Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1924, Page 2

And Anzac Day to fulfil its mission should represent something more than a medium for recalling memories. The occasion should remind us of what the soldiers fought, and died for, and having made their supreme sacrifice, ask ourselves what are we doing to-day to assist to complete the work of their splendid sacrifice? Since war time the world has been very much out of joint. Although the war was fought to ensure peace, the reality of peace has not come to us. There is the prospect that we may lie on the threshold of real peace if the Allies unitedly with Germany will conlorm to the stipulations of the Dawes Committee’s report on the reparations. But the real peace we would have, is at best afar off. and while that is so there is the obligation on all to hasten the time. By so ordering their conduct and desire to help their country, all things are possible, and each in his own sphere can do much to help towards the condition of affairs the world hungers for, yet hitherto, is too much out of gear to attain. Ihe war left the world very much out of joint. As one writer said “the first thing is to recover our wholesome traditions. Few serious students of public affairs will dispute that the long strain of the war, confusing our ideas of good and evil, and at times centring our hopes upon things which a normal civilised man regards with loathing, has resulted in a widespread degradation of political conduct. Things are done now in time of peace, which would have been inconceivable before 1914.'' The sacrifice which Anzac day commemorates brings all that very much to mind. If the war made the world sale for democracy, which is said, so glibly so often, it is for democracy now tc maintain the safety bought with so much blood and treasure. There is something more in life than the mere pursuit of materialism, and to seek only that gain is to court disaster and certainly discount all that Anzac Day stands for. There is a call for service to-day as in times of war. The country can he served effectively to-day, but as then, country must come first. 'Hie soldiers who died counted not the cost nor their own aggrandisement. Let > he no less self-sacrificing and see to it that the mighty dead now being commemorated, did not die in vain.

Piuoii to the railway strike developing into an actual fact, a. quantity of publicity matter relating; to tho State’s situation in relation to the embroglio appealed in several newspapers. In some quarters this was commented upon as an effort to use public funds to create a hostile feeling against the men. Tf iae matter was supplied by the Government or any of its departments, it seems ratehr a pity it was not so announced frankly. Official sta cannot do harm. In fact the more information supplied, in this direction the I tetter, because it is the true presentation of the facts that is desired, and the Government easo should certainly he made as widely known as possible. Tne Government must have felt very sure of its stand when it compiled tho oonci.se statement referred to, and with the official impress the particulars should have been distributed' far and wide. There is the need for definite information at all times. Tho men. or rather their leaders, are given wide publicity through the press in times of stress, and unless the allegations are reviewed or corrected, the public often obtain false impressions. The Government has its publicity office, and that Department should he organised so as to handle all necessary statements in regard to a crisis such ns the present, and keep the public fully informed with official information. This, coming from the reliable source it should, would be looked for with particular interest by the public, and would serve a very material purpose in holding public opinion to facts and not to garbled information. The principle is quite a sound one. The public are entitled to the fullest knowledge. and the information should ho essentially reliable. The truth can do no harm! In fact, letting the people know exactly what is the position and how the country is affected, is the essential thing to shape public opinion in the sane direction in which it should go. The Government would be doing a public service by developing its publicity branch along such lines.

Witfi the ostnl and Telegraph Union presenting a little bill of £300,000 for increases in salaries, the Government has its hands fairly full at the moment. So far nothing definite is being done in regard to handling the railway situation, and this perhaps suggests to tho executive of the Postal Union that the time is opportune to press their claims. The Government must needs review the position in a comprehensive way, and the ease for one. is largely the ease for the other. The little hill for extra wages from the two branches of the public service runs into something approaching an additional million to the annual wages sheet. Other branches of the service will also be holding their hands out, and it is a question how far the Government may with security go, ; The public service must needs be

efficient, but efficiency is not always a matter of numbers. The pressure for more wages suggests that if the claims are legitimate and stress of circumstances call for higher salaries, whether the position can be balanced by reducing staffs or curtailing privileges. With taxation ns high as it is, and tlio people looking for some relief, if money is to he found for increased salaries running into big figures, more money must be raised by fresh taxation, direct or otherwise. To satisfy the railway demands increased fares and freights could be imposed, though with motor competition it would not follow necessariely that the increases would lever from the pockets of the people the amount needed. So with postal and telegraph revenue, it would he possible to secure more revenue by doubling the rates of postage and putting a third or more on to telegraphic rates. Ibis would he passing it on. The passing on would result in lessened business, and that of course would enable reduced staffs to he employed. But balancing accounts by this means is not very statesmanlike. The general situation is so developing that it- is for the Government to take a definite stand on distinct policy lines. Either the country can or cannot stand this financial strain for the public service. The Government has the responsibility of the situation, and it must accept the position. Ministers are present in W ellington in full force, and it is for them to determine on a line of policy, take the public into their confidence and pursue it. The country cannot stand the present dislocation of its public sendee, and if there is the threat veiled or otherwise on the part of other section!; of the service, it is for the Government to act with statesmanlike dignity, and do the public duty for the lienefit of the many and not at the behest of the few. Unless the Government will meet the situation on these lines it has not the right to further imperil the public position by a pciiod of inaction which suggests impotence.