The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1914. THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 24 December 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1914. THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.

In ordinary times, when peace prevails among the nations of the earth, the Christmas festival comes as a welcome break in the strenuous rush of our busy lives, and bids humanity in general recognise the great doctrine of the brotherhood of man—a brotherhood that is something far different from the mere verbal meaning as ordinarily construed, approaching more nearly to that of the actual blood relationship in which the one is willing to undergo the greatest sacrifices for the other in cases of danger or trouble, and to help to the uttermost in filling the cup of happiness in seasons of rejoicing. One of the growing evils attendant on prosperity is the undue craving to outstrip our fellows in the race for greater wealth, higher honors, or superior power. The

general tendency of the "ego" in man j to assert itself is more or less relleeted in tlie life of the nations. There are laudable ambitions and degrading am. bitions, so that we find that the existence, of peace and happiness, as well as ■ goodwill, is dependent entirely on whether the right or the wrong principles predominate. ! I'his is equally true j as applied to individuals, families, communities, and nations. Never lias the [ world seen this truth more fully emphasised than at the present time. Hanging over the citizens of the British Empire, those of France, Belgium, Russia, the peoples of the Balkan States, and generally throughout the whole of Europe and most of Asia, is the lurid war.cloud, | or.-.eloping the nations in its life-destroy-ing agencies, ainl dealing misery and ! suffering beyond all conception. The j Christmas of 1914 is anything but a sea- 1 son of peace and goodwill, ltather is it' a time of lire and blood, accentuated ! by barbaric horrors that cannot fail to evoke feelings of the bitterest animosity and a burning desire for revenge. For tiiose who are in the midst of the terrible fray, for those who are homeless and destitute, for the wounded and suffering, and for all the victims of the Oil-man lust for power, the hearts of all lovers of justice and humanity will beat in tenderest sympathy, while the Christmas sentiment will stimulate the desire to render practical help in every pos. | sible form so as to alleviate the sufferings of tlie innocent victims, and to induce them to note the silver lining to the dense black cloud, presaging the bright days to come when a sure and lasting peace is established. Christmas i'J especially a time for rejoicings in the home circle. Here, again, this year will in! markedly different from others. In many homes there will be one or more vacant chairs, and the boys who have answered tin' Empire's call will be missed, but they will not be forgotten. For tlie absent warriors the heartiest good wishes will go forth from ever) lessened family gathering, asxfcmpanied with tlie earnest desire for their success and safe return. The feeling of regret at their absence is greatly mitigated in the. pride that they are upholding the cause of right against that of might, and that though they are spending their Christmas amid all tlie pomp and panoply of war, it is for tlie purpose of ultimately establishing tlie peace of nations and the prosperity of their people. In New Zealand there never was a time in which greater cause for thankfulness existed. No country on the earth can lay claim to such favorable conditions as exist here now. Far removed from the area of warfare, tlie Dominion is enjoying unprecedented prosperity, and the outlook is resplendent with promise. The people may well congratulate themselves on their good fortune, and though they have liberally responded to tlie calls of patriotism, they can, and should, be largely imbued with that altruistic spirit which at this season of the year produces hap. piness by the exercise of mutual goodwill, the sinking of self in the desire for the general welfare, and the cheerful exhibition of self-sacrifice, coupled with a contagious faith in the brightness of the future. In New Zealand, therefore, and especially in Taranaki, where the fullest measure of prosperity holds sway, the sentiment special to the season should have particular force, and in the most complete sense of the usual formula we tender all our readers our sincere and heartfelt wish for "A IIAPI'Y CHRISTMAS."

eminent to mako arrangements ivherj- | by some of the transports will return l'frorn Egypli in iballast to carry away our produce, Meat export this season proI miscs to be so enormous that the freez- |' ing accommodation luis had to be inj creased in many districts. Provided that there is a fair rainfall, good returns will he seen all through the list of important l Y'l oducl.s. excepting ilax and kauri gum. Imports, oil the other hand, may be expected to contract considerably. There' will bo Hie reduction naturally consequent on the interruption of trade with the Continent ami the delays of shipping, .as well as the voluntary economy of the community since the war began. Uius we find the two conditions that may he. expected to bring ahou! a surplus of cash next year. It is hardly likely that this will be seen to .1 very great extent iu the banking returns ombcr ;il, although if will then bo noticeable., but next year, 'with a confirmation of the present outlook money shouhl lie siiiricienl.lv plentiful to (inane!' all the enterprise which will result from 'a res!oration of confidence, after the rude shock received at the outbreak of the war. The fetnks have not had to curtail their advances this year, and | tile Stock Exchange quotations are a fairly good indication that funds are ( already available. The appreciable rise ■ in the insurance slocks that immediately I followed the naval victory off the FalJ;- | lands last month would have been impossible if New Zealand liad been really I sliort of money