The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1924. THE TREND OF GOVERNMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1924. THE TREND OF GOVERNMENT.

Discussing the general trend of industry combined with its aspect in relation to democracies, an American financial journal remarks that the worst feature of the situation everywhere is that the people do not understand the economic conditions from which their difficulties arise, and are inclined to be impatient and resentful under the hardships which they suffer, and either force unwise policies upon their governments or embarrass industrial operations by demands which tend to prevent the situation from righting itself. Modem business is complicated by widespread relationships which under normal conditions are highly beneficial, but their disruption causes unavoidable losses and distress. The unwillingness of great numbers of people to accept this fundamental fact has the effect of aggravating all of the evils of the situation. The industrial output- of many countries is less than in the years before the- war, because trade relations

have been disturbed, or because the daily hours of labor have been deliberately reduced, but the people are dissatisfied with any lowering of the standaid of living and arc disposed to think somebody is to blame for it. In analysing the revulsion of the democracies on the continent, the writer says that the most outstanding development in Europe of the past year or two has been the revulsion from democracy as Sven in the setting aside of representative governments and the cosccntration of authority, with the* acquiescence of the pubic, in individuals who exercise virtually dictatorial (lowers. In Austria, Dr. Zimmerman, named by the League of Nations is in control under the terms of a foreign loan. Mussolini heads the government in Italy, apparently with general approval, but without an election. In Spain, Geneuil Prime do Rivera, Marquis de Estella last September suggested to the l’rimo Minister and Parliament that the space they occupied was more desirable than their company and they vanished. The General is performing •their functions. In Bulgaria the existing governmest came in by a revolution and the assassination of the former Premier, Stambulisky. The latter was an extreme agrarian, and his partisans have formed a coalition with the Communists. The existing government is conservative and lias the support of the more intellectual elements of the population, but is handicapped b.v the peace treaty which forbids the maintenance of an army by conscription of more than 33,000 men. In neither Italy, Spain nor Bulgaria has the royal house been disturbed by these violent changes, the new powers in each case being, friendly to the monarchy, ijnd U |o mom archs apparently satisfied to accept the situation. On the other hand, in Greece xhe royal family has been expelled from tlie country by tho power of Die military and legislative authorities and a republic proclaimed. As in the utlier cases, however, the revolutionary movement had its origin in popular dissatisfaction with the administration of public affairs. In Hungary the situation is virtually that of rule under a dictatorship, while in Germany the same is true, with the qualification that the constitution provides that in an emergency supreme power may be vested in the Chancellor, which has been done. Jt cannot be assumed that the establishment of dictatorships signifies a lasting displacement of republican institutions. but it is evident that the public i.s tired for the time being of the inetfieieuov of parliamentary government. All of the continental law-mak-ing bodies have been split up into so many groups and blocs that parliamentary action was well-nigh impossible. The groups check-mated each other, group politics dominated everything ai l governmental responsibility no longer existed. Democracy had run itself into the ground, and ill sheer desperation the public welcomed any authority that promised to he strong enough and patriotic- enough to give good government. After all, the most important service of government is thatof maintaining order and protecting industry and private business. If democracies will learn this new lesson they will he greatly benefited by the experience.