The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7th, 1924. ACHIEVING SUCCESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7th, 1924. ACHIEVING SUCCESS.

I'm: British Ihiuie .Minister must have many crowded days. they will he days of serums anxiety and stlipcn.o>us difli; iilty. C ir. i.instance made it | edible for the im] ending time of crisis that a new parly and a new ! government should step into the breach and shoulder the grave rosponsihilitics of tin* times, MMie Labour Government entered into oflice with a grant oppo: tunity he fort* it. Probably, a.s we glean from tho tallies, many of the followers of Labor looked ior a good time by the largesse the new .Ministry might lie able, not to dole out, hut to give generously to those who might seek the succour. But the Government was hardly in oflice before it found that domestic affairs were not tin* most pressing of the times. Britain was tremendously involved in European politics, and these were obligations it was impossible to shirk or avoid. It was fortunate* for Labor, no less than for Britain itself, that at the crucial time, then* was a newly found leader capable of taking a firm seat and n strong grasp of toe reins, and guiding the fortunes <.f the country not erratically along tin* right toad. In Mr Ramsay MacDonald there was a clear-headed Tlime Minister, who was untranimell- , od with previous official prejudices, lie was tit the head of the party, which up to the moment had no foreign policy a.s such, lie had to make his own way a.s it were, luit being clear-sight-ed lie was not in immediate danger. * He has been given great credit ior assisiing towards the adjustments of the Allied differences. His impersonal record during the war period will not make him unpopular from the outset* with the German delegation. They will rather lie disposed to listen to the voice ot this new mail from the ranks of the people, and we may not he hoping in vain that the British Prime Minister presiding at the great rontcronce now in progress, will add further laurels to his previous success. And perhaps we shall hear, too, that in the settlement with Russia. Mr Ramsay MacDonald has been a liguie to count upon. Tie made it clear where his Government stood with Russia at the opening of the negotiations and since then the attitude of the Russian delegation has changed greatly. In the midst of these most difficult and exhausting problems lie now has the Irish question upon his hands. It would appear Mr Ramsay MacDonald must Ik* passing from one vital conference to another, each of great difficulty. Perhaps it is in the very varied ness of his serious deliberations tluu lie gets tho mental refreshment necessary to hold ihe threads of all the complex problems in mind. Mr Raman\* MacDonald deserves to .succeed with this Irish settlement, for ho lias made it clear he proposes to stick to tlie treaty. With the help of the Lloyd George following he should he able to see tho task through—which means that the bond will lie kept. Having won through on these great issues, if his followers' are but patient, he may l>o expected when his mind i.s less fully occupied to turn personal attention to those great domestic problems of housing and unemployment which overshadow the United Kingdom at present. The success he has achieved already suggests he should make good in the other questions when time permits to take thorn up resolutely.

By a slow process of time tlie Hospitaj Board is establishing the institutions unefcr its control in more concrete form. It i.s years ago since tlie first Old Peoples’ Home was built adjacent to the AVcstland Hospital. That step followed a hitter local controversy as to where the institution should lie centred. Although the most practicable site for the Houle was selected, owing to the divided public opinion and the heat im]>orted into the controversy. the institution in its selected quarters was never popular. Now after a long break, the Old Peoples’ Home has been rebuilt in more permanent material in close juxtaposition to the first selected site. The new situation is a good one from every point of view, and should result in more economical management. Of late years the Hospital Board has been engaged in a heavy expenditure on account of buildings, and it is something to know that the capital expenditure on that account is coming to an end. Of the large outlay, the provision of acceptable quarters for the aged, adjacent to the well-found hospital, where the inmates will have every care and attention, is specially to he commetifled. The outlay which lias been going on for some time past is now at an end almost, and there is a tine pile of buildings to show for the expenditure. The times are expensive for building, but the institution now available is thoroughly modtun in its lay-BUt- and equipment. In that respect the community i.s receiving a first-class article, and the management has seen to it that the surroundings tire in keeping with the building itself. Some of the members have done very unselfish work, and the community and those who come nfer will enjoy the fruits of their labors. 'l'hal is the most pleasing reward tliev could have.

Tun record of tlie year’s coal and timber traffic by way of Arthur's Pass I uiuh'], is very satisfactory. r l liis class of goods traffic has totalled 208,877 tons for the year,, or an average of over 21.000 tons a month. The traffic promises to lie a growing quantity as for the last three fiionths of the year, the average was nearly 29,000 tons per month. This i.s the midwinter of the year, when peiliaps 111010 coal is in use, but building is very inucli restricted, a-s evidenced by the doarill of timber orders at this juncture. Tie traffic from the east has been small compared with that from the west, hut with the spring and summer period this must increase. Obi trading connections are not readily broken, but after a year’s experience, the tendency will he naturally for a greater volume ot trade to. pass through the tunnel. The effect In shipping i.s must marked, so that already for Hast Const trading, shipping is a negligible competitor. Oo;ll and timber trade with the west will ho existent always, for both cbnunodit.ie swill continue in demand, and the toast has tho resources to satisfy the market. As the markets are opened further south 1111 the Hast Coast the railway traffic by tho Midland lino must grow so that the result will he a steadily increasing volume of traffic. ~ lis was to be expected. It wits on this belief that the plea for the .Midkind (ounectiisi was urged, and llie only regret is that it wits so long in materialising, dust as the'goods traffic i.s growing so the passenger service will increase, hut the Department will require to cater better for the

..-time. offering. A faster service- is necessary between the natural termini • Chrslchureh aitd Hokitika —alfil the Cmasl possibilities must lie considered by | roriding more trains, certainly in tlie summer season. Fiicilitics 1 | arte i; ate in all privileges such its exclusion fare periods should he grunted the Coast also. 'I here are com- | limits that for the coining National la.ruival at Christchurch the Coast is being penalised midiily. and the Department is likely to lose revenue, while Coasters will have to take ordinary tickets to enjoy the lull period of the sporting carnival. West Coast lias been for so long the Cinderella, of the Railway pt-partnient. that in some res, eels its existence is still being ignored. The growing volume of the West Coast trade through tlie Arthur’s Pass ’funnel should be a reminder that here there are opportunities for increasing traffic to be exploited under more attractive conditions.