THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23. 1923. PEACE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4531, 23 February 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23. 1923. PEACE.

If the history of the Peace (?) since Armistice Day were truthfully written, then buried and resuscitated some generations ahead, when the events of to-d,ay are forgotten, it would probably be referred to as a classical comedy. America would appear oh the stage in the leading role when the ctfftain went up, but would ultimately figure as hunting with the hounds and running with the hare. If there is ,a grain of unbiassed reporting in recent cablegrams it is obvious that America is. about as illogical and insincere as it is possible for a nation to be. Of the measures adopted by France and England to enforce Germany’s payment of the Allies’ lepar.ations U.S.A- will have none, but she is demanding every ounce of flesh, from Britain in payment of debt. Britain must pay, with interest, all that she borrowed in protecting the civilised interests of the world, including America—but Germany, which has enormous interests in U.S.A-, must not be pressed for payment of the equivalent af stolen money. One alleged democrat, opposing a settlement with, Britain, is reported to have said, “I can find no valid reason for abating anything from what is justly due to us.” This is the trend of many American speakers’ remarks. And these come from the country that succeeded In monopolising the floor during the early stages of the Peace Conference. America wanted peace—but will not. “abate anything from what is justly due.” What is due? Would it not be fair to -suggest, that nothing is due ; that if there is an unsettled account between nations' America should acknowledge an everlasting debt to the Allies, who, unaided by America, for several years fought to maintain her security as well as their own ? Peace and the “almighty dollar” cannot be housed together.. Mr Lloyd George is reported to have said : ‘‘Unfortunately for us, when it came to debts we ■struck the hard side of the ‘Middle West’ conscience.” For 60 years, under the funding agreement, Britain wil’ pay America £30,000,000 a yeai. And there is talk of a “conscience.” Surely, our education has l been neglected ? Is it not time that American dictionaries were introduced into our schools ? How, otherwise, will our children grasp the true meanings o.? the words “conscience” and “peace”?

According to speakers at Tuesday’s Paeroa Chamber of Commerce meeting quite a number of parents hers are sending their children to the Thames High School for education that is available in Paeroa. If this is a fact, the parents referred to cannot be congratulated on possessing an abundance of commonsense. On the contrary, they might be said to lack ordinary intelligence. It is, -f course, sometimes necessary to produce facts to prove the correctness of any givep contention, and these are

available in the Paeroa High School records. The fact, that a pupil of fourteen recently matriculated from the Paeroa school should at least serve to s'how that the education required can be provided here. It would be interesting to learn the views of the parents who send their children to Thames. The standard of education there is no higher; and the journey by rail is what the parents are themselves now vigorously protesting against in connection with having to send, their children to Thames for manual and technical instruction. It is incredible that any parent should, for no obvious reason whatever, deliberately send his children a long, unnecessary railway journey. If, in fact, the parents fail to recognise what is best for the children, some regulation should be brought into force whereby the pupils were compelled to attend the high school in the district wherein their parents reside.