THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 October 1919, Page 4

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE.

A notable feature of the r.e.il'way strike settlement in London was the expressed sentiment of the many thousands of people on the parties to the settlement emerging into Downing Street from the conference chamber. Mr Lloyd George was cheered to the echo: Mr Thomas was made 5. hero, but Sir Eric Greddes was hooted, and it is apparent there was cause to fear physical resentment. of the stand he had made for privilege against the people. This may be taken to correctly demonstrate the political situation in Britain, and probably the feeling throughout the Whole British Empire. Liberalism and Labour had emerged from the Strike Confe.reilce agreed on -what was best for the country, brother S—in-arms against the man who stood for privilege,‘ and we shall be surprised if a similar scene is not enacted in Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zea~ land whenever similar occasions arise. Thr'ougihout the British Empire it has been made plain there.must be a radical revision of old policies. The oldtime '[‘oryism.f Gonse-rvati’sm:. or 33y‘ wliatever other name privilege may be designated, must inevitabl-y vbe_‘scrappefd, and a new-, better, broader, more humane political growth must, phoenixlike, arise from its ashes.'Empire poliiiczs me uncleniabflv ‘at the (‘,l‘OSS‘~ roads of life and. .death;.of progress and destruction; of contentment and despair; should it be arecessa-ry to warn all who exercise the franchise of the unparalleled momentousnesg of the -occasion they are approaching? Never before was New'Zeal.a-n=d’s future so entirely in the keeping of its people as at the present time; how will they acquit themselves? Let no man become the tool, or the clay in the hands of any se.lf-seeker, for it is the occasion above all others when every man and woman should consult their own conscienees solely. If the people will conform their understandings to the principles of justice, fr-eedom, liberty, and equality upon which the progress and honour of the life of any nation must be ‘based, there need be no fear for a glorious, happy, content-ed, and pros~ perous future.