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Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1927, Page 2

Since our prosperity is most intimately bound up with Britain’s, New Zealand's eyes, says the Auckland Star, should turn to the Motherland in this dawn of the year. The spirit there is encouraging. “Whatever the year brings, he brings nothing new,” wrote an English poet in the dark days of the war. On the contrary it is an ineradicable hope that the New A ear will bring something new, and better. Allowance must he made for ths habit (in judging the prospects of Britain, 'flic past year was disastrous, and it is natural that men and women should look forward with the strongest desire to an improvement. The year 192 G was a bad friend, stupid, and treacherous: 1927, it is boned, will be wise and loyal. However, when all due allowance is made for the wish that is father to the hope there remains substantial reason for believing that better times are at band. The coal strike has been settled, and it is very improbable that 1927 will be disturbed by any great industrial trouble. Moreover, there are signs of a trade revival. There were such signs when the general strike began, and all through the coal dispute the feeling could he sensed that once the trouble was out of the way trade would improve. Both in the reports of London festivities and in the weekly commercial review there are references to conviction that a better day lias dawned. Some of the key

industries are already more active Large contracts have been placed Moreover, reconstruction and amalga-

mation of businesses have been proceeding for some time A few ot these changes have been made public, but we may be sure, that a great deal lias been done, of which the public hoars nothing. Manufacturers have been quietly improving their methods, and generally preparing for better national and world conditions. It is therefore, a brighter world on which Britain and the Empire look to-day. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s excellent .summary of tilings one should be thankful for. includes a telling quotation from Banyan: “The Valley oi liiiiniliatiun is as fruitful as any the crow flics over.’’ llis message is also a reminder that material improvement is not everything. As the Ipiporial Conference showed, the “imponderables” are an enormously powerful factor. Those who keep in llioir hearts Blake’s groat verse about building Jerusalem in England's “green and pleasant land.” will lint be content with improvement in trade returns. If Britain is to bo the Britain of their dreams, work of spiritual reconstruction must go hand in band with economic improvement. How will it benefit the country if a year or two of prosperity is followed by another disastrous strike? Fortunately there are signs that this question is being asked by an increasing number of persons in all parties.