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Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1924, Page 2

tiKNKli.u. S-UCIS. wlin was defeated this week for his seat in the South African Parliament, may surely lie regarded its one of the chief assets ol the lkitisli •Kmipre, and one who, certainly, was a must conspicuous -its almost most useful—figure in the winning of the Croat War. An Amrticau piessmau who interviewed Ceueral Smuts when in England in 15• IT. described him as it democrat of democrats, lie- was a man for ihc‘ second time involved in a great struggle for ideals which in human life is wagered against human life with freedom as the ultimate stake. The first tight of Ceueral Smuts had been against England when he led tlio Boers in the South African war. His second fight was with England in the Croat War. and in that titanic campaign lie represented the reorganised, revivified, reconstituted South Africa which was lighting as a great dominion to tlie British Commonwealth of Nations for a coni moil ideal. .Inst what that ideal was. Ceueral Smuts defined himself when in I.ondon during the war. and in an important declaration he made of his own vision when reviewing the trend of the motives justifying his own actions. He said: Tile military aspects of the war so absorb our attention that we are apt to forget the still mote important moral aspects, and to overlook tlie fuel that the suffering of such multitudes is slowly but surely working a great psychological change, which will lead to results far beyond anv that were contemplated at the beginning of the war. However hard we are striving for victory we shall not aim merely at a military victory, bin still more tit such a moral victory as will become a steadfast basis of the new order of things, litis could bo done by making |H*oplo icalise the fur dameiilal ideals which underlie our essential war aims. If we are to achieve the permanent' destruction of flint mi itary imperialism /which has drffftetl from the past like a monstrous iceberg into our modern life, wo must create a new temperature, a new atmosphere for Democracy, and strengthen tin- forces of freedom and nation a! Covornment. and self-development at the same time that wo work for the free co-operation of the nations in future. in pursuing the common ideals of a peaceful civilisation. Military imperialism. more briefly railed Prussistnism, was one method to counteract the anarchy of the individual sovereign states of Europe—a very disastrous method. For it will have to he substituted a new method, based mi a powerful and widespread public opinion which will reconcile the individual free, dotn of states with co-operative machinery in the first instance for Ihe persorvatiou of peace, and later tor securing other essential common aims of civilisation. The method of subjection hv force will have to give way to tlie iinetlioil of co-operation on the basis of freedom.

Togktiiuu with General Smuts, his parly and Government have U'en defeated at the polls. This was due to the pact among the parties ol the Opposition—the Nationalists and l-a-hor groups. As the South Atrienn party, the Government stood for Umpire ami adhesion to the constitution. The Nationalists are lepuhlican in their leanings, haltor is not secessionist, hut for its own political ends it joined tip with the Nationalists for the purpose of defeating the Government. To this end there was an absence generally of vote-splitting for there wore few three, cornered contests. Gabor in that icspeet made a good bargain as the general results show, for the party was able to gain many new seats. It is a condition of the pact that following the formation of a Ministry to succeed the South African party, Libor is to have representation in proportion to its political strength. There is the further important point that during the life of this fusion Government, the secession (piostion is not to he taised. There will now, inevitably he a change of Government, hut the coalition will he an unusually mixed one. HVnvever the parties have the experience of other countries to guide them—notably (1 refit Britain where moderation has taken the place of radicalism since J.nhor stepped into office. Of the new Government, one wing will be depomlend on the other, and this self-con-trol "ill lie a strong factor in governing the legislative programme. South Africa has however accomplished a political change in keeping with the trend of events politically all round the Umpire. It's significance in this instance is in relation to ‘•the cut the painter" desire of a strong section in South Africa and tin* final outcome of this aspect will he watched with considerable interest, not to say concern.

In connection with the main highways scheme for this district, whicli embraces the four County areas covered by Buller. Inangnhna. Grey and Westland. the followin'! roads have been declared Government roads: Westport - port-Knramea. 64 miles: Tnangalma Junction-Kuniara 85 miles and KttmnraRoss 36 miles. The main highway roads declared for the district are. West-port-ICaramea, 64 miles: Westport-Xel-son (P,tiller County) 46 miles; InangnIma Jnnction-Waiho. IS4 miles: Ku-mara-Arthiir’s Pass. 46 miles. Under the arrangement with the Highways District Council. the Highways Board will leave the maintenance of the main roads above declared Government roads to the local bodies in the respective districts. and will contribute the bulk of the maintenance cost, the local bodies having to find annually the average of the past three years’ maintenance cost. It is intended to give the roads as complete an overhaul as possible, and

the Council will be meeting next week to compile estimates of expenditure for the current financial year. The scheme will now he finally launched, and it remains to he see how,it- will work nut. Jn the N'orth Island, organisation seems to be better advanced, and some new constructional works are in hand already. The South Island is lagging behind rather. Some of the local bodies are asking for -legislative authority to raise money for special works on the highways of their districts. It is evident from the preparations in hand that for the next few years a very large sum will lie under expenditure throughout the Dominion on road improvement schemes. The present day traffic necessitates the laying down of greatly improved roads so far a.s surface construction is concerned. It is no doubt a problem to deal with tlie traffic economically. Experience is showing that the surface must have special treatment and the sooner the Highways Board issues for the benefit of the Councils the ls’.st information from the experiments already made, the better, and the surer way to avoid waste in useless expenditure. Material specially prepared appears to be required to he used.