THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1914. THE COMING YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15496, 1 January 1914, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1914. THE COMING YEAR.

\ .'■ .... The coming year is full of promise, not the least hopeful sign being the disappearance.of that dread of deliberately engineered strikes which for the greater part of 1913 checked the expansion of our New Zealand 1 industries. Syndicalism has done its worst, with the result that it has practically ceased to exist as a factor in the industrial problem of the Dominion. This problem has. been greatly simplified, and the industrial outlook made particularly cheering, by the fads that syndicalism was fought and beaten under the banner of arbitration, and that Mr. Massey's statesmanship has established impartial inquiry and democratic ballot of those directly concerned as the necessary legal preliminary of all strikes and lockouts. Our Now , Zealand workers are thus protected not only from injustice in the working of industrial processes, but from the tyranny of the agitators who have imported alien and foreign methods and would have thrown the country back to the American level had their plans proved successful. The syndicalist outbreak lias had two good results: it has compelled New Zealander workers to take a personal interest-in their unions, and to oust the I.W.W. element from control, and it has taught both employers and employed that the strike is not an invincible weapon, though a very brutal one. The country commences 1914 with the hope and belief that vicious strikes, designed simply to injure industrialism, are no longer to be feared; the prospect is that this will remove the reluctant, to invest capital, and will thus employ labour in the many promising channels open in this new and undeveloped country. With industrial peace based upon equity and justice, and not upon the callous dictation of one party, there should be a steady and sound . recovery from the timidity and fears which have so seriously affected industrial expansion. That some reform of arbitration methods is necessary in the best interests of all concerned, including the general public, is evident; fortunately, legislative initiative and administrative authority are in the hands of an able P"ime Minister, who may be trusted to act wisely in this delicate matter.

The outlook in New Zealand is also more satisfactory because, although an election year, the political situation is practically beyond doubt. Mr. Massey has some remarkably weak colleagues; nevertheless his Cabinet not only holds its own but has greatly increased its strength in the electorates. This is primarily, due to Mr. Massey's personal qualities, and to the hard and creditable work shown in his own departments. It is very evident that the province will not be

rid- of the, " taihda" •. incubus • until Massey methods are applied thereto as they have been" applied in the reform of land and 'labour/laws. During 1914, preparatory to the general elections, we . may hope to see a strong policy not merely outlined, but actually developed, which will be a nationalist policy in the true sense of that much-abusecT word. We shall have a battle royal between the Government and " the Legislative Council with pseudoLiberals defending the nominee system, which has become a section of that party machinery; we should also have a battle-royal over native affairs, with the same antiquated party fighting against the removal of all artificial barriers to equality of the racs and to the equitable settlement of waste lands. We cannot but regret, however, the prospect that in 1914—for the first time in the history of New Zealand—party lines may be drawn upon naval policy. There is still time for Sir Joseph.Ward, who has been so creditably connected with naval matters in the past, to reconsider his attitude to the " local navy." . It will greatly advantage the Reform Party if he persists, but party feeling should never prevail in matters affecting the national safety. If the Reform Cabinet,* during 1914, would determine to adopt a sound railway construction policy, in defiance of Southern influence, and with a businesslike regard to the necessity for settling the land and increasing wealth and population, there would be little fault to find with political anticipations.

Imperially, the outlook for 1914 is a reproduction upon a larger scale of local anticipation. In the United Kingdom, as in every Overseas Dominion, the industrial problem is engaging the attention of. all constructive statesmen, whose patriotic aim is to evolve just and stable conditions, to elevate the life of the masses and to eliminate the hardships caused by - the extraordinary changes of a", scientific age. Bide by side with this imperative need is the urgent demand for such effective defence as.will secure the Empire in all its parts from foreign interference, and . preserve the internal peace without which progress, is impossible. The , European, balance of : power—as was de-: monstrated during . the Balkan troubles—is unpreoedentedly sound, so that with adequate Imperial precautions there is less danger of great international war than at any time during the century. The Ulster question must be settled during 1914, and the year must also see the Only possible solution of a much greater Imperial problem' in the formal recognition of the right of British Dominions, to preserve their racial purity against all "undesirable" immigration, whether from within or without the Empire.' In the industrial arts,. flying is evidently on the eve of the immense development that must follow the invention of safe*, automatic devices; before. 1914, closes, it may be possible to ; fly without undue risk, and to cross oceans as now aircraftcross channels. Science, which is so successfully grappling wiiiv consumption, . may a penetrate to the nature of cancer, and thuc modify the direst scourge . now afflicting civilised men. In fact,-the' probabilities, of scientific advancement'in every direction are more than encouraging.- Civilisation has superabundant wealth, and is realising the need and value of * intelligent direction' and reasonable control. In' spite of warlike preparations, every, civilised country is' in tnest and wholesome rivalry in the common arts of peace. In all the "eat States social • progress . is being sought and worked for as never before, so that 1914—in the Empire and in the world, as here in New Zealand —opens upon , mankind stepping hopefully, forward towards great and - imperishable ideals.