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Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1924, Page 2

The Irish boundary question i.s coming to the surface again. The belief is held, however, that the only way out of a serious impasse i.s a mutual pact between the parties before the Boundary Commission meets. According to a Dublin message in an English paper there no longer i.s any doubt that if the Boundary Commission sits and fails to concede the maximum claims of extreme Nationalism in the ' South—namely, the transfer of the two counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh, or the better part of them. South Down, South Armagh, and the City of Londonderry—the Anglo-Irish Treaty will be denounced by Dail Eireann. the Free •State Parliament. The two hitherto opposing secret societies, the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Irish Republican Army, have Itocome completely reconciled, and between them they probably command a substantial majority in the National Parliament. The denunciation of the treaty will involve the scrapping of the oath of allegiance to the King, which has to be taken by every member of Dail Eireann and also may load to the disappearance of the Governor-General. In other words, it will bring about a Republic in Southern Ireland, at least for twen-ty-live counties, as Donegal may either refuse or not be permitted by Britain to throw in its lot witli what, after all. will Ice a pariah Republic without any credit, without any prestige, without anything of decency or civilisation. A Republic of this kind would merely be a happy hunting-ground for the undermen of Irish political life, for the gunmen, the Tammany Hall

typos, and the flotsam and jetsam of the revolutionary tide. This is one side of the picture. The otherside will he turned in the event of the Boundary Commission granting of the Free State's demands. Then civil war with Ulster will he almost inevitable. Evensensible man in the South realises that fact, and we are in the position now of Frankenstein, who created a monster which he could not control. So far as can be seen at present, whatever decision the Boundary Commission may come to, trouble, is blew,inn, and the result is that at last tlie people are Iteginning to discuss alternatives: 7s there any way of getting out of the Boundary Commission? Obviously! there is only one way. and that is via an arrangement between Ulster and the Free State.

A i.ist of works for expenditure on the main highway of 'Westland, principally in relation to bridges, lias been published hit civ. The list is a formidable

one. and again emphasises the state into which the main road was allowed to drift. Although the list is a substantial one, it is apparent that the amount available cannot be expended within the four or five remaining months of the financial year for which the money has been voted. Being bridge work there will be delay in preparing plans and in procuring essential material, while chief of all there is not labor enough of the class required to put the works through vigorously if plans were ready and the material on the ground. Only a fraction of the total amount can he spent within the remaining months of the financial year, which means that a large sum will he carried over and have to he revoted next year. It is necessary to recognise however that the works are nil of great urgency. Where bridges are in need of repair or renewal it is not wise to defer the work indefinitely. For a long time now we have been hearing about the state of several bridges on the main road. The weight and speed of traffic have been restricted for a considerable time past. Such being the ease there i.s the rail for urgent attention to the matter. As a main highwav it is the chid moans tor transpoit in the County and while traffic is restricted as at present, prngicss is being held up, and users ol the roads or those desiring to use the roads, are pul to greater expense and much inconvenience through inability t<> <h> so as freely as tiade requirements render possible. Hold tips of this nature are a loss to those concerned, and the loss is roll cried over the community. There should be, therefore, the fullest effort to push on the works so that overv use ol the maiii road will he | ossilile without cramping restrictions as to the loading and speed within reason, 'i'hjs unit ter is of essential importance to South Westland where the district is without i::.il"tty cominmiiciitiou. and htts to rely entirely on the convenience of road transport. If that is restricted umliil." (as it is tit piesent) the district as t whole sutlers. It is necessary therelore to exhaust all means ill urging the authorities to proceed with the works now provided lor and which are so essential to the public welfare.