The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1924. THE STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1924. THE STRIKE.

The railway trouble culminated in a definite crisis to-day, when the running of all trains stopped owing to the men of the associated body coming out on strike at midnight. This step was bar.dy expected after the promising negotiations which had proceeded on Sunday, when the request for a fresh Wages Board was acceded to. There w-as some difference about the personnel, and the negotiations may-have broken down on that account. If that he so, the position is not creditable to either side. To dislocate a great national service and render useless the earning power of millions of pounds’ worth of property for even a few hours, Is crass stupidity. Tire action strikes at the root of ordered Government and administration, and the situation should make the public think. The Government has taken a certain stand, both in the replies to the men’s requests and to the information they have given the public in an unofficial way. It would have been better if that information had been •published in a more direct way. However, the public statements are there, and assuming the facts to be right the Government must now stand to their guns and enforce the mandate they hold from the people to rule,, or else make way for someone else with larger capabilities. In the meantime the public will suffer. They will suffer both ways. They are caught between a vice, and their personal business will suffer, and they must pay, pay, pay, for the general loss to the country through the holdup by the railwaymen. As the “third party" to the dispute they have not been heard yet, but it is now quite time for the public to speak, and it should >e with no uncertain pound.

EUROPEAN AFFAIRS. Matters seem to be shaping at last towards a more settled state of affairs in Europe. To begin with Germany has accepted the reparations report, and accepted it lather promptly—without any suggestion of haggling. This seems tc be a particularly healthy sign. The Da'vcs report marks more than a milestone in the long drawn, out negotiations for a settlement of war conditions. Rather is it a half-way house, whence the journey is to be resumed under rnoro favorable conditions, and with tlie ‘‘going” much easior than the climb to the present position. The settlement of the reparations question was a fixed problem running into more money than the mind can readily comprehend. It is therefore a great step forward to have matters in the way of being focussed, and after five years to see the silver lining showing through the clouds of obscurity. 'lhe British Government, under Mr Ramsay MacDonald, has been congratulated by Mr Baldwin upon the prompt action in accepting the report. Mr MacDonald was generous in his expressions of goodwill and earnestness to see an cud to all the long drawn out negotiations during which Europe lias been bled white —financially. Belgium, too, is co-oper-ating, which is something to note, with satisfaction, for hitherto Belgium has been ready to shelter under the wing of France in any measure bearing upon extracting payment from Germany France still has her reservations, and its M. Poincare dominates the foreign situnton more than ever for his countrymen, liis will in the matter will go a long way in determining the ultimate effect of the Dawes report as a means to effect a general settlement of the great question at issue. The report it is interesting to recall, Ims the balking of"the United States, which is still an unofficial ally of the Powers involved against Germany, and the Jacl that Britain, Belgium and the United States are at one must hear some impress upon the mind of the Freneh Premier. The latter lias mi election immediately' ahead of him, and be must be careful not to make a false step at this juncture. With the Allies uniting, or rather rallying to a common purpose, France must not neglect a favorable opportunity, because, it has to be borne in mind, if this material effort at a settlement does not succeed, the alternative is more complete chaos, and perhaps a final severance of the closer Allied relations. In regard to Russia, the newly installed British Prime Minister has excelled himself. Air MacDonald has proved a born Foreign Minister, and bis handling of the Russian delegation hils hrotight forward a chorus of press approval the like of which lias seldom if ever, lieen heard ■ before where great political issues are at stake. The London “Times” and the Liberal press are Specially eulogistic, and have congratulated Mr ‘MacDonald on his address to the remarkable delegation now visiting London. Doubtless Mr MacDonald’s attitude is the stronger because he had earlier consulted France on Russian affaiis, and he is handling the subject with the knowledge that his line of action is in accord in the main with Britain’s immediate ally. The ultimate adjustment of the affairs of Germany and Russia to the satisfaction of Great Britain, means a great deal to the Empire. The. outlook at the most is distinctly hopeful, and if the promised progress is made, there will be a great stride towards the material betterment of European affairs generally.