The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24th, 1924. A FATEFUL SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24th, 1924. A FATEFUL SESSION.

Tm: llritish I’arlir.innn is being summoned for Kepil tuber 153 th. I i deal with the Irish boundary <|i>estiiii. It | rumi.ses to lie a fateful time lor the In-

ti. :e of Ireland. At (.resent there is a marked | eat e as it were, but by this time next week. Parliament, will bo do itliug what authoritative action I’ritain is to take in re'ereme to the Irish treaty so far ;ts it title U tin* .settlement of the l.otiudnry .pi -.siii :ll between the Knv Slate and K'.sler. II means that a crisis j,s coming which may tarry in its train di.slurbing elici ts ft:r Ireland, il not for Hie whole I'nited Kingdom which is in danger of being thrown i 1 11• > |olilioal itirnioil probably creating another general •.•lection. Hut the results may lo even more set ions p.r Ireland where lighting or a .state of civil war may ttri.se. A.s matters stand I In- Knv Stale Cciemiilcnt ret(t'e.st s Hie .setting up of ibe lioumltiry ( ommissiou in terms of the

treaty agreement of three years ago. *1 lio Ulster Govci'iimeni on tlit* other hand i.s resisting the Coinliiksii.ii as it is tea it ill the result will he the transler of territory from l ister’.; domain. ’I lie efforts IVr a nmtiial set 11 out have tailed, and the Uiitish l.ahor GoVerninent which feels it has the responsibility of seeing the treaty fully discharged, ] rofnse.s now to bring forward legislation, which will result in the boundary being deli lied by a legal tribunal, if Ulster will not appoint one under the treaty itself. There is thus the intention on the part of the British Government to endeavor to overcome Ulster's refusal and resistance to obey the inter} fetation ol’ the treaty conditions. It i.s at- this point where a (oiisidoration id' the party .strength comes into mind. 'I lit* question is one on which there will be a sharp party division. The defeat of the Government in regaul to the p-ropisals it will 1 iiL forward will mean the resignation of the Ministry. There is hut little doubt that a defeat on so vital a subject will mean resignation. The Cnservntives as a body w ill be disposed to support the Ulster attitude. The saving of the situation devolves in a great measure on the Liberals, 'that party i.s likely to he divided, and it remains to lie seen how many will follow the MacDonald Government. It is not dear that the Mouse of (.'ominous vote will settle the question, for the l.o:ds might and probably will throw out the

Bill. That action would be the occasion also for a fresh election to seek a mandate from the people who will doubtless lie the final arbiters. The l.aLor Government has been long enough in office to feel their feet, and it would be more preferable to go to the country on the Irish question than the Ifti.ssian Treaty. The MacDonald stock following the Kuropean situation as legal ds the negotiations in progress with Germany. while not inflated, is eeitainly. in favor. Next to l.ahor, the Conservatives will have the best chain o to return to power. Indeed that latter contingency might La a definite prssi'l.ility at this juncture were the Conser-

vative leader more magnetic. The 'Liberals will continue to be the buffer party—useful to which over other par.tv may lie in power, and holding in no small measure the balance of power. While there is this (oirern as to the effort on British polities, perhaps the effect on Irish happenings may ho more dramatically serious. The Cosgrove Ministry might.he overthrown at any moment Labor were defeated in Britain, and the ltcpublicaii element would come to the suifaee. The 'Republican party would not recognise the Ulster Government, and perhaps not

even the sovereign rights of Britain. In that event there would lie a revived state of civil war which could easily lie most disastrous for Ireland. What the chances are for an oscltpc J'rnm the impending impasse, are difficult to calculate. .Statesmanship may yet extricate the nation from a most difficult and perplexing state of affairs. But it is still possible that critical times are ahead, and . those in responsible plates have a very serious liability thrown linen them. Tempers have cooled considerably on the Irish question of late years, but in the crisis which is approaching it is possible for dire results to transpire, and it i.s to ho hoped that in the circumstances the greatest patience ami forebearanee will he shown bv. all sides as the best chance of finding a way put from the. difficulties ip sigty.

I ill: I ..'I lioi' pmly in New Zenkiud loses no opportunity to keep itself in the fcrefi'or.t of public attention. Over the last week end it nave its attention to a “So more War” agitation. It is a snhjeet on which public opinion in the Dominion will he agreed upon generally there should lie. no more war. But it takes two to make a fight at least, and however good the intentions of New Zealand may be circumstances may come to pass which will draw the country into the vortex of war—however indisposed we may he as a people to contemplate the overt act. There is the situation in Ireland to which we have referred above. Wo are finite sure the sensible Irish people are aveise to more war. I hey know even more* of the national sufleriugs from warfare than we ch) in pea:efnlly placed New Zealand, hut another war in Ireland is not a remote possibility', ami if it were possible to look into the secret happenings in Ireland just now. we would find great preparations going ahead for possible eventualities. UnfoiTunatcly the League of Nations which was set up to end war has not succeeded. The Great "War itself which was supposed to end all war. has not done so, nor has it given us even a temporarily secure peace. . Even among the* very Allies themselves there is distrust which keeps alive the war spirit. The relations between the United States and Japan are at a tension which might spell war at any time one of the parties finds himself more prepared than the other fellow. To cry peace, peace, where there is not | cu e. is to c reate a laLe atmosphere, and to attempt to walk in a foci’s paradise. As we have said, all sensible people must desire peace, as they must abhor war. hut as the other fellow in the* fray cannot he answered h*r. it would la* unwise ill the extreme* to divest outselvcs of all force and means of retaliation if we were likely to he all'rented. In the industrial world there is ever a state* war as we read the position, and the moment one side IVels stronger limn the other it defies the courts of arbitration and sets about, or endeavours to so do. settling its iof|uireiiieiits by a force of arms which is called a strike the ramifications of which bring tin* whole innocent f'Ciiiimuuity into lie* fray and makes them suffer. Sanity of thought and action propounded among the* nations is the only sale medium, and till nations are clearer thinkers it would he mm iso to abandon all safeguards to ensure peace by force.

Tin: County Council is now enfoivin that section of its motor by-law wide calls fir the* issue of tiikvts of comi< ti iwy to drivels of all iy| cs of can Tills is a stop in the right direction a much in the interests of the car drive a.s of the public lor whom there is matoi ill eh incut of | retortion. ! .iceme to drive will not lie issued to youth under IS years, which is also a rei|liire safeguard, as in times of emergency tli pon-on at ti e wheel must I c* at lea* at the yea's of dis retie.n. It i.s u| ec ally requisite that youths who are clric ing cars for hire*, should not be nude: the age .stipulated. The examiner o behalf cl' the local body is an experiem ed and lie u.v.d driver from xantci burv, where lie has noted in a t-imila

capacity lor a lo :■ I body. I here wil tints lie a d •glee of uniformity in clk test apt lied ai d in ||;e degree of ability i'"|iiiicd. Id ere are many luoloi car accidents, di spite* the test of extim. illation, and some countries have liigl rec ords of disaster. This is so pal lieu laily in the United .-Tates whore there is a high penentnge* of cat trallic. Still it i-> obvious l!i" test, of-examination ia • hock cii ic li'c-ss driving, tor where case, are ic; oi led. I!:«* Iccal body ha* the | envoi- to cimol the licensed diiver and that should ensure some regard ol belter coiili'iil over the | ersoti.s licenceed. Tills mole si, because hero tin iininh.-i of licon-ed persons is not largi mid then* os a heller general know, h !ge i I the work ol all ii*.iug tin* roacLs. Ill* Ii ill lo.ly is Iherefni'e doing a go *il sen ice for all on* erne I by tin issue of liieic -i lo d'i'.e motel' cars, I In* in t ion i . a 11 *-*T •1 1 cb*-- I, icmliii" |- wal'd , mole gi'iic at -airly for all cull, and lhere is a I *tter * ooieral km n• conn cl. 'I lull is a very desirable resuil lo attain.