The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 18th, 1925. OUR GREAT EMPIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 18th, 1925. OUR GREAT EMPIRE.

Eoi.i.owino the article of yesterday regarding H..M.S. Great Britain, so well described by Rudyard Kipling, we quote to-day an article from the Empire Review giving a present day survey of European polities and their relation t the Empire, 'lhe writer proceeds: Although to “the man in the street,’’ there seems hut little change in the general outlook, we are assured that there are signs of betterment in the European situation and that we arc “approaching a recovery of international stability.” It became clear that British troops could not he withdrawn from Cologne. The question of security for France has been a main subject of political discussion. Manifestly, it is lor iis also no less one ol the utmost importance. Germany, in spite of Allied pressure, has failed to carry out her obligations under the Peace treaty, and remains defiant. France, wiiose aims are security, disarmament, and arbitration, sees no difference in the attitude of Germany to that of 1911; and obviously her presence on the Rhine is essential in the circumstances. Prussian militarism is revived and animates the. ruling classes. r l ho training of reserves is maintained, while arms and the machinery for their manufacture are concealed. The full report of the Inter-Allied Mission of Military Control is under discussion before the Versailles Allied Commission of which Marshal Foeli is President. In view of German evasions and failure to carry out her most important engagements. European nations must “despair of her good faith,” and cannot carry out a reduction of their forces. General Morgan’s pronouncements on the “state- of Germany to-day” warn us that the war is not yet over. It is natural that President Coolidge should observe a waiting policy as regards any new conference for a limitation of armaments. Meanwhile, Anglo-French relations remain as cordial as at anytime. The League of Nations works bravelv on. Lord Grey considers that the Secretary for Foreign Adairs should day after day use such language to Ambassadors that they should inform their Govrenmonts that friendship and co-operatian with Britain can only I obtained by pursuing a League of Nations policy. As regards our industrial outlook, the Labour correspondent of the ‘Times’ holds that there is no better prospect of peace in 1925 than in 1924, hut on the contrary greater danger. In the eleven months of 1924, for which statistics are available, the aggregateloss of working time due to disputes was 8,223,000 days; the number of disputes, 030. We are threatened with strikes by mil way men, the shipping industry, postal workers, and several other bodies on a large scale. While much is being said and written, what- remains incontrovertible is that, if we are to compete with rivals in trade and hold our own, workers should bring about greater production and output, towards which, apart from economy in public administration, good will, mutual trust, and more energetic work are required. Strikes are too often unreasonable. To take one ease, railway workers are the best paid of all workers, while the railways are in financial difficulties with declining receipts; and to raise their wages money would have to he taken from workers worse paid than themselves. What is this hut protection of one class at the expense of others ? 'I ho true situation and real issues that arc to he faced are not realised by the mass of strikers. The expanseion of trade, now so urgent, c-an only he achieved in an atmosphere of general eo-opo-ration; and a time of peace in t

who!? field of industry is more than ever essential. In India disintogiating influences have gained pome prom and the serious nature of some disorders show how great is the need of firm administration in dealing with the situation. In Egypt there is a lull, and the present administration is working as satisfactorily as can be expected. The net is closing round the assassins of Sir bee Stack, and a lesson, it is hoped, is living learned by those who have troubled the peacM? of the Nile Valley In the Sudan tlie policy of a clean sheet was called for. Sir Geoffrey Archer’s appointment as Governor-Gen-eral—the first civilian—was a wise one. In January it was officially announced that a Sudan Defence Force would lie

nt once formed. The late troubles should he soon forgotten under n just British administration. In most of the Sudan tribes there is the making of good material and of loyal communities under a just and stable Government. Empire development and co-operation were, as Mr Amory says, placed in the forefront of Mr Baldwin’s policy, and the Government is pledged to do its utmost towards such preference as may be found practicable. But apart fiotn all thoughts of preferential duties, a vast amount of work and propaganda are required at home, and no one is working harder than the Colonial Mil ister. Unfortunately, the way to better trade within the Empire is blocked by agencies for handling and distributing foreign goods, and by strong vested interests which amount to anti-British preference. Some real progress is, however. happily being made towards a more general purchasing of Dominion foods and products. Thus, a vigorous Shopping Campaign is being organised, which will demonstrate the advantages of buying our own produce. It is to be hoped that the Empire Shopping 'Week, which is being inaugurated at Preston by the Grocers’ Association, will ho followed throughout Britain, and that efforts which are proceeding in other directions will cause Dominion foods to reach the consumer at more moderate prices, as they should on their own merits.