The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, AUGUST 10th, 1925. THE REPLY TO FORCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, AUGUST 10th, 1925. THE REPLY TO FORCE.

I us debate on the coal subsidy question at Home revealed a pusilioti no less serious then that generally believe,| (.o lie the ease. Comment on tile position in Great Britain was phased in these ml limits in last Wednesday's issue, ami the cable report published on Saturday of the debate in the Commons indicated that our estimate of the nr-

tuul .situation was tiiiaged very cnvi'cntl.v. Ihe Speech by Mr Baldwin revealed that Ida* situation was too serious ‘■l allow a strike to eventuate because of the immediate national consequences. His view was hacked up by .Mr W inston Churchill who indicated that even a suUidy of fifteen millions was a cheap escape from the consequences of the strike which wifs threatened. The l.ahnv unions involved had organised to enforce a policy of n.uml iorcc, and the Prime .Minister

was very outspoken on the coercive tendencies of organised Labor. The comment by other members of Pnrlin men t Imre out the seriousnesvi »f the general situation. .Mr MacDonald, the ex-. Labor Prime Minister, admitted ttmt the situation could he met only by a subsidy. Air Lloyd George and other prominent speakers realised that the step taken by the Government was a prelude to nationalisation of the coal mines. Ihe press comment alsj tends generally in the same d'loc"tion. There was no real attack in the circumstances on th** subsidy, hut that

dot'-; not. confirm the Government actin'.. The .subsidy so far as the (Jo* vornment is concerned, was a stop-cap to allow time for the situation to lx? ' overhauled in tin* ollort to pla.»* the (oal industry on a sure ioiltUiaiion. Ihlt there is no satisfactory solution ottered yet, so the position fines itself 1 down to the conclusion that the task ahead of the Government is one of extreme difficulty. One paper remarked that peace can he obtained if there is the "ill for peace. That statement brings us to the gravamen of tin* speech of the Prime Minister wherein he stated that there apparently was a deli Iterate and avowed policy of force and stoppage regardless of the suffering imposed on the country. The concluding remarks of Mr Baldwin were arresting. “But,” the Prime Minister added. "if we are again confronted hr such a challenge, let me say that no minority in a free country ever yet coerced the whole community. 1 am convinced, if the time should ever come when the community must protect itself, then, witli the full strength of the Government Ireland it. the community will do so. and the response of the community will astonish the io:res of anarchy all over the world. I say this merely as a warning, and ■ I know that I am stating a deep,

fundamental ami widespread belief of the vast majority of the great and free people of this country.” As Mr liahlwin recognised the seriousness of the issue presented to him. we may conclude ho was not prepared at the moment to meet force with lone. The community cannot afford to lie coerced in this way if honest government is to rule. To ,submit to the demands of leaders more or less irresponsible is to permit such to supersede constitutional authority. In that circumstance law and order must go by the hoard, and those only with brute force behind them may hope to achieve control. This •seems to be tile natural drift of the times. There is a serious decline in national government going on because of the weakness of those in authority. .Mr Baldwin says he was called a coward. It remains to he seen what is hit next move to os: ape from that allusion. lli.s surrender now we take it is only partial, and merely a move in the game to attain his objective by peaceful measures, lint already the victors aro acclaiming their win. and doubtless taking fresh courage to light on in unconstitutional ways. Mr Bald win has to make good his first step. His position admittedly is a difficult one. and if he cannot make good at all readily he should place country before personal position, anti make way for someone prepared to take up the task with the resolution to succeed in maintaining the integrity of the State before the cost becomes too great.