The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23rd, 1921. A BIG AMERICAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23rd, 1921. A BIG AMERICAN.

*|*Hk part | I:i\i■ <1 by General Dawes ill the investigations ai'.-.l study "liieb made the Itepirations committee’s plan possible. says the Lyttelton “Times”, can only be guessed, but it is lair io him to .say that lie lias bad uni<iue experience in a very important part <>l the eommittee's "oik, the business ol Budget-balancing, since lie was appointed by J’resident Harding, as Dudget Director of the United States. In six months lie changed the whole system of Congressional and departmental expenditure and cifected ceoninies estimated tit a hundred million dollars a year. The story is still laid in Washington of how he called together in a mass meeting the "hole Administration and all the departmental beads President. Ministers and all the bureau chiefs—and bow with st range oaths and' loud bangs upon the table lie expounded a plan for putting the United Slates’ tiaamos on a business basis—the same basis, in fact, as those of the United States Steel Corporation. To go further back, when Dawes went to Fraiu-e in 1917

it "as as major of engineers. In one month be was a lieutenant-colonel : in six mouths a full colonel, and a little later his services on General Pershing’s staff as chairman of the General Purchasing Board were rewarded by the rank of brigadier-general one month before the Armistice. It may be added that the military title is detested by General Dawes, who protests against it whenever he gets a chalice. While ill Franco lie drafted a plan for the coordination of Allied supplies. which would have been adopted had the war lasted much longer. When the plan was expounded to Clement-can, the “old tiger’’ growled: “Why hasn’t somebody thought of this before!’’ To go further back still, between 1897 and 1902 Dawes was Comptroller of the Currency, in which ollice be did good plain honest service. Tn polities be is and always lias been a ltepide lieitn. He was chairman of M’Kinley’s committee in Illinois in 189(5, and be is a candidate for the Vice-Presidency in the Republican interest this year, lit- is reputed a very hard man in matters political and financial. but there is another side to his character. He is very fond of children—bis only boy was drowned and tie lias an adopled son and daughter—and lie is president of the Home for Crippled Children in Chicago. In memory of bis son. he lias established in that city the Rufus !•’. Dawes Hotel, an institution for destitute men. He is an accomplished musician and composer, his favourite instrument being the violin. One of his compositions. “Melody in A Major”, was good enough to find a plate in Fritz Kreisler’s repertoire. As an author lie lias also found fame, his book. “The Banking System of the United States." published in 189-1. being regarded as the standard work on the subject, fie is an inveterate and determined pipe smoker, and lie took to Europe with him tin especial type of pipe which lie considers superior to all others—an •‘nntlersluug” contraption with the stem attached to the bowl at the top instead of the bottom. 1 could get the members of his committee to listen with respect to bis views on any other subject, but they would lint adopt bis pipe. General Dawes lias a good many political enemies. He is a hard-shell conservative, a convinced and determined opponent of trade unionism and renowned and denounced—ns the organiser of a very formidable strike-breaking organisation. But sufficient lias been wnid to indicate that when America sent Dawes to Europe to devote three months to the question of reparations, she sent no academic economist, but a very practical mail with wide and versatile interests. General Dawes will have with him the best wishes of a much-relieved Europe in bis coming contest for the Yioe-Frosidenoy.

last couple of years because of the frequent references to the conditions f the buildings. The quarters were built over fifty years ago. and since then ideas of accommodation have modernised, while the treatment of mental patients has been revolutionised. Unfortunately the number of unfortunates increased and extra accommodation had to be provided. The vacation of the gaol quarters adjoining the mental institution afforded a ready and cheap means of meeting the requirements. In that way the obsolete gaol buildings—more ancient than the hospital institution itself—came to be used to accommodate the overflow of mental patients. The buildings were not suit, able for the purpose. The .-online surroundings. high walls, and close 1011finenieiit were at variance with the (banging order of tilings affecting the treatment of mental eases. It was in these cireumstniues that public opinion. becoming aware of the prevailing conditions, began to assert- itself. '1 be old order laid to change. The (Government halted for a time 1 etween two minds—whether to close the local institution and transfer the patients, or rebuild. Circumstances caused the rebuilding alternative to lie decided upon. But this, again, was a slow process of evolution, till the Department was spurred into a'tion by the voice of public comment. The matter was delayed so long, that there was room and occasion to complain, and those made aware personally of the position, verv properly spoke out. Ibe occasion for the adverse comment is now disappearing. A range of new buildings is growing up, and laid out on modem linos, will provide all modern comfort and convenience for the patients. 1 lie now aspect lias l*-on considered specially, and the fullest use will be taken of Old Sol in bis daily passage to make the situation as bright- as possible. I In* now institution, as such it will be. will involve n very considerable expenditure. It- is manifest that such an outlay should spread over a term, but from what could be seen ot the works in progress, the large unde; taking lias been carried out on very economical lines. It is perturbing somewhat to ' learn that the gaol quartets still remain to be razed to |ormit of anotbei new wing, and it i-s hoped lor the saki of those forced to domicile within its cheerless walls, the new building may 1 soon materialise. In order to main--1 tain adequate accommodation ' hit. ' the rebuilding Wits ill progress, it is easv to understand that the work hat:

it, lie carried out on a system, lint it is to be hoped for the reason given above that the funds and opportunity n iU be forthcoming soon to remove the last relics of the old gaol quartets v.-bich of late have been smli a bogey in considering the tale oi the tintot lunate inmates ot the local mental iustiint ion. Pill; pica! motorists associated with the Automobile Association can hardly be i ngiatulalcil on their attitude toil aids the local body (barged with the care of the public roads. .Motorists dearly lov* good roads, and are ] orsistent ill 1 licit demands to that end. Itemising the advantages of improves I roads tiie local hotly set iilmut that objective in good taith looking tor active support from the motoring mstion in particular. A large expenditure was incurred in the matter of machinery, but when it was proposed to impose a small tax on those using the roads childly, there was a tevolt. and through their organisation everything possible, apparently, was done to blocs the local body imposing its tax. For the best part of the year the Association lias succeeded. Now when the local body lias no doubt spent many lx.Muds in establishing its position (moiicv which the motorists would have found more useful on the roads) the motoring fraternity ate laying up with as good a grille as they can. .At tile same time they shed a few tears ii their annual report for the uniortilnatc touting motorist who may not ((ime here owing to the ‘‘tax '. I banks to the A-sociation forcing the bands of ttie local body, the So) rente ( diirt has now included a clause ill tJije local by-law which will make visiting motel ists liable to a tax ot os for the privilege of motoring through Westland. Wo‘have yet to learn that this insignificant fee will deter traffic. Also, the local Association no sootier decide to pnv up than they ask for immediate expenditure on roads running into .several hundreds of pounds. The fee lor the privately owned car i- less than two pence a day. but like the avenge Knglishman who pays taxation, the motorists are evidently going to growl freely. The local body will have it- bam' full for it time, no doubt, satisfying the motorists who having salved their conscience by paying a small license fee. will now be looking for the most expensive roads the ratepayers will provide.