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Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1924, Page 2

Wiutint. editorially of the lesson of Wembley, tho London ‘•Times” thus concludes a long article: The British Empire is a League of Nations which does not need, and does not desire, a written Covenant to regulate it. It has grown, as all the great institutions rooted in our blood have grown, out of beliefs and habits of thought instinctive to us: grown b.v a slow growth from piecedent to precedent. But tho plant cannot thrive without favouring conditions. Neglect, not many decades since, chilled it and threatened to starve it. ft needs a genial atmosphere, a generous soil. It needs mutual sympathy; it needs mutual .sacrifice. mutual forbearance, and mutual aid. It lias the greatest markets and tjie greatest natural resources that Empire ever possessed. That the Exhibition demonstrates. The business of its .statesmen and its peoples is to feed those markets from its own resources, and to develop those resources by the energy and tho labour of our own populations. The two tilings are eompelmentary: they are different sides of the same piocess. Tho more tln* natural resources are explored and developed, the larger heroines the supply of raw mateiial for tin* markets and the larger the demand for tho (•ommodotie.s they have to sell. Every new homestead in Canada or Australia, every new district irrigated in India or reclaimed from the jungle or the desert, means more trade for our snippers. our merchants, our manufacturers. and more employment for our workers at home. Every immigrant of the light type to the sparsely peopled regions of the Dominions. and every pound of British money embarked in sound colonial enterprise furthers the common wealfare and fosters tile common patriotism. This wonderful display is rich in many lessons: richest to those who know the story that almost every part of the Fillpile, the least with the greatest has to tell; a romance of adventure, of daring .of hopes deferred, but not abandoned oT persevering labour, of war, of famine and of pestilence endured and overcome, of noble lives nobly spent, of high aims and patient endeavour often thwarted hut never dropped, of loyalty, of honour and of juslire—of errors, 100. and follies recklessly committed and splendidly retrieved; oT wrongs, of crimes even—“best we forgot"—repented and atoned; of majesty, “maiestas” in ilie full Roman sense, hut loftier and purer than all the majesty of Rome. This is the sot rv; more wonderful and more stirring in its plain unvarnished truth than ever poet sung; more pregnant, of practical wisdom than all ideals of sages or of statesmen. But the chief lesson of all is that this true League of Peace, this potent instrument of good for ourselves and for mankind, this sure ‘‘bulwark of the cause of men” must he defended, and upheld, in peace time, as in war. by tlie virtues and the qualities that made it. ’ibis lesson, we may hope, will sink into many minds as they are confronted by the gathered evidences at Wembley of what this Empire is. and of wlmt the will of its peoples mnv make it.

I incur, aro some hopes that the \ur tlolit problem may Ih> advanced matcri-

; ally towards a genera,l settlement. ; when the l/omlon conference fixed for next mouth takes place. The late fireside talk between the Premiers of Britain and France seems to have paved the way to a better understanding, and to a less recalcitrant attitude on tbe part of France. The other Allies are to come together also for the conference. and the Fnited States is to be (jiven the opportunity of joining the circle. It is a very hopeful sign indeed that Germany is to have an invitation. Tf the Fnited States can he prevailed upon to he somethin'; more than an unofficial observer of the proceedings, a great stride should he taken towards the final nrriuigement of the repayment scheme. The Dawes report will be the basis of the discussion. General Dawes, the Chairman of the Committee responsible for the report in question, is now a nominee for the Fnited States vice-Pre-sidency. It would indeed be a matter for congratulation. if with his enhanced prestige he could take a seat at the Conference, and give a deliberative vote on behalf of the Fnited States. The aloofness of the Americans in the final adjustment of the after-war problems, is one of the dif- j fieulties of tbe situation. America bad quite a large finger in tbe making of peace, but will not take any part in carrying out stipulations for which, America’s representatives were responsible primarily. Tbe Fnited States to that extent lias not played tbe game. Of course it must lx* admitted that in the interval there was a change in the administration, and the Republican party supplanted the Democrats. But tlie former still pose as a peace party and took all the kudos for the disarmament conference. While being thus imbued with a desire for a world peace, it would be quite consistent for America to enter tire London conference and throwing her influence into the scale exercise an all round pressure on the parties concerned to come to a finality. Such a useful step would be of paramount interest t»l the pence of the world;

The Returning Officer of the Canterbury Education Board notifies the list of candidates nominated for the Board. Mails and passengers from the North Island l>y the ferry steamer connected with tlie West Coast express at Christchurch this morning.

While Reynold Roberts, a married man, was engaged in Johnson’s coalyards. "Waltham Road. Christchurch on Thursday, a dray tipped on him, and ho sustained a compound fracture of the left leg. He was admitted to tho Christchurch Hospital. Thomas Long, a butcher at Culverden. was cranking n delivery motor ear on Thursday morning when it, hackfired. His light wrist was badly shattered. First aid was given, and the sufferer was sent to the Christchurch Hospital by motor. Long is a married man with two children.

On arrival of the Norfolk at Lyttelton on Thursday a sealnan named Martin Record, aged about forty years, was landed and sent to the Christchurch Hospital to undergo treatment for injuries received through falling down tlie vessel’s No 2 hold. The accident occurred on Wednesday morning. while the vessel was on her way from Auckland to Wellington, when Record was attended to bv the ship’s doctor. lie is being treated for injuries to his head, back and logs.

The High Commissioner. Sir James Allen, has sent a cablegram to the directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition stating that sixty applications liavo been received in England for the position of manager of the exhibition. He has named two applicants and recommends that one of them ho appointed. The applications uere referred to the finance committee. In addition to the applications mentioned above the directors have* received about twenty from New Zealand and Australia.

The surprising assertion was made in tlie House on Thursday afternoon by Mr I). G. Sullivan (Avon), in a question to the Minister ol Justice, that the police when investigating regarding candidates for the commission of the peace have ascertained their political opinions He asked hv whose authority such inquiries had been made, stating that in two instances in Christchurch where the police ascertained the political opinions of tiersons recommended for tho commission of the peace in the Avon and Lyttelton electorates, no appointment had been made. Members of the local lt.fi.A. are reminded of the working hoes fixed over the week-end at the Soldiers’ Hall in preparation for the big bazaar to open on Tuesday night. The ladies’ committee u ill he able to prepare aipl decorate their stalls on Monday. Many gifts for the bazaar are being received. indicating that the function is going to Ik? very popular. A wide range of choice will he provided in the fcoods to he offered for sale and visitors will lind themselves well catered lor at every turn. The refreshment department will he specially conducted, and patrons will find tho rooms in the annexe. which will lie made a pleasant retreat whence to view the animated scene in tlie main hall.

To-morrow night, approximately at B.;n. the Hokitika Municipal Band will render the second of their winter eoncerts at the Princess Theatre. The Programme to he given is a good one, including the beautiful hymns, “Fierce Raged l lie Tempest,” the anthem "Blessed are They.” the quartette “To Thee 0 Lord,” and others. The first programme gave a delight to the large audience present, and that to he given to-morrow should he equally popular. The concert is timed to last just all hour, so that patrons may get home early. On this occasion liberally disposed persons will lie given an opportunity of contributing towards the cost of these concerts.

To-night! To-night! Soldiers’ Hall! The usual Kiwi Football Club’s Dance. Everybody assured of a good time. Good floor. Best of music by Bonetti’s Jazz Baud, which commences nt 9 o’clock sharp.—Admission—Gentlemen Is Gl; Ladies is.—Advt. Two motor drivers have the opportu. nitv of getting a nine guineil* leather motor coat at four pounds ten shillings each—Get in early.-—McKay and Soil. —Advt.

Tin* true economy sale. .MiGruer’s super sale of all winter goods commenced at ‘9 a.in. Friday, June 2 1 11,. In even department our winter stocks have been marked down to zero—they can't go lower—here is your opportunity. The prices make it. Call early for best choice. McGruer’s. Hokitika and Givvmonth. —Advt.