Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925 1925

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 December 1925, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925 1925

IT is natural to review the year which j i s closing; and it may be profitable to j ,!,, gn, if logical deductions are reached, j ,is a result of such reviewing. The year 1925, considered broadly, has been a gix-d vea:- for :li" world generally, for ,1,,. nVilish Empire, and for New Zealand. I'h.-i v have bee.: no great wars. ()„ the whole, the year has been one of progress and reconstruction. Interna- ( tmnally there is a better atmosphere to-| day than there was at the beginning of the. yea-,. Tins undoubtedly is due to i|„, iioali'ig of the breach between tho Allies-- Britain, France, and Italy—and Germany, by means of the Agreement of Locarno, whereby Germany was received back into the fellowship of European nations. It has been a great act of , statesmanship—for which the world must :hank primarily Sir Austen Chamber- j lain, Herr Luther, and M. Briand—that r. formula was found, agreeable to all tho nations concerned, whereby the security of France could be assured, and Germany could regain the friendship of the Pow- , ers recently her foes. The result is that Europe's horizon has already brightened, j both politically and economically. She has discovered a better way of settling her difficulties than with the sword; and incidentally she has endorsed the high principles of the League of Nations. ; which seeks to establish peace by meaiif | of arbitration. The League—whose j work, during the year, has been highly . successful—is thus greatly strengthened, i and may be expected to accomplish in : the future even greater benefits than in ! the past. The settlement of the Greco-' Bulgarian and the Turco-lraq problems! Imp brought prestige to the League in | every quarter of the globe, except in those countries which desire to retain i the arbitrament of the sword as the regular method of settling serious interna - lional disputes. \ In the British Empire, the year has been signalised by a general tendency to ,

return to conservatism in politics. The j ilceton-rsi of Great Britain had made this decision in an overwhelming manner, in j the autumn of 1924, and in 1925 her ex- ! ample has been followed at the Federal . Elections in Australia and in Canada. I

and in the general o>ction in New Zea- I land. There is no doubt that this r?e- J velopment is largely to be interpreted as ,-in expression against Communism. Tn a constitutional manner the British Commonwealth of Nations hns relegated , Sovio'.ism tn the limho of oblivion. ) 'l'lie British Conservatives, besides' helping In restore industrial prosperity in Rrilnn by means of subsdies and judicious legislation. has accepted the Hectors' mandate to establish the prin- j eiple of preferential tariffs, for the pur- | pose of stimulating trade within the J Empire. Already the effect, has been ' decidedly beneficial, and may be expected to increase. But probably The event of the year which redounds most j greatly to the credit of Mr Baldwin s , .Administration is the settlement of the. j boundary dispute between Northern and Southern Ireland. That the settlement ' entails sacrifice on the part of Britain, in rcsraiil to payments from the Free ■ State, makes the action of Britain all the more praiseworthy. i In New Zealand, the chief events have been the visit of the American Fleet and the electers' remarkable express-ion of | round, nee in Mr Coatea, as the successor ] of the la'.e Mr .Massey. who for so long guided the political destinies of the conn- I try. The one event demonstrated in a remarkable manner the United States', intention to play a major part in the nflairs of the Pacific, and their friendship towards Australia and New Zealand ; and the other event gave New

Zealand's Prime Minister an unmistak- j able mandate to govern the country. Mr j Coatcs's personality and political ability i-re such that there is good reason to expect that he will use his great opportunity wisely and well. Economically ■ and industiially the country is flourish- i ing, Pnltieally ilst future looks bright, j Tiic'cl'oie the year ends happily, and there is good hope that the year 1926 will Ining with it renewed peace and increased prosperity. Believing iinpli- •: eitly in the destiny of the country, and will faith in its rulers, we heartily wsh oui- readers A HAPPY NEW YEAR.