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Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1925, Page 2

Thh returned Labor delegation from the British party to Russia has not brought back- a very roseate account of conditions under the Soviet. Individual freedom appears to have gone by the board and personal security is at a minimum, while economically there exists what is purely a national purse, and it is not long enough for all. It is stated that Russia can hardly be considered the beautiful! To the average reader of current history this will be hardly surprising, but Labor ideals are professed by Russia, and the followers of those ideals were prone believe all things possible in Russia. One of the bad features about the Soviet regime is the extinguishment ol individuality, and the loss of incentive for the individual advancement which comes from merit and ability in ordinary circumstances. The conditions are so extraordinary in Russia that both speech and writing have lost their value, because of the lack of freedom. A dictatorship governs, and governs with an iron rule of force and severe penalty. Kven industry is so governed that it is limited. It is a state of topsy-turvydom which has at least brought enlightenment to some members of the delegation, who saw many things in Russia that they would not like to see reproduced in Britain. It was satisfactory to see that religion is tolerated and morality respected, though earlier statements on these subjects were not so positive. But it is something if family life is to he rcpeeted. It is the first evidence of a redeeming feature about the condition of affairs, and is satisfying even if nut positively supported, for it shows c. least a right moral trend to some e tent. The economic aspect is very muddled. Here was the beginning of Russia’s internal troubles for the S' viet tried to enact conditions which were at variance with the world state of affairs. It is not surprising the Soviet failed. The world lias been centuries in building up its trading systems, and they cannot he upset easily, least of all by one nation, however great in area or finance. There is the law of supply and demand always coming into force and efforts to escape that inevitable grasp are doomed to failure. Russia which started with revolution on a desperate experiment, is now by evolution slowly coming hack to universal methods of government. It is easier to pull down than to build up—-and quicker too. The Soviet lias discovered that, for Nemesis has to be counted upon for all the wretched doings of the past and those dark days will be hard indeed to live down.

On- the face of it the merging of South Hokitika into the County of Westland appears to he rather a retrograde step. The area, to he taken from the Hokitika Borough is half its created size. Jn times past it had its importance, when facilities for communication were far less convenient than they are now. The two portions are linked by a fine bridge and the soutl) side also line the benefit of a wayside

railway station. In times past the South possessed a glamour of its own. In the early days it was the jumping off point for the trip south. When communication was by the sea beach, it was the headquarters of a fine coaching and transport service to Iloss. It had its hoteds and stores and was almost a township in itself. For s u years, too, the district hospital was in the neighborhood. In later years the area was more notable still because of the gold returns won from Craig’s freehold which forms a substantial part of the southern area. •Since those brighter days, sawmilling was the chief activity, but time lias intervened, and the forest has been cut out. Settlement lias not prospered as once was hoped. Probably because the task of bringing the heavily timbered land in profit, was costly. Where there are fringes of settlement, there are some bright spots, but in other places where the land, bereft of the bush, has been allowed to remain fallow, tern and undergrowth generally have taken charge and the prospect is not sightly. There is also a fair amount of swamp land involved. Apparently then, the area is no treasure to which ever local body holds ]x,\ssession. But there are days to come, and perhaps the brighest days of all are still in store for South Hokitika. Yet, living in the present the residents feel that they would be easier tenants under county than borough local government, and so the effort to sever the connection made nearly sixty years ago. is to lie successful at the initiative of the people most concerned. For the time being it is something of an unwanted area. The Borough authorities favored the merger and the County authorities opposed it. It should not be ever thus, and time lias the habit of overtaking affairs and changing the outlook. The judgment of a Boyal Commission has to take its course, and in due season the severance will be made. But the river will still flow between, and flic only difference will bn noticed by file residents who will scan their rate demands with less concern than heretofore, for they expect to find County administration cheaper than Borough rule, with greater expectations of an improved highway for their traffic.