The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1917 GERMANY’S PEACE REPLY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 September 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1917 GERMANY’S PEACE REPLY.

(With which is incorporated The Taihapo Post and Waimarino News).

After reading the gist of Germany’s reply to the Pope’s peace proposals one cannot be surprised at the contempt universally expressed in Allied countries thereat. In Rome itself it is understood that Germany accepts the principle of the Papal proposals, but will not commit herself to one formal engagement regarding territorial questions. The Allies know their Germany too w T cll to involve themselves in- any peace discussions with Germany until a definite undertaking is entered into respecting territories, reparations and compensations. The wild boar of Europe has been let loose to ravage and destroy and there is a big bill —a very big bill—.of costs to be accepted and met. Germany, in her reply talks of, and advocates, ” moral force of justice” and limitation of armaments, substituting international arbitration, as glibly as though she never had any other view or policy on the subject. Of course, we all know, the world knows that at the Hague Convention when the limitation of armaments was proposed Germany was the one nation that stood out and would have none of it, but she was then preparing for “Der Tag.” Now the dog has had its “Der Tag” and things have not matured in exactly the way mapped out by the dog. The armaments of kultur and the ways of its lords have been through the fire of their “Der Tag” and they have proved spurious, hurtful to the progress of the world and all its peoples, ”Der Tag” has laid bare the swelled heads of Hun supermen,- their guns have been destroyed; their forts blown to pieces, and their warships, like rats starving in their holes, dare not come out,, fearing destruction. Now the only opponent of the limitation of armaments is the most ardent disciple and advocate. The loathsome thing dares now to*-link itself up with the Pope in urging peace negotiations, with limitation of tfrmaments and international arbitration. Is there anything more contemptible, despicable, miserable, abject, to liolc upon than the peace squirms of Germany, the erstwhile monument of boast. The Prussian, menace is to be wiped clean off the world’s state. No-

where more than in America is this determination obvious, one of its newspapers remarks that America has already answered all peace proposals and Germany’s reply by the publication of the details of German plots in America. One need only read these details to realise what America w r ill insist upon with regard to peace and the future of Germany. The only opponent of the limitation of armaments says it did not want the w y ar and is now clamouring for the opposite to what before the war it 'Tooth and nail opposed. Germany was sincere at the Hague Convention, and, we believe, she is just as sincere now; she is just as anxious to drop the sword now as she was to take it up then to enter upon her “Her Tag.” The Pope hopes by another note to succeed in bringing belligerents together on those view's upon w'hich all agree. From his juridie nature and surroundings and the neces-

sary attributes of his position, that is quite what one wmuld expect, but there seems to be a very immature under-

standing of German duplicity and disregard of scraps of paper that the Allies will view' with the greatest concern; they have evidence enough to convict Germany a thousand times and the last vestige of trust they had in her was exterminated by dishonour long, long ago. Whatever form the Pope’s further promised peace proposals may take we are convinced that the Allies wall only Ire satisfied at this stage with unconditional surrender.

THE SANITARY BYE-LAWS.

The subject of Sanitary bye-laws has from time to time been mentioned at the meetings of our Borough Council, and although finality in their evolution and adoption docs not yet appear to be complete, we are still hoping that they will come into force before, another summer season is entered upon. This town, like all other young growths of settlement in a new country, has experienced, and is experiencing, the sanitary difficulties, and insanitary annoyances that cannot well be avoided at a certain stage in its development; and we have to bear them patiently. It is not reasonable to expect that h change involving many thousands of pounds expenditure and much thought and skill can be brought about in a prestidigitatir fashion. We must not expect to wake up some fine morning and find that a complete transformation has taken place during the night, all we can justly ask for is that our Council will do the utmost they possibly can that will not result in anything unjust or unduly harsh on any individual ratepayer, and we believe that something of this kind is the refrain of their efforts. That the present bye-laws governing drainage, water and sanitation matters generally are unsatisfactory to an extreme we have daily and hourly, evidence in plenty. To one who is accustomed to the operations of byelaws in the linking up of premises with the drainage systems in other towns it is positively appalling to see the death traps and pits of infamy that are permitted here. If these are in accordance with the Borough Byelaws then we trust that for the health of our people and the good name of the settlement Councillors will have the new bye-laws ready at the earliest possible moment, and that no further connections shall bo allowed with the drainage system till more definite guidance is given. Better would it have been £o have left many premises i as they were than to allow them to be I converted into a system of insanitation \ that is to give endless trouble in the j future. As before stated, no reason- j able-minded resident must expeat possibilities or any piecemeal action ! that will affect the general scheme of i sanitation, or anything done that is 1 not provided for in the bye-laws that are in the transition stage, and near- i ang completion, but a cessation of 1 connecting premises with the sewerage { system should be enforced unless the I work is done in accordance with the provisions that are to be. We think I such is imperative for the general good and wo sincerely hope that our Councillors will not underrate this view, ,for any man amongst us who has had properties similarly linked with the sewerage system—say in Wellington must feel considerable alarm at seeing I what is permitted ki Taihape at the present time.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENTAL i REMISSNESS.

Frequent remarks, if we cannot quite categorise them as complaints, arc made that no steps are taken to publicly meet and welcome men who are returning to us from the front. This morning a troop train conveying returned men to their homes stopped at Taihape, and it was by the merest chance that the information reached this office a few minutes before the train was due. Our representative made haste to the Station and was just in time to meet the train; he made enquiries of every likely source of information to learn if any Taihape men were aboard, but without success. We

learn that the Mayor of Tailiapc (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith), had been , advised by telegram that Troopers Welch and Dillion were to arrive by that train, but, unfortunately for the Mayor, the time of arrival stated was one hour after the train had been and gone. Someone had blundered, and although it seems a small thing to many it. is a mistake that may lead to our community’s attitude to returning men being woefully misunderstood. It may lead to misunderstandings and heartburnings for which there should not be the slightest occasion. Are we to think that after these men have done their utmost for the Empire, that, after they are no longer any use as fighting units, they are to be discarded as an old boot wmuld be? It is very obviousthat if the Defence Department will not take the little trouble to advise Mr. Arrowsmith, as Mayor when men are to arrive this community cannot show its appreciation of the great sacrifices they have made. We know that the Taihape community is exceedingly anxious to extend the heartiest of welcome to our lads on their return home, but if it is too much trouble for the Defence Department to correctly advise they arc to arrive it is helpless. The fault is not with the Mayor, nor with our people, it is entirely the omission of the Department to give the necessary information. We are indeed proud to extend to Troopers Welch and Dillon this community’s heartiest welcome and congratulations.