The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1921. NEW YEAR PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1921. NEW YEAR PROBLEMS.

In his New Year message to the people of the Dominion Mr. Massey exhibits a curious mixture of optimism and pessimism. At the same time it is manifest that the two outstanding fears which loom large in his vision are trade depression and industrial unrest, consequent upon the pernicious influence of Bolshevistic and communistic doctrines. The Premier reiterates his confidence that the good sense of the people as a whole will prevail, but those who realise the serious import of several of the cable messages in Monday’s issue will not fail to arrive at the conclusion that, much as good sense is valued, it is useless as a bulwark ■ against active propaganda, even when supported by grit and determination. Mr. Massey practically charges the community with the responsibility of meeting and overcoming the evils which threaten the country. It is, however, to enlightened statesmanship, courageous initiative and exemplary leadership on the part of the Government that the citizens of this country must depend upon for solving the urgent problems of the day, especially as regards rigid economy and wise and effective provisions for dealing with industrial unrest—a matter that is affecting and will probably still more seriously affect the whole civilised world. An indication of the spread of dangerous doctrines among the workers was in evidence at the Tours Conference, when the speech of Clara Zedkin, the German Communist, showed that Bolshevist propaganda was percolating through Berlin to outside nations with the object of promoting civil war. It is also significant. that moderate French Socialists have issued a manifesto in favor of the Soviet, system, while an extremist leader contends that the Tours decision “indicates the .workers’ determination to prepare conditions for a more favorable class warfare, which is daily becoming more bitter.” According to the latest news from India, the ittoyexneiit .of

in the scheme of local government devised by Britain, has advanced another stage by the passing of Gandhi’s resolution for organising committees throughout the country and establishing the principle of national service, and for uniting all religions in tile effort to obtain home rule for India by peaceful and legitimate means. Practically the movement is a boycott of all State institutions, and as it is being conducted by exceptionally gifted natives on lines that appeal with telling force to the people, it mayjie expected to reach large dimensions, and may have a marked effect on the future of India. In Britain the problem of unemployment is one that will tax administrative ability consid« erably before an acceptable solution is reached. The latest proposal to place all Government establishments on short time in order to provide employment for the largest possible number of workers is likely to meet with hostility from the trades unions on account of the lessening of the earnings of those who are at work, although it has the approval of Mr. Tom Mann, provided a living wage is maintained. As a living wage depends on the cost of living it would seem that the latter must first be considerably reduced before the Government’s proposal stands any chance of being accepted. Something like a ray of hope is to be discerned in the latest news from Russia, if any reliance can be placed on the official announcement by the newspapers there as to the early demobilisation of all soldiers between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, who are said to have been transferred to the Labor Corps, it being intended to raise an army of two millions to rebuild Russian industries and agriculture. If this scheme materialises it will have a profound effect on the world's trade and pave the way to the rehabilitation of that much afflicted country. The problem of disarming Germany is another of the important matters mentioned in the New Year cables, and it is satisfactory to note that Britain and France are considering what action shall be taken to compel Germany to dissolve the formidable so-called “self-defence organisations” which have taken the place of the regular forces, in defiance of the Armistice terms and the provisions of, the Peace Treaty. The decision to consult Marshal Foeh before taking drastic action is to be commended, and as the Allies appear to be agreed on abiding by his decision, Germany will either have to carry out her obligations or submit to drastic measures by the Allies to enforce these obligations. Coming nearer home, it will be seen that Australia is faced with industrial troubles. .In West Australia the whole railway service has been idle since midnight on Friday last, while a cable from Melbourne states that owing to the shipping trouble caused by the cooks’ and stewards’ strike, also a coal strike, train and tram services are being severely restricted, and the Premier has declared that the only alternative to these restrictions is to surrender the power of the Government t'o outside agencies, which are apparently bent on crippling the entire well-being of the State. The New Year has opened with a number of problems urgently needing solution, but what measure of success will attend the efforts of the peacemakers time will show. All one can do is to counsel sanity and unselfishness, while hoping for the best.