King Country Chronicle Tuesday, December 30, 1924. THE CLOSING YEAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 2061, 30 December 1924, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Tuesday, December 30, 1924. THE CLOSING YEAR.

The year 1924 is drawing to a close, and 1925 will shortly be ushered in with its ambitions on the part of some people. Others may view it with a certain amount of trepidation, for the state of the world is far from reassuring, and there are yet many problems to solve, both abroad and at home, before it can be said that the world has returned to a state of peace and the conditions thai prevailed prior to the fateful year of 1914. However, we can take comfort from the fact that the outlook has improved this last two years, and in 1924 greater strides were made towards a settlement of the outstanding questions of the day than at any other period during" the last decade. The rehabilitation of the world after the devastation and waste of the Great War must necessarily be a slow process, but there is now a general desire on the part of the larger Powers, with the solitary exception of Russia, to hasten a mutual understanding so that the bitterness of the past might be swept away, to give place to a feeling of harmony and concord. It is now being realised that the burden of each of the nations, incurred by the war, must be as equitably divided as possible; that help must be given to those nations who are not in a position to carry that bui'den; and that national ambition must be sacrificed for the good of humanity in general. One of the most satisfactory advancements made during 1924 was the cementing of a better feeling between Britain and France, the two most powerful nations interested in the European situation. There are still many issues at stake between these two countries, but they are of a minor nature, and the hope is entertained that they will be adjusted during the coming year. The greatest historical event of 1924 was the adoption of the Dawes report, by which the Allies, under certain conditions, agreed to lend Germany £40,000,000 to stabilise that country's currency. In this Britain has made a tremendous sacrifice. She required the proportion she subscribed to the loan for development within the Empire, while some of the conditions were distinctly inimical to her trade interests. Britain has been left with a war debt of' £B,ooo,ooo,ooo—the largest of any of the Allies, and with her export trade threatened by German competition, her position is far from enviable at the present juncture. The murder of the Sirdar of Egypt revealed a deep-laid plot to eliminate British interests in that country, and at one time the outlook was distinctly menacing. However, the' firm attitude of the Baldwin Government foiled the plotters, a new Government has been established in Egypt, and this ended one of the most dramatic and dangerous incidents of the year. The fact cannot be overlooked that there is unrest amongst the coloured nations of the world, whose passions are being inflamed by the Bolshevik and Communistic factions. This, more than anything else, calls for unity amongst the white nations of the world.

One of the most serious dangers during 1924 was the strained feeling between Japan and America, owing to the latter's Immigration Bill, which practically excluded Japanese from landing in America. Japan took strong exception to what she considered an insult to her national pride, and bitter feeling was felt at America's drastic methods. Though this has died down to an extent it is evident that Japan has not forgotten her grievance, and the possibilities of trouble between these two countries are still existent. At the League of Nations Conference Japan asked that the matter of immigration should be one for the League to deal with, instead of being a domestic affair. Britain has refused to agree t<, ibis, and the protocol is now being held up pending Britain consulting her Dominions on a matter which vitally affects them. Taking a broad view of the situation it seems that, while the outlook has improved in Europe during the year, the conditions in the Pacific are not so reassuring. British politics have been of a most sensational character during the .1924. In January the Baldwin Government resigned, being defeated on a vote of the House of Commons. Mr Ramsay MacDonald was sent for and formed a Labour Government, the first in the history of Britain. For a time it was considered that Mi , MacDonald and his party would carry on the affairs of the country with moderation. However, his hands were forced by the extremists of his party, who considered that the Labour leader was too gentle in his methods, j The climax came when the Labour Cabinet signed a treaty with Russia and also refused to proceed with the •

prosecution of a Communist on a glaring charge of treason. The Liberals had up to this point supported the Labour Government, but such unconstitutional procedure disgusted \ them, and Mr MacDonald and his • party were forced to resign when the , vote went against them. The returns , from the resultant elections proved i that the people of Britain have no sympathy with revolutionary methods. '

Labour in Britain has been tried and found wanting, and has had a tremendous setback. The Conservatives were returned by such a huge majority that it astonished the world, and it now seems that Britain is to have a sound and stable Government for a number of years. Mr Stanley Baldwin and his party are in keen sympathy with the movement to cement the bonds of Empire, and their accession to power is of more than passing' significance to the Dominions. While the British Premier is not in a position to bring forward a measure granting fiscal preference to the Empire Dominions until he has a mandate to that effect, there is a strong probability that this matter will engage the attention of the British Parliament in the near future. From an Empire point of view the prospects are very much better than they were twelve months ago. A stable British Government, which has every sympathy with the development and , safely of the outposts of the Empire must engender a confidence which has not been felt this last ten years.

Coming to our own country, we have every reason to be more than satislied with the year's results. The high prices prevailing for produce have been the means of stabilising the finances of many who have had a strenuous time during the depression. The season this summer has been a good one up to the present, and the butter exports to the end of the year give every indication of exceeding all previous records. Wool prices this year soared to a height never known before in the Dominion. Ali though it cannot reasonably be expected that these high prices will be maintained for any length of time, it is almost certain that the prospects of wool will be good for several years. We have our own problems, but on the whole it would not be exaggeration to state that in New Zealand we have one of the most prosperous countries in the world. We are making steady and solid progress. An improved railway service has been promised; hydro-electricity is being developed in all parts of the Dominion; under the Main Highways scheme an attempt is to be made to improve the roading; the changed conditions for the settler must'give an impetus to farming--our main source of wealth; whilst the tourist traffic from overseas, which is now engaging I lie attention of the Government, will attract an increasing number of visitors to these shores. New Zealand has good cause for congratulation on the results obtained in 1924, and the prospects for 1925 are even better. In our own town and district there is little of outstanding importance to record during the. year, though a certain amount of progress has been made. The movement for a hospital in the district has at last been finally settled after an effort practically extending' over a period of six years. It is to be hoped that by the end of the coming year the hospital will be an accomplished fact. The Power Board for the district has now been definitely formed, and in the early part of the year the ratepayers will be asked to sanction the loan money for the carrying out of this scheme. In municipal matters there is very little to report on. Over £2OOO has been spent of the special loan money raised for street improvements, but without a road roller and scarifier the results have been far from satisfactory, and in the interests of the town, the Council should reconsider its policy in regard to the spending of the balance of the £6OOO. The providing of abattoirs for the town is still under consideration. Ratepayers will be far from satisfied at the delay in this matter, and have good reason for asking why the site decided upon for these works was not acquired when a fair and reasonable price was asked for it. This has now been lost, and the property sold at a price which is nearly six times in excess of what the Council had ihe opportunity of acquiring same. In the rural districts there is good cause for congratulation. Not alone is the farmer in a belter financial position through the improved prices, but the country is looking better than it has done for some years, through the policy adopted of top-dressing Ihe land. There is every promise of a better price for beef during lite coming year, and this means a tremendous benefit to the settlers in the King Country. If this should eventuate, and the prices for lamb, mutton and wool be maintained at anything like present values, there will be no doubt as to the future of this district, and there should be a period of the same progress and prosperity that prevailed here in former years. On every side there are indications of future prosperity and progress. With such a cheerful outlook, we feel quite confident in wishing all our readers, in both town and country, A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR IN 1925.