Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1919, Page 2

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

MONDAY, February 3, 1919, THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

DetivureA rveri iiion>;:>7 in GroynvmtVi Kiimaru HoktJHii, Hubso'i, iViiitacm' Pinion: ik, C'umsiduu, Nirstlie-r, IMiukbnll, Nclsm: (.'rftck. Hriiiuier, TeXiriffha.Kotoimuiu t'nenui, li-i/iiKinnji-, PiU;ira, Kuru, Kiiinisifii, Kottilni, M,,;iiut, Aiv-tik-.i, Jtuiiiiupi, DtiiioHiu, Cuiidon, Maxtor's, Kokiri, Ahuma, Ika•oiatua. Still wAtiuv VVniuta. nud ICeef'.o"

FOR the past week the dominating question at the Peace Conference has been that of disposing in an equitable way of the former German colonies, and controversy has especially round the future of the . Pacific. The "Dominion delegates went to the Conference with the object, as the cable put it, of "'capturing" these territories, but they had not reckoned fully, with the League of Nations, the principle of which the Conference has adopted. The Australian delegates, however, to judge by their attitude in asking for absolute possession of New Guinea, and in suggesting the Equator as a line of demarcation as between their at' nexations and th ey proposer^ to concede Japan, must have known of the secret treaty under, which Britain guaranteed Japan tlie Caroline Islands, north east of New Guinea, and the Marshall Group, further east. The British Government,, after accepting the League principle, was in an awkward position, as we are told that tha# principle sounds the death-knell of secret treaties. It doubtless would have ' preferred Mr. Hughes to gain his point a?;- regards New Guinea, for then its obligation to Japan need not go unfulfilled, but President Wilson prefers interiiationalisatioifto Japanese expansion in the Pacific and Japan is stated to be agreeable, if this rule is made general* Consequently all the. Pacific islands have to.be treated similarly and New Zealand is said to be more amenable to this principle than the Australian delegates, so. Mr Hughes had no alternative but to give in. Moreover, South Africa has agreed to the AVilson plan for South East and West Africa. Tljc secret treaty mention-, ed, may. have been made on the understanding that Australia was to get New Guinea absolutely, but whether or no, its existence is only another argument for the need. of a League of Nations, as the Australian people were unaware of the fact that the Japan.-', ese were being, brought so much ' closer .to • their shores. The Queensland Premier points this out, stating. tlie treaty cariic as, a great and. unpleasant surprise to Australians. He is apparently .much, nearer the .truth than the ■Australian, who is reported' in the cables to have expressed Aus"

tralian feeling in London, by asserting in a paper there that, "from every city and bush township in. Australia a unanimous shout has gone up" in support 1 of the demands of Mr Hughes. According to the Queensland Premier, Australians would prefer the internationalisation of the Mar shalls and Carolines to their annexation by Australia ov^ by Japan. And doubtless, if these, groups went to any Power, it would be Japan. There *is, of course, the view that the League principle— or the mandatory system — is virtually annexation, and this is. said to be the idea of Britain, but the statement must" be that of some diplomatist. Under the mandatory system, the former German Colonies will be attached to the nearest neighbour representing the Power now ,in military occupation of the territory concerned. This means that we will administer Samoa, Australia will control .New Guinea, and Japan will manage the Marsh alls and, Carolines. The. League in this, case will appoint them as trustees, and lay down' general principles for their observance, aiming at the establishment of an administration, primarily for the betterment of the backward native inhabitants. It is stated that some more definite- conditions would also be imposed, namely, that the expenses of administration shall be met fiscally, with, equal customs duties, imposed on trade with all nations, and if the cost was hot fully, met thereby, the League would make up some at least, of the deficiency for the mandatory country. The objection the Dominion • delegates raised is that the exact machinery of the League has not yet been set up, and so there is a vagueness, and a danger of fiscal difficulty. The objectors, it is reported, while generally accepting the mandatory system, hope some special arrangement will be conceded for the German colonies in the Pacific and Africa, providing for the mandatories' own laws in the respective colonies.- Whether this will be the case remains to be seen. There is. the point made by General Maurice that av'iady the British hold more conquered territory than any other Power, and if more is sought suspicions will arise. President Wilson's critics may suggest that America is not concerned in the settlement of foreign territorial questions, but logically the League of Nations is no more than the natural development of the Monroe doct". rine, a protectorate of the Avoak by the strong. It is argued that as the- League has not yet been fully moulded, it is not wise to commit too much to its charge, but really the Powers, having adopted the League in principle, were honestly bound to make it ay effective as possible and equal to its work. According to one authority, the Rhine, Danube, Vistufa,. Scheldt, Struma, Congo and Amazon will. come under the control of the League. Not only international waterways, but international railways are, it is suggested, to be brought under the jurisdiction of the embryo league. Add League of Nations leader The Bagdad, Cape to Cairo, and Siberian railways, as well as

shorter lines serving the Balkans, are included among the lines which, are said to be likely to be brought under this great scheme of neutralisation. Then there is the labour question, and it must be admitted that in dealing Avith cheap labour countries, like Japan', the League should have *a wide field of usefulness. The League as a whole is a noble conception, and it is to be hoped that the. nations will persevere in a spirit of self-sacrifice, should such be called for, in order to make4t a lasting reality. It is hinted that some Peace Delegates arc adopting an attitude that they consider will look well to their constituents at a distance, but from such little need be feared.

The Chinese celebrated their New Year's Day yesterday.

The correct figures for the Copper Trail were £3111 18s lOd. not £311 18s lOd as stated in Saturday's issue.

Captain Seddon, M.P., is expected to arrive on the Coast on Tuesday.

Major Francis, C.M.G., gives up the Directorship of base Kecord.s next month.

A New York cable states that Mr Rickard has announced that Jack 1 Deuipsey will fight Jess Willardfor the world's championship as already reported.

There are 1 150 New Zealanutrs, mostly South Islanders, on the transport Nestor, which may land the itVen in Australia for transhipment.

The Naval Adviser (states a Wellington telegram) reports that the naval ratings from H.M.S. Doris will probably arrive at 'Wellington by the steamer Port Hacking ,on Thursday next. The vessel, will, be quarantined for 24 hours after arrival. .

The Greymouth Trotting Club is mg.king- great headway with its new trotting track and the work is now advanced -to • 'such an -extent that the material for forming the track will shortly be requisitioned.- In another column . the Club invites tenders for the excavating and delivery of about 6000 yards', of. material,- tenders- . to close at "noo n on Saturday, next. Further'particulars- may' be had' from Greymouth Trotting Club:

At the Grey Ristrict High School 6n Friday afternoon last, the pupils of the High School presented Mrs Whitmore, who lias resigned her position as Mistress, with a . handsome silver mounted jam dish, and Miss Evelyn James, in a neat speech made the presentation, which Mrs "Whitmore suitably acknowledged.

The Romuera has arrived at London from New Zealand. She is about to load under the now reduced freight rates for a return. The reducpons roughly is about 60 per cent, on me previous flat rate of £7 10s a toa.

-The following West Coasters . are among a big draft, No. 207, . due shortly.— J. P. Anderson, (Hari Hari) J.i Debenham (West Coast;, v. Freeney (Hokitika), R. Hradmarsli (Reef ton), P. lngeldsby (Kumara), G v C. Crowther (Westport), L. A. Lyons (Stafford), F. McLaugnnn (Westport), T. Nimmo, M. M.. vwreymbuth) '13. J. Noble. (Greymouth), F- H. OVpwood; M. M., (Greymoutn) , W. G. H. Richaads (Westport), J. Stubbs (Karamea).

Many friends will regret to lc^ani of the death of Mr Patrick Call well, a well-known Grey-* mouth identity, who passed away on Saturday at the Grey River Hospital, at the age of 72 years. Deceased, who -had only been a couple of days in the institution, j had been in very poor health for j some time, but he bore his ailment cheerfully and remained on his feet until nearly the last. He w,as "a native of Londonderry, Ireland , and a pioneer of the West Coast, whose genial disposition gained him. many, friends. He leaves a growir up family, Mr J. Callwcll, of Greymouth, being a son of deceased. The relatives will have the sympathy of numerous friends in their bereavement.

. To-morrow the Science Congress opens at Christchurch. In connection with the. Congress, Rev. Dr. Holloway, of Hokitika, vsrill on Wednesday lecture on: "Vestiges oi .the Primeval Plant World." On Thursday mountain structure and also sculpture . will be lectured on by Professor Benson (Dunedinj and Dr. Cotton (^Victoria College). Dr. Pearson, Chmtchureh. Hospital Pathologist will lecture on the "flu" on Friday.: The Conference "will hold sectional meetings every day this

week

The new. site for the Cuu.eiuury trotting ground includes the property 'ecentJy owned by 1. W. J. Shanu comprising 74 acres, while 7 acres comprise the property until recently owned by Mr \V. llobertson, anu there are a couple of smaller uiucasj totalling 6 acres.' The pi^raiy fronts the Iticcarton road Blenheim road, and Wharenui road, and, with the exception ■of a couple of small sections, it covers the whole block opposite Puriri road, and within a stone throw of Dean's Bush; being not more than a couple of miles from the city. In addition, it is bcrved- by the Hiccarton tram line, and at the rear of t.Ke property the -Ad'dington, and Mid'delton railways stations are quite liaridy. and the Riccarton" station is not more than three-quarters" of a mile away, so that coun uy pations will be well served with travelling conveniences.

'The Rev. Moses Ayr ton spoke underthe fuispices of the "Wellington bocial Democratic party at tlie Alexandra Hall. Able Smith street. Wellington (says thr> New Zealand "Times"'), tlie title of his address being "The Dynamics of the Labour movement w,i" not a new one, hut the outgrowth of other aspirations. li flfa* a )mt>v *msumntiori on tho ikiH of ould-timo tmrlp unionist"! tb think riat- trades «ii''on>'=ts roxilrl get their wants satisfied throup-li the old politifil mpt'"* — Mstorv-hnd proved this fact in tlio older '' countries-. There wns r> crowing con"scion°nn«:.s amomi thp youp'^r goiiTotion of tho working cla=s that an Independent Labour portv was the OT)lv'm*»qns of achieving fl™»ir nnd industrial salrntion., Tlip dvnpm : <> power of the Labour movement- could be placed to these forces. Liberalism had had a function in the eighteenth century- so far as the working Hasses were concerned, but it was bankrupt of ideas in the twentieth century. Its failure to meet the existance of present-day" abuses showed that Liberalism was destitute of ideas. Uiie must judge the existing political machine that, governs the people by its reflection vin the social life of the Judged by this standard, there whs no question of its failure. 'Hie difference between old-time Liberalism ami Labour was that Liberalism' sought out industries to benefit a few capitalists, while the Labour movement wanted to use industries for the common go°d, and not for the private 'profit of a few individuals in" the" community. The greatest problem before the Labour movement was the better distribution of natural wealth. The Labour party exists for the purpose of- providing greater uuity and equity among the working class; for the removal those abuses aud grievenees that exist today; for a freer flow of life's blood through the body politic. The function vi mi Labour parties in all parts of the world was to bring about peace among the. people and a greater and fuller life for all the useful people of the world.