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Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1925, Page 2

Ix this country this week one of i Labor members lias been -predicting a change of Government at next general election inferring that bahor would replace Reform. Turning to the local newspaper report of the meeting i question, we find that tnis ardent Labor member full of prophesy, addressed ar. audience of some thirty souls! He must have liecn drawing bis enthusiasm and knowledge of the political situation from some other source Ilian that presented by the beggarly array < empty lveiiclies in Christchurch this week. At the moment, Labor is trying hard to secure the car of the people. Tile Labor leader is on a Dominion tour, and is evidently enjoying his reception. Hiis mission, at least, will help the people to think, and that i something for as a rule people are prone to think politically only once in every three years, and then largely on the spur of the moment, swn

largely by party leanings or prejudices. It is good, therefore, to have politics before the people in what may he considered the interregnum so as to help to form opinions about men and matters of to-day as they affect the welfare of New Zealand. Having got the people to think, we hope they will not fail to think hack and judge the present by the past as n guide for the future. This country was most progressive and politically sound under a Liberal regime. There is evidence of that on the statute book and the statistics of the country. If folk cave to read Hansard they will learn how the party at present in power opposed as strenuously as possihle all the advanced legislation of the Lib-orals. Tt was a negative opposition. The legislation was considered too socialistic. It was averred that if passed it would hasten New Zealand to disaster. Yet when the same party came into power, it adopted the legislation it had condemned, and as an unfriend!’ step-father used the legislation for its own advantage. The Liberals li I'lc;' the country out of the slough of dpond, financially, even though the Conservative opponents held that the country was being driven to a deficit. The deficit did not materialise, but a sur--plu.s fund did. a. surplus fund which tile sound finance of Sir Joseph "War nursed for a rainy day. But Reform at the earliest moment collared tlie sinking funds which bad accumulated and used them, because the party failed in initiative to carry on a sound policy of its own. Luck in prices fu primary products lias kept the presold Government- going, but with lean years, disaster would lie experienced. Lean years are bound to come, and New Zealand needs a safe party in power foi such a crisis. The Liberals have proved their safety over and over again, so that when the time arrives for the necessary change at the (lose of the year, let the electois support the Liberal party,

Tun cult of bowling lias a very wide following the world over. As a game and a pastime it lias become one of the chief pleasures of tile people of New Zealand, Year by year the Dominion tournament grows in importance. There was a similar reflected glory on the West Coast tournament held so successfully here this week. The entries were a record, and quite- unwieldy for a single green, with the result that on two days overflow games had to he played at Greymouth. A feature o! the tournament was the number of ■visitors from beyond the. Coast. The visitors of course had a hearty welcome. the host of weather was provided for them, and they have departed with the happiest recollection of their -tom and .slay. That is most satisfactory. The tournament appears to have passed off most pleasantly from every point of view, and with the fame it has estahlis lied, fut ire events .should be lie less popular. Howlers are to decide how best to limit entries so as to confine the tournament to the available green in the town favored with the annual event. The limit in the first instance might lie upon Club outlies. so a-s not to unduly exclude outside visitors. The Coast wants to advertise itself all it 0..11 and a very useful way would be through the agency of visiting howlers who are the rigli class of propaganda agents Before the next tournament comes to Hokitika it might he possible to have a sc coni' green in this vicinity, thereby permitting play for quite a large entry. There was talk of a second green at one c-f the hospitals, and if this could he brought off, it would be the means of encouraging more bowlers at tournament time. This suggestion is worth taking up for future possibilities. The Hokitika Club did very well at- the tournament- -fr-om the colts up. Although the number of bowlers locally are limited, the quality is above reproach, and the local teams were prominent all through. Congratulations all round.