The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1932. DISARMAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1932. DISARMAMENT.

The Geneva Conference with regard to world disarmament found itself in i a difficult atmosphere when it attempted to tallc about peace, or the ability to enforce peace, with the J Sino-Japanese conflict in daily effect. Not only was there this little war in progress, but despite the appeals of the League of Nations, the conflict could not be arrested, let alone stopped, And it still goes forward, the Japanese using every modern engine of destruction possible to gain a definite ascendency. There is the statement that when the Japanese forces drive the Chinese soldiery back to a certain point, a halt will be called, or supended to permit of less aggressive negotiations. But the Chinese liaye put up a very stubborn resistance. Plainly China would be unprepared for this little war, but to hold on and hold out, as the Chinese army has done, shows that there must have been a good deal of quiet preparation, and a consider- j able store of armaments to enable | the desperate resistance to be maintained, and the well found invaders to be held up for so long. The experience shows how well the nations must be prepared for war, but though this little war has occurred at an inopportune time so far as the immediate discussion on disarmament is concerne, the ultimate result may be ror a, general benefit. Tire European nations so far as the Geneva discussions could go, showed a desiye and a readiness to disarm. The pimeipal Powers brought down proposals to that end. There was the suggestion, too, for progressive disarmament, and the British suggestion to dispense with submarines, and avoid the , use of chemicals or gas, was the most humane put forward. Indeed, the British proposals generally were very wholehearted, and received muon verbal support. In addition to the points just mentioned there was amo the suggestion to reduce the size of warships and the calibre of their gun«; likewise the prohibition of land guns 1 over a certain calibre. Another proposal was to limit conscription bv agreement, and the establishment <>t a permanent disarmament commission to work put the full solution witlilit ten years. The British appeal was also an appeal to reason. Sir John Simon, the principal speaker, .urged Hhe conference to retain the Washington and London naval treaties intact till their expiration. He considered world peace could not be secured by a preparation for war. The piling up op armaments was in reality a menace. “Armament; as instruments of world ~,arace are useless,'’ said Sir John. “Our problem is nothing loss than the delivery of the world from despair.’’ The present little war will emphasise the disaster of war to the nations concerned, and probably the Eastern mind needed (lie les.-un. \\ hen this war ditvt down, practically It'om an exhan. 1 ti.m o r resources, the parlies v.ill he more amenable to reason on the gene:al principle ot outlawing war, and there should bo a clearer atmosphere alt roilnd. The Great Powers baie stood out of the conllii t. but it would have boon easy to pull them in in pfr League days. 'I here is a change of limit and mind among

the nations weighing the evil of war in the proper scales, and this its a trim index of the readiness for disarmament to promote peace and avoid war. There is of course a. long way still to go, but the world is safely on the journey, and moving circumspectly i,s the best hope for permanent results to relievb the world of the honours ‘of general warfare.

The set of circumstances in all its bearings, requires to be considered in a study of tne measure before Parliament, dealing with the amendments to the Arbitration Act. The Arbitration Act has stood the test of time remarkably well. It has done much to build up tiie lot and the reward of the worker. It is true that the organised workers .at times flouted the Act, and the decisions under it, and rather got away with their actions, but on the whole the principal has come to be regarded as a good one, and Labour has been more prone to support it of late. Of late when the talk of amendments was in the air, Labour has acquired a particular love for the Act and its import to the worker, and have made a jealous defence of tho Act, which they wish to keep inviolate. On the other hand there has been much discussion about the easing of the Act to assist industry. Even when the Arbitration Court in the face of the initial financial difficulties made the ten per cent, Cut ill the awards, Labour was very voluble in its opposition. But time unfortunately has more than justified the cut, and it would appear a further cut is in sight, The iwternntive is the amendment of the Act to ease the position, so that the position in regard to employment might be improved. The proposal is not a new one. The Minister of Finance when lie introduced the Supplementary Budget last year said that the arbitration law would require to he amended along the lines of the Industrial Conference. The matter, also, was referred to on the hustings, and freely discussed by the candidates. Since then the industrial stringency has been emphasised more and more, and it was clearly for the Government to act in the matter. The needs of the country demand it, for it is part of the rehabilitation policy which has to be attempted to restore the public welfare'. The cuts and the savings are evidently not enough in themselves to accomplish the relief desired. But we may be sure that what is proposed now is in the best interests of the country as a whole. The law. w V en passed will be' helpful in assisting industry, and any aid in that direction must produce beneficial results all round. It is not pleasant for tve Government to face so difficult opposition, Rut it is to their credit that | they are not shirking their duty in the* matter, and showing a disposition to carry though their task with a fixed determination to solve the industrial problem of the times.