The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1916. THE PASSING YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1916. THE PASSING YEAR.

To those who take life and its affairs seriously the pausing of oach j?ear is of real significance, not only as regards the milestones which mark man's limited period of earthly existence, but more especially as indicative of what has been done and what might or should have been accomplished in each annual cycle. If we regard the year which is just closing from -.this point of view each individual will havs his or her ideas on both points, though there must be some agreement on many of the important omissions and commissions that have operated for good or rtherwise on the community as well as 01: the nations. Like its predecessor (1915; the expiring year has been mainly filled with the incidents of the titanic straggle which still ravages the Great I'owers of Europe. Whatever hopes were entertained of a cessation of the struggle when the year began have melted like the mist at sunrise, and the outlook is still stormy. Peace of a Urn! could no doubt be obtained, but it wovld be but a hollow pretence at the most, a mere cessation of hostilities to enable the arch-fiend of Prussian militarism to recuperate so that in a few years all the horrors and bloodshed that have marked the present war would be again in evidence, only with added frenzy and increased frightfulness, and all our herois sacrifices would count for naught..Such a termination of the conflict is unthinkable, so that we shall enter upon the new year with increased determination to secure a victory on which a real durable peace can be founded and the nations of the"earth be allowed to work out their destinies without fear of aggression or domination by German militarism, the curse of the age in which we live. Our Jiopes and confidence should be far more certain in the coming year, for at last Britain has got into a powerful stride under vigorous and able leaders who recognise the gravity of the situation and are setting to vrark on the right lines to terminate the struggle at the earliest possible moment. Our allies have also determined to prorecute the war with vigor, and for the first time since the conflict began there is a fitting organisation at work concentrating the whole human power available on the achievement of yctory. The British Empire is being unified and consolidated by means of an Imperial Conference, or War Council; the bundle of twigs is being put together systematically, so that it will be unbendable and unbreakable for all time. This spirit of union in counsel and in action is one of tin compensations of the war, and its initiation is a red letter mark for the year 1910, which has been a period of sacrifices, the extent of which is almost incredible in magnitude. Wo draw a veil over the numerous losses of life and the vast sufferings of the wounded, holding up to view only the magnificent heroism of the men at the front and of theh desolated parents and loved ones, who have nobly given their mor.t cherished sons to further the great cause of justice and freedom. The one great- outstanding figure that we all miss is that of Earl Kitchener, the magician who raised an army of millions out of Britain's peace-loving sons, and we thankfully recognise that his task was mainly accomplished before he was takeji into the ocean's bosom to rest from his labors, but his spirit lives with us for all time —the spirit of supreme devotion to his country. The closing months of the year have seen a marked advance on the Western front, and it if. only in Roumania that the turn of events has been disappointing for the time being; otherwise the outlook has vastly improved during the year. The Dominion has again been blessed with, exceptional prosperity, and for that we may well be thankful. Although there arc rumors of industrial troubles, they may not, and we hope will not, eventuate. When the people of New Zealand compare their lot with that of Britain, France, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Koumania, and with the inhabitants ot enemy countries, they may justly rejoice at the blessings they enjoy in contrast to the pfrivations and sufferings elsewhere. It is almost unthinkable that under such pleasant circumstances as are to be found in the Dominion there should be found those who are so lost to all sense of gratitude as to cause trouble. We have every reason to bo thankful that our lot lias been* east inr-wich a worldly

paradise. We should be happy in having experienced prosperity during the year l'.llli, in having accomplished so much for the Motherland, and in having contributed so cheerfully ami liberally to the many calls sustained. What the coming year has in store we know not, but we sincerely hope and trust that peace will eitlh'r tie reached or within oj:r grasp, and that the happiness of doing our duty will be as a beacon ligli! (luring the year 1017. V r e must still make sacrifices, but they should help to secure A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.