Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1924, Page 2

Tin: Government ol the day. with an idea for economy in holiday-making, lias decreed that Empire flay wlii-h falls bv the date to-day. should he cniiiiiicmorated on June Uni., v. hie is. of course, the King’s birthday. 'I he marking of Empire Day was the happy thought of the Paul <*l Meath who. following the death of A ictoria the (bind, instituted May 21 Olio former Queen’s birthdayi as Empire Day. It was well to associate the celebration with Queen Victoria’s birthday, for during her long reign tl:c Empire bad expanded greatly, and the festival ol her birthday was marked by a celebration which had become Knipirowide. It is well to cultivate the spirit of Empire, for the dominions of the British Empire are something to lie proud of. Tin; far-llung Ism pi re tells of the greatness of our nation, and as true nationalists tve should all be proud of our country. One teason why the Empire enjoys the safe rule of royalty is because of the wise discretion of the Kings and Queens from Queen Victoria onward. They have all engaged, the popular attention, and have been beloved because of their attachment to the people. In all shades and classes the legal representatives of the reign-

ing House have shown 11 tolerant demeanour. and it is not too much to say have strengthened the tics of Empire enormously. That has been done. too. during 11 period of world unrest when dynasties have been changed in other countries. At this Km| ire Day wo might wull lie grateful for the fact that the nation enjoys sound and sensible government, and is ill the way of achieving enhanced greatness. ’lre British Empire stands high ill world esteem. To-day in thinkiiTtS* of that tact it is for the nation to continue in the endeavour to make the Empire greater ill its importance as a world power boat solely upon the task of using that power for world betterment.

Wiikn tin* railway strike collapsed w ith sin'll pleasing suddenness, Mr Connolly, one of tlit* I«*:ic!«ms. gave it out that tlio strike was called olf because tin* A. 5.11.5, desired to avoid an extension of tin* tronlili* l>v calling upon tin* Alliance of 1.a1.-or for ils assistanto I AYo know now that the position, was sipeoiiilly camouflaged, for it is tltar that llio .strike, never popular with tlio hulk of the railwaymen, was on the point of breaking down by the men stampeding hack to work. Thanks to the definite attitude taken up hv the Minister of Hailwavs and the Government generally, the men began to feel thrt they were in a wrong position. In point of tact they had been misled into entering what appeared to he a strike engineered by the Alliance of Labor. Certainly tlie Labor leaders rushed to the platform assistance of the railwaymcn. hut it was very apparent the aid from that direction was not going to achieve much. The fact was that the strike was quite a mistaken line of action, and put the railwnymen completely out of the best court they could have public opinion. Now that the IuTJ particulars of the course of events .are revealed, the strike leaders stand exposed more discredited than ever. The firmness of the Government over-rode the obstinacy of the strikers, and the very suggestions of fhe penalties to result if the strike continued brought about the final capitulation. The experience is an all round lesson. The Government has seen the advantage of firmness in such matters, and tile men have realised the fool-hardiness o! attempting to thwart a Government decision. The public will realise that authority has been maintained and a lawful condition established by the methods adopted. The outcome is to tin* credit of the good sense of the community as a whole, and will have a far-rcacliing effect throughout the Dominion, and overseas for the matter of that. In the aftermath, the recalcitrant rnilwnynien having acted with a sense of decency, the Government is going to treat them as magnanimously as the circumstances will permit.

AA'iui.k there is talk of high taxation of racing in this country tending to kill the sport by the sheer weight of the levies, in Knglnnd there is an instance where the sport is municipalised and tlio fortunate borough affected is enjoying an immunity even from rates, the receipts from the race meetings suffering to meet local requirements and avoid the necessity of the ratepayers paying taxes. According to a late English paper oil the 31st. -March last, the surplus funds standing to the credit of the Race Committee of the Doncaster Corporation amounted to the large suin of £181.582. During the financial year the ltace Committee handed over out of the profits of the three meetings held, the following payments. £12.500 to the relief of Tates, £G.200 for stands and paddocks, £0.441 in rates, including the poor rate, and £1.437 contributed towards the salaries of the Corporation officials. Tn all. the money paid over to the Council during the vear was £20.578, equal to a rate of 1/10 in the round. And of course the town receives also the wonderful benefit, direct and indirect, derived from the race meetings being held

in the town. It is a fact that so largo have been the profits every year out of the race meeting that no borough rate has been struck for some forty years. From the sum paid over annually, in addition to the amount helping to carry on the corporation. large sums have boon accumulated and invested for the benefit of the burgesses out of the profits accruing. The citizens of Doncaster are therefore happily situated in having their memorable race meetings established on such favorable lines to the community. In Now Zealand the racing clubs have quite a different tale to tell, hut perhaps a more considerate Parliament will relieve the financial tension somewhat next session.