tion government -a fusion of parties mainly of commercial and business men, with, of course, an infusion id military advisors to carry on the war

to a viclui ions conclusion. I’ni as happened so often till round the Empire, the Coalition Government did not last long enough. Its true task would have keen to have won peace as well as the war. But with the last accomplished. the coalition broke up. mid there was a return to party govoi nineul which assisted in no small way to seriously prejudice the political position. This was the stage at which the trend of political thought became most at variance. The disruption came to puss within tins parties themwlves; for individuals became again free agents, and even .great political parties of former days became torn asunder. In British polities from time immemorial there have been but two lines of political thought—Liberal and Conservative. To some extent a thud has been added of late—the Radical. There, then to-day, are the fundamental parties in polities, and round the principles of each will marshall the political thought ef the times. Just, bow tile masses will group themselves must be the subject of u further article in a later reference to the matter which i- the political question of the day.