The Quardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925. THE YEAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1925, Page 2

The Quardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925. THE YEAR.

To-NICiHT tin; Old Year passes and a New Year enters. The change betuKcns a milestone on life s journey. But the halting space is brief, and it i.s literally a ease of oil with the old, on with the new. It is true that the future counts more than the past, hut it is in the present we have to play outpart. Yet it is true also that it i.s - from the past we have to draw our experience, the better to lit us for the future. What of the past, and of the present, and of the future ahead of us? The dying year lias on the whole been a dull, grey period. It has not been a boom year. It has been of tihe steady-going order, rather declining that inclining, hut it lias been a useful year in many respects', and there is at least one achievement which will be felt more in the future than the present. That circumstance is the international stroke whereby the Countries of Europe so long at variance got together at a little town in Switzerhind. and there at Locarno formed a pact whic his to spell out a European iveaco. The story goes that the credit for all this great achievement is to the credit of a woman, and so we have the fact that, again, there was a woman in the ease. The story tells how the diplomats were plodding away mostly at variance. The principals could not he brought to grips. In that perilous hour when it looked that Locarno might he a failure, the lady in the ease in the person of Mrs Chamberlain. wife of the British representative involved in the fateful conference hit upon the idea of a boating party on the placid lake by way of recreation. Doubtless Mrs Chamberlain knew from her husband something of the impasse which the great diplomats were facing, and her idea for a solution proved a very happy one. Out on the calm waters, away from the close confinement of the Cabinet room, the parties, with free and easy speech, in a more ample and fresher atmosphere, came to an understanding, and there and then the aeeonrplislnnent of the Pact liecanie a possibility. Such was the stroke of happy hazard which finally made all tilings possible, for out of it grew the Pact. Since then the Pact has been confirmed and finally approved in London, and has had the blessing of the international press and of all whose duty it is to speak upon the great treaty of peace. The Pact is regarded as the complement to the Dawes Agreement. The last-named was financial, and the former political: hut each will he helpful to the other in accomplishing •ill that is hoped and expected of them. So if 1025 may be regarded as dull and grey, it has furnished the means where in the coming year, Europe may begin her rejuvenation, by leaving behind war and the rumours of war. and in pence and contentment build upon a sure foundation, and achieve great national aspirations. An-

other international effort to achieve a wider spread degree of peace, was the action of the League of Nations in giving its judgment on the Iraq mandate. This, though at the time of writing, not finally settled, is well on the way, and there must at least he special satisfaction that at last the League is growing in stature, and is able to express itself definitely on large issues, with some hope of being heard and respected Ihe Balkans threatened to attract attention momentarily again, hut here also, the League intervened successfully, and the dangoi subsided. Both France and Germany are immersed in political difficulties. The crises in Frame recur with remarkable regularity, and it is "'nucleiful in the < ircumstnccs how the Government is maintained at all. so frequent are the .Ministerial changes. The civil services must be both competent ami faithful, or there would lie a sad break down. France’s difficulties arc due to financial stringency following the decline of the franc to a fifth of its ordinary value. Schemes to restore it to the prewar value are promoted, but tail to .secure adoption, and budding Ministers of Finance are soon disredited. Frame must do something heroic to stabilise her national finance. Italy is doing so by a great national voluntary levy which the eloquence ol Mussolini promises to make a remarkable -u cress. Italy i- finding th-’ way to rehabilitate her credit abroad, and France must, too. adopt some definite course or national default and discredit will result. In Germany the political factions are torn asunder by reason of their monareliia! or republican beliefs. The former are the less numerous, but the more aggressive.

Still, it is plain Germany is realising that it is by work alone I bat her regeneration can come. The av fill mistake of the war is realised to the full, and recovering from the chagrin earned by the greatest blunder in all history. Germany will settle down, and again sot out on the road to greatness. I lie question of the international debts is the cause of groat difficulties in all countries. Britain alone is meeting her obligations—enormous as they are. Italv is going to do likewise. Germany is doing something. Iful France has a very muddled final)'o and all schemes for unravelling the situation are rejected. 'fho minor nations are siruggling along as host they can. hut for the time being, finance is the great bug-bear !•> all Furono. Now that a more definite period of peace is assured. eh's-T attention to finance will he possible, and the saving in miliinry expenditure should certainly be helpful in meeting the financial fiessuie. The great issues in the Motherland are trade ami unemployment. file one governs Ihe other. There seems no palliative for unemployment. The dole has i.ot met the situation. The (Oiaitry was saved from disasters at the time of the coal crisis only bv guaranteeing an enormous payment by way of subsidy. I lull-way through the New Year, the issue will crop up again, and

the position must be faced. Furopean trade has been so disorganised that Great Britain, the commercial and financial centre of the (*!< 1 World, has felt the reflex, and the decline in trade has resulted in increased unemployment. The Government has lotmd no rerneyd no real palliative. Economics arc preached to the pen] le. hut it is not possible to apply them readily, so the dlift ill trade continue-. Many ate the disquieting reports from Home as to the conditions there, hut it. is a great nation, and with its hack to the wall it will be possible to retrieve the situation, desperate though it lie. dust recently there was the remarkable political stroke by which the affairs of perturbed Ireland were laid at rc-t. It was at some cost to Britain, but chiellv of tlie writing off order, and it would appear that in any ease the debt, if not had was certainly doubtful. But at all events it was a pleasant and happy stroke accomplished at a time when yet mice again the hour seemed darkest for Ireland. British politics are in the hand- of a great conservative majority. That usually means safety in foreign relations, and recent history confirms that. The Opposition at Hume is weak numerically, and the many capable critics are

m tower of strength in tln- carrying out of die country's policy. There is mi enormous task to perforin ill relation to domestic polities, lint at best tlie work is being. attempted only pioee-meal, for tlie work bristles with difficulties at every turn. With sincerity of purpose and a desire to achieve lastin'; results, tlie working out of tlie political destiny of tlie Homeland is in safe keeping, and there is no reason to fear that disaster will overtake the country. Tn Asia. China has had a series of upheavals on the customary lines, for the vast country is in a stale of continual unrest. Ilussian influence appears to be considerable in China, and it seems to he highly essential for world peace that Russia should be linked with the other Powers through the League of Nations, as a means to assure more general peace. America has a dominating part to play hy reason of her superior position in regard to finance. Tlie countries he-holden to the I’nited States have got to make up their minds that their debt to America must he paid. The settlement is in process, and when finally an agreement is reached as to a system of repayments. the world will he in a position to enjoy a better outlook to secure national stability. On the whole the world situation is improved substantially and the future is full of promise. The Old Country had its second edition of Wembley during the year, and Wembley is now being realised on. It was a great exposition, as it was a great educator and a great advertiser. The result is a heavy loss, and a high toll on the guarantors. No doubt the country will help the guarantors to lighten their burden, thanks to the spontaneous leatl given by l’rince Kdward. But though there was a huge deficit, that does not mean the Exhibition itself was a failure. On the contrary, it was in many respects an outstanding success, and the good it has done will live after it. New Zealand has attempted something great in the way ol exhibitions also, and thanks to the courage and enterprise ol Otago eitzens it is a success beyond expectations. The exposition was planned oil a grand scale, and it is being maintained no less sumptuously. It promises to achieve all that it was intended to do.' The display is described as the finest yet seen south of the Lino, and in every respect it is educative, and certainly provides ample .scope for entertainment. All folkare being drawn to it. and on that account Dunedin will enjoy the cream of the holiday traffic. Hut visitors will not travel in vain, tor all who go there return with pleased and satisfied accounts ot what they have seen and heard.

In regard to New Zealand, the year has been notable chiefly for its political and social events. The outstanding event was the removal by death of Mr Massey, and the changes his demise enforced. Mr Massey by his long record in office as Prime Minister, and the last of war-time Ministers holding tlie high office of Premier, achieved a very notable position in the world. Here, he served his party well, and for New Zealand he did notable service in many respects. His passing left a blank in the political arena which there was difficulty in filling. The choice of

his successor was by no means certain nor immediate. The choice fell on Mr J. G. Coates and in the course of events is proving that in many respects it was a wise one. At the general elections the personality of .Mr Coates dominated the position, and he won a great victory. The majority lie has behind him gives him all the opportunity lie wishes to carry forward a progressive policy. Air Coates lias not settled down to the task definitely yet, He is still without a full Cabinet, and there are some vacancies to fill. His choice must he made soon, and when known will lie some indication of what is to he done in a progressive way. There is a great public works policy

before the country, in that vast sums ure to lie spent for hydro-electric works, railways, roads and bridges, public buildings, etc. Judged hv the expenditure hereabouts there is not anything extraordinary happening, for tlu 1 outlay is nothing out of the ordinary. In the North Island expenditure is going ahead at a greater volume. It is perhaps as well that it is. for even with the help of this Government expenditure there is the lecling abroad that a slump is spreading through the country. Mention of this contingency following the drop in the prices of staple products from New Zealand, we have the first glimpse of the chief difficulty which will beset, if it has not already had its effect on Government administration. Finance is going to he a difficult problem with the Government. The year has been negotiated with a minimum of inconveuTcnce, but the evil day which has been put oft so often before, is at last apparently dawning. Hut it will not be a hopeless ■ lawn. With courage and confidence Niue Zealand can get through its difficulties, and wo should say that Mr Co lies is of that buoyant disposition which "ib he most helpful in facing a difficult situation. The position, however, will call for action, and if we knew all about the personnel of the new Cabinet we might know something of the prosnocts of success, immediate

nr deferred. Hetreiichment is not a nice word, and it is a two-edged sword Hint ha- been the experience of politicians in New Zealand who thought it wise to enter upon a period ol close retrenchment. We should say that Mr Coates will seek a half-way house, and while curtailing it "ill he more with a pruning knife than an axe. But the financial position, happy though il has boon through the year which is dying, calls for immediate and earnest consideration and definite action. r I o this cud it is competent for the Prime Millesters call to his aid the best financial brains in the country, and the position is likelv to he such that lie must needs do so. In that event Mr Coates is not the man to neglect his duty. The elections were remarkable as lias been stated for the sweeping, victory ol the Government. That had its effect on the Liberals and Labor, both parties being reduced. There was an unusual

nincidciicc in lies being recorded in L.vt tell on ami Wes Ila ml. and mil i I the election petitions in respect fo the two elections arc decided, il will not he known which party may work as the official Opposition. The petitions are not likely to he decided till late January or February. A number of notabilities suffered defeat, but il was very pleasing and satisfactory to record the return of Sir Joseph Ward to Parliament. Sir Joseph, in view of the financial outlook, can be very useful to the Government nl this juncture, and for ihe ultimate good ol the Dominion ‘■is re-eledion to Parliament is all for the best. The election lor the Westland seal was very keenly fought and so evenly, that the casting vote of the Rot timing Officer was necessary to dc■ide the result. The final issue is still a sullied for investigation by two •Judges of the Supreme Court, and at I hi- juncture it would not be proper fo discu-s any particular aspect of the contest. In the way of social events, there was the visit of the American Fled. This, tvpical of the United Elates ua.s (allied out on a large scale. New Zealand rose lo the occasion and paid the visitor- every honor and al-

teiiliini. The visiting men-o’-war’s men must have had a pleasant time, and nothing occurred to mar the amenities of the occasion. Since then am! quite recently, a friendly invasion has been apiil New Zealand by a ship load ol touring Americans who arc doing a

grand tour in a large ocean-going steamer. Interest just now is centred a good deal in the doings ol the British howlers who have come a long way to indulge' in the past time which has for so long boon in vogue in Merry England. New Zealand in the sporting arena welcomed hack the triumphant All Blacks, alter a remarkable tour which in point of result' may never again be emulated. A cricket learn lias been sent abroad and llnnigli beaten lias not been disgraced. Cricket promises to lake a more definite place in Dominion sport, and it will be very pleasing if such results. There were visiting teams of footballers, votaries of the different codes, and all excited much inlerest. In racing and trotting New Zealand horses ran prominently, and some line records were achieved. New Zealand lias strong sporting instincts. and in all fields lias done well. It is a wortliv record to achieve.

Westland lias had a normal yca|'. The country has held its own. But there was some eclipse of business of late. The winter was a very agreeable period but the spring and and early summer were unduly wet. This adverse circumstance no doubt had its effect on trade, coupled with the shadow of a slump in tiniher milling. But the country is here, the land is here for production, the timber is here for milling. The assets arc not lost, and if the timlier is not milled it is there for use when trade revives. The quiet period can be only a passing phase home of a like condition of affairs pervading the Dominion. In any slump, the effect will bo less noticeable here than anywhere else, perhaps in New Zealand, because values have never been unduly high, and any decline is not of a ruinous nature. Values here are more solid and definite. It is a useful condition when trade is adverse, and perhaps safer in boom times, too, because it prevents undue inflation, with the inevitable loss when the ]>eiidiiluni of fortune swings in the opposite way. as assuredly it must. There is no occasion therefore for pessimism. Cheerfulness might well he the condition of mind, for with a district such as Westland, with its resources so generally undeveloped, folk can well afford to lie optimistic. Nature has been lavish with her gifts to Westland. They have been garnered but sparingly so far. and there arc great tracts of country to the far south which are almost as nature prepared them for human habitation. It is a quarter of Westland to which some public attention is now being turned. It is well that it is so. for surely the obligation is on the people of the generation to see to the development of the territory once attention lias been called to its potentialities. If it is possible to arrange in the new year for the visit of an influential [tarty of the Canterbury Progress League, a very important step will be taken towards accomplishing what is in view in the comprehensive scheme which has been outlined for the reading and bridging of the Far South district. With this hopeful note perhaps we may conclude. The way before Westland is full of promise. Much more can be done with the district, much more will he done. It is for the people to work unitedly to the common end and thereby realise the great pos-

sibilitics in store for the place. Looking hopefully it is quite possible to vision prosperous times ahead, and with that conviction we can wish our readers with every sincerity to A HAPPY NEW YE Alt.