The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, MAY 12, 1919. MUTINY IN BRITAIN.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 May 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, MAY 12, 1919. MUTINY IN BRITAIN.

(With w&ieh i& Incorporated The F«ihape Port aad WatEjsucl-ao News).

The discovered mutiny in the British Army and Navy may be taken that no part of the civilised ivorld is free from the effects of the great upheaval of war; no country seems to be immune from the terrible pocirtl and Industrial convulsion that is now approaching its zenith in the v'-orld. The question uppermost in men's minds is. are Governments of the various States taking an intelligent course in stemming the threatened mutiny and revolution; are they doing what is humanely essential and possible to restore distracted peoples to a condition of security and contentment? Soldiers and sailors, and workers of all kinds and descriptions, know that, by their efforts they are saved from slavery to Germany, but they realise that there is another form of slavery that is equally unendurable, and they wanr to see that they do not walk out of one danger into another. Tt is seen from the organised mutiny in the British Army and Navy that the trouble with which the world is convulsed is something very real, something thai sane people cannot afford to allow to drift on to its highest tide. German leaders, in their hopelessness at the Peace terms, say, if such terms had been demanded in November, when the armistice was signed, they would have been accepted, because Germany could have paid the Bill, but they add, revolution has been more costly than war. revolution has so wasted the resources and riches of the country that, it would be folly to sign a Treaty that it is impossible for them to keep to. However, muck this view may be doubted in its entirety, there is no denying that it is true to a very great extent. That, of course, is Germany's concern, but there is a lesson for Britain, and'particularly New Zealand. Are we going to allow New Zealand to drift into revolution while yet there is time, by sane conduct of public affairs, to prevent it? Let

us take note that the British Army and Navy are mutinous, that five months or revolution have boon more disastrous to Germany than, nearly five years of Avar, in destruction of all internal

organisation and resources. Are we foolish enough to plume ourselves with the thought that New Zealand soldiers are any less determined to have justice than British soldiers, and ( thai revolution would be any less disastrous to New Zealand and New Zealanders than it has been, to Germany and Germans: to Austria and. Austrians; to Russia and Russians? It would be sheer lunacy to think anything of the kind, Is it persumable thai shops and stores would

not be looted; thai banks would not be robbed; that governing institutions would net be taken: that public, services would not be seized, and available <;ash squandered; that farms would not be plundered and rightful owners turned out as they have been turned out to starve in other countries? Revolution is revolution; there is little difference, we know from abundant experience, in its quality. Whether we view it in Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, or Bulgaria, there is little dissimilar about it; and we now fully realise that revolution in Britain gives us further proof or* what, may be expected, if there is any delay in hastening on that social'

and industrial reorganisation that Army, Navy, and the masses of workers arc determined to see accomplished. Britain refused to open her eyes to the looming war that Lord Roberts, and. other capable soldiers, gave warning of, and British people have paidj the penalty; the country is' on the verge ' of bankruptcy, and its industries are unworkable either from exigency or from profiteers refusing to allow coalmines to be worked, or railways to be used unless they are permitted to continue taking their "pound of flesh." So outrageous is the attitude of the coal-owners that eight out of eleven of British economists have declared for nationalisation, ariH. let it be understood that tTireo of these economists are Oxford or Cambridge University professors. Have avc not in New Zealand equally outrageous shipping combines, and 'what are we going to do about them? Let us not overlook'the fact that while our Government is muddling and drifting on, the cult of revolution is exceedingly active; we are rapidly moving to that opportune moment for the launching of revolution, and we are dead to the fact, as dead as Britain was to the German onslaught in 1014. We have Ministers raising their voices in positive horror at the cost of various reforms that are imperative, but they fail to realise that if the mal- , treated take matters in their own hands complete ruin of every institution is almost assured. It is Ministerially slated that coal shortage is getting very serious, but what class is it that j experiences the seriousness? It is not the rich owner of factories, and the proprietors of other coal-using industries; it is the masses of the people who suffer, while labour kings go on increasing their profiteering. The men who are responsible for coal shortage do not go short of coal or anything <i-lso, and even railway trains must come to a standstill; railway services may be rendered unworkable, but not an ounce of coal must be stopped from the Shipping Combine's needs. The Minister looks with trepidation to the winter; why does he not cnt down the coal supply of the Shipping Combine Why is the Combine to have all :t needs, while our railway engines may si and and rust for want of coal, and the children of the general public may suffer privation and injury to their health? Is it blunted intelligence, or consuming greed to which failure to do nothing to stem the slowly, yet surely, oncoming revolution is attributable? The- masses in this country are taking ' nolo of what is happening in Europe, i and they arc exhibiting unmistakable signs that not even revolution shall , stand in the way of social and indus- j (rial betterment of people generally. ! They may give a few lives, but what i class will be the greatest sufferers? I In the evolution of civilisation the righteousness of revolution is even determined by its volume of success. If we would avoid the worst, combines and trusts must be banished, profiteering must cease, and coalmines must go back to the State. These are the greatest deterrents to the increase of population, and to embark on any scheme of immigration before they are removed would be a crime that would undoubtedly furnish its own punish- j ment. ■