The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1929. MR HOOVER’S HOMILY.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1929. MR HOOVER’S HOMILY.

Tijf inaugural address of the President of America took on tiie nature of a homily to the nation, rather than as is customary, something of a policy recital. -Mr Hoover is essentially a man o;f world-wide experience. tie has travelled in many countries. While he has seen the United States from within, he has stood sufficiently far oil' at times to see his country from without, and perhaps what has been more illuminating, has heard world comment of America, and so has had a vision of the country, not as he has seen it, hut as others see it. It is good for mankind to see ourselves as others see us—that is a well known dictum—and -Mr Hoover has had oppoitunities to glean 'from many angles just how other people estimate America and Americans. Mr Hoover's life work has been so interesting that he has had the best of opportunities to study his own people and nation without too close a touch. So, standing afar off, it is not surprising he has seen something of the weaknesses and excesses of the nation. His task now is to do something in an effort to set the house in order. And he begins with a homily on the growing disposition of the nation to defy the law, to resort to crime, and to flout justice. Therein he sees an insidious growth which needs to be eradicated for the nation’s good, and the point appears to be stressed to such effect that it would appear Mr Hoover believes it the one thing needful for the nation to study to set itself safe and sound within. The utterances of Mr Hoover in other directions, so far as the earned summary of his address goes, were secondary to the main theme calling on the nation to examine itself and rehabilitate itself for the nation’s good. The address, while moderate in its expression, is none the less insistent on the subjects which, we may take it, were treated with scruplous cafe when preparing the utterances for publication. Head in that light, the opinion that Mr Hoover expresses will carry more weight. Unadorned as his remarks are by flowing periods of effective rhetoric, there is the solid statement for digestion, and the nation must he sitting up and reflecting seriously. Mr Hoover is not in doubt as to where the United States is drifting in a domestic sense by the lack of observance and enforcement of the law. Despite general prosperity and the growth of the public and private wealth, the country tolerates a condition of affairs which'is now emphasised by Mr Hoover as calling for immediate attention. It may he assumed Mr Hoover would not have stressed the position as he has clone without, full warrantry for his action. It is not a popular thing to do to lecture a nation, hut we can well understand that feeling it his duty, Mr Hoover is not going to shirk the responsibility The so-called prohibition law is specially in mind, and Mr Hoover has evidently seen and knows enough to realise that the law as it stands, is a trnverst.v and is an encouragement to lawlessness. The authorities have failed signally to enforce the law. and now a National Commission is proposed to study the situation. Clearly the opposition to prohibition is so general and so deep-seated, and lias now such a hold, that to overcome it will call for the superhuman. MiHoover probably realises that fact, and the process lie* would use now is evidently to attempt something remedial of a loss drastic: nature than straight-out prohibtion so that the nation can observe the law in a selfrespecting way .and will not he tiie serious’law-breaker the countryside now evidently is. Some measure of reform affecting the legislation involved must he attempted if the reproach of to-day is to he removed. It. is clear America is not, in fact cannot, enforce complete prohibition. That is too extreme for the people. ‘There must he a middle course adopted, and a moderate repeal of the legislation which is the offending trouble. The good sense o! .Mr Hoover in this matter in the light here explained, appears evident, and on that account he appears to have made a notable beginning—an effort intended to be of real benefit for the future hotter government of his countrymen

tho Prime .Ministership, Sir Joseph ims come to the front hy leaps ami bounds, and lie occupies again thu foremost place in the minds of the public. This is not surprising to us, as on numerous occasions in the past we have referred to Sir Joseph hard as an indispensihle political unit, l'lie country did not treat him well in the past, but is now hent on making amends. Although political memories are short, it is well to recall tin* special services Sir Joseph rendered while in the National Government during the war time. It is a fact that he sank his own individuality and personal iunhitions to serve his country during that period. The -Massey Government could never have weathered those strenuous times without the aid of Sir Joseph. He put the financial house in order, and when he retired from the .Ministry after very scant treatment from those he saved to office, he left a nest-egg for the benefit of the country. If we go hack to earlier days, we can recall his Imperial foresight which prompted the gd > battleship to the Motherland, and no unit of the liritisli Navy saw uvre useful and intimate service than H.M.S. New Zealand. Yet if or the gd'i. Sir Joseph was reviled by I s political opponents, who made the occarier of the gift a reason lor S'r Joseph’s rejection by the electors. There are, too, many instances of his financial ability, which have served the country so conspicuously. Last week, in Gisborne, the Prime Minister was honoured greatly. Next week in Invercargill he will be specially honoured by a record gathering to greet and congratulate him. Some of his political opponents never tire of reminding the people Sir Joseph is a minority leader, but the fact remains that none of his opponents will challenge him in the country. Were the> to do so the temper of the people at this juncture is such that Sir Josepn Ward and his followers would sweeo the polls. It is this remarkable contingency which gives point to tile wonderful popularity of Sir Joseph at this juncture.