The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1928.

armistice DAY commemoration The commemoration of Armistice Day of November lltli. 1918 falls to-mor-row and is going to he observed in a very special manner, the facilities of a Sunday commemoration specially helping. Armistice Day was the most important day in the history of the (treat War, for it marked the close of that all engrossing event. In these Antipodes, Anzac Day carries a special significance because in that event our own kith and kin were closely associated. and the occasion was in the earlier days of the war, belore its possible duration and tremendous sacrifice were realised. And while it is a milestone of great historical interest and. concern to us. it is overshadowed so far as the Empire is concerned by Armistice Day. which marked the close of the war and the end of turmoil and sacrifice. There i»~fl very common in-

terest in Armistice Day. because Up to that event our Empire was pouring out its resources to assure victory. Streams of men were passing oil to the front in an unending chain. Nothing but the end of the war could stop that ceaseless drain, and so with the arrival of the day. the stream ended, and the wastage of human life ended. Those: on the way to the seat of war; the men preparing in camp, and those waiting to lie called up for active service, ti'ii years ago. must in person have appreciated all that Armistice Day meant more than those outside the reach of the recruiting officer. To them there was immediate relief from the great task which would have been their lot, had the war continued to drag on. But it is not these of whom we will be thinking at this juncture, nor to whom special thoughts will he directed at the eventful hour of eleven o’clock to-morrow morning. The thoughts of the people will he with the fallen and maimed; with the bereaved—the widowed and the fatherless. Tn another column there is published today an unusual article in many respects. but with a wonderful germ of thought for those who lost loved ones in the war or through the war. The article conveys the thought of a civilian on the Unknown "Warrior whom Great Britain laid to rest in its most sacred oiirial ground of Westminster Abbey as the highest mark of respect and honor the nation could pay to the rank and file of the war. who so gallantly and unflinchingly saw the great task through to victory. It is an nppreeb'.tion of the services of the men at the front, quite out of the ordinary, and our readers will he the poorer if they miss the opportunity of perusing the arresting article and its message. The war was an exacting task-master. The four years took heavy toll indeed, and now after ten years of peace, the war is still “unsettled.” But if the diplomats and statesmen of the many nations involved have failed to reach an

understanding of unanimity as to terms of settlement and payment, wo know that Great Britain has played the part we would have a great Englishman play, and is doing it in a fine spirit of justice and consideration. Quite recently the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had something to say in solid fact of what Britain was paying to settle her obligations honorably. It was a clear exposition of Britain’s part, which it may he said has been as great in peace as in war. Armistice Day imposes thoughts of all those who played their part in the war. Their service was the highest form of national service. for it imposed the greatest toll and the gravest risks. It is not difficult to think back to the strenuous days of the war. and recall the incidental happenings. They wore stirring impressive times, and it is pleasing to think that all parts of the Tim pi re co-operated so loyally. New Zealand did not spare lierself in men, money or ships.! The Now Zealand battleship was in every engagement of note in the Home waters. Our troops were on

every battlef'ront and distinguished llieiu.selves in numerous engagements. New Zealand met all lier financial engagements cheerfully, and tlie country

lias not been unmindful of the obligations to help those who came hack. .Money was provided in generous amount, and though some was misspent. the intentions were the highest. Above all must we he grateful to all who made the sacrifice and were willing to make the sacrifice for the national safety. The objective was won honorably and bravely. All honor to those who served in the Great Mar.

Tut: candidates in the interest of the Labour Party are persistently seeking to. put in a wrong light the reduction of taxation on wealthy people, and the increase of customs tariff, which it is alleged, presses on the poor people. .Mr O’Brien the other evening had a good deal to sav about- income tax. and we have already mentioned something on that point, pointing out th» unfairness of the comparison he made. Figures, it is a trite saying, can be made to prove anything, and on the imaginary lines he worked, Mr 0 Brien was able to produce a set of figures which showed an enormous reduction over a given period. But the speaker took the peak years of war taxation to prove his case. In fairness he should have taken a normal period, and we have shown the position in relation t> tnat aspect, proving how unfair Mr v/’Brien was in the procedure in which lie based bis charge. In regard to customs’ duties, Labour members have Loon stressing the matter again, and we understand particularly at some 01 his country meetings. Mr O’Brien has been making equally unfair statements built on premises which do not give a, fair criterion of the position, 'file customs’ taxation is worth looking into as a matter of general information. In 1014, of the total revenue, 00.05 per cent, was obtained from customs’ taxation. In 1027 the proportion of customs revenue to total revenue was only 01.71 per cent., this including, moreover, the pm-o