THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925. NEW ZEALAND IN 1925.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19214, 31 December 1925, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925. NEW ZEALAND IN 1925.

The year which is just closing has brought to New Zealand its full measure of joys and sorrows, of things memorable, to be put on permanent record, and of things to be forgotten readily. Happy is the country that has no history, says the maker of epigrams, thereby giving currency to a half-truth. If only the years which made no history could be classed as happy then 1925 in New Zealand would not wholly answer the description. During its fleeting life there have been happenings which will becomepart of its history. Some of the events have been shot with sorrow. It opened with a time of grief and anxiety because epidemic sickness threatened the country's most precious possessions, the children. It closed in happier circumstances, but throughout its course there was the same admixture of joys and sorrows which go to make up human life. In the summing up, it can be counted as a fortunate year. In material things the country has done well. The general level of proshas been high. New Zealand has climbed further from the depression of a few years ago, yet, at the same time, there has been no atmosphere of renewed inflation, no suspicion of boom. Prices of the principal products have shown signs of stabilisation at a level which should be sufficient to ensure plenty without justifying extravagance Conditions in industry and commerce have been, on the whole, satisfactory. The exhibition at Dunedin has helped to demonstrate, in a very striking manner, how manifold and efficient are the industrial undertakings of New Zealand. Public life has had its share of these changes which time must bring. The month of May saw the country in mourning for the trusted leader who had been at the head of its affairs for well over a decade, who had acted for New Zealand and spoken for New Zealand in some of the tensest moments of her brief history. When Mr. Massey passed away the Dominion was moved to its depths, revealing by the universality and spontaneity of its tributes to his memory the grip he had had on the imaginations and the affections of his fellow-countrymen. After a brief interregnum there came to fill his place a man who had proved himself in the service of his country in more capacities than one. So completely had Mr. Coates made his reputation as a man of action, an administrator and a leader of men in war and in peace, that he appeared the natural and inevitable successor in the post left vacant. A short and unevontful Parliamentary session preceded a general election with the new Prime Minister making his first appeal to the people. The result was a vote of confidence in him of overwhelming emphasis, far exceeding the most optimistic forecasts. Events worked well for Mr. Coates, but his success can not be attributed wholly to propitious circumstances. The personality of the man, the modesty of his claims, and the moderation of his professions won him the support of the clear- j thinking, sober-minded majority. A brief vigorous election campaign produced dramatic results. With the close of the Parliamentary year New Zealand was asked to say fare-; well to another statesman with long years of distinguished service in Sir Francis Bell, who announced his retirement from Cabinet and public life. The Chief Justice has also laid down the cares of his office, so that in Parliament and in the law therehave been changes of leadership. None of them has caused any break in the smooth continuity with which the affairs of the people have been administered. There has been a sense of loss, there actually has been loss, but all has not been loss, for the new man found and invested with the duties has proved the resources of the country in leadership. In departments of life other than the conduct of public affairs, there have been movements, with progress the objective. The enthusiasm for education maintained itself, but 1925 has been memorable for a series of inquiries to determine whether new methods might not produce better results. The tasks of pioneering have proceeded. The problem of

keeping in check natural forces which tend to re-establish the wilderness in place of pasture has received attention. The great work of harnessing New Zealand's wealth of water-power was pressed forward vigorously, the mighty task at Arapuni being the special example. But with all the country's preoccupation with its own affairs, there has been contact with a greater world. At the middle of the year a visit was paid to New Zealand waters by a fleet of warships representing the United States Navy. They were given an enthusiastic welcome. The utmost cordiality of feeling was shown by visitors and hosts, so that it is no exaggeration to say the cause of a better understanding between the English-speaking peoples of the world was well served. Of more significance in the Empire sense was a visit by delegates to the Empire Press Union Conference held in Australia. Another world event less happy in character, touching these shores, was the strike of British seamen which, badly conceived and worse led, threatened harm to the commerce of the Empire without holding any promise of good to the unfortunate men who had been persuaded to refuse duty. The. chronicle of events shows the combination of light and shadow which makes up human life. A survey reveals that while some of the shadows were dark, the light was plentiful. The year, with its difficulties and griefs given full weight, deserves still to be called hopeful and happy, with few legacies for 1926 bringing apprehension, and many prospects promising that the coming year will be busy, prosperous and tranquil.