The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1925.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 51

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1925.) THE WEEK.

"Nunqoam allud nature, allud sapientia dixit. * —JOVBifAIi. "Good oature and good sense mast ever POP!.

In anticipation of the coining of Christmas, now so near at hand, Peace and there are prospects of an Goodwill in unwonted peace for the Eurooc. world and tidings of good-

will amongst the nations. In the front rank of happy promise and splendid augury stands the signing of the Locarno Treaty, a ceremony attended by ‘‘almost whispered benedictions and felicitations.” Reviewing the troubles, anxieties, and disasters of the past decade, it appears well nigh incredible that Biitain, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, and Czecho-Slovakia should voluntarily have entered into a pact binding them to the utmost endeavour to keep the peace of the world. The magnificent spirit which accompanied the signing of the Treaty was attested by the speeches of the delegates. Sir Austen Chamberlain sounded the right note when in his opening speech he said; “Britain will do everything in her power to secure the successful isisue of the labours to bury the hatreds and suspicions of the past and to spare future generations a repetition of the misfortunes and sufferings of which the world to-day has been the witness and the victim.” Equally impressive was M. Briand when he exclaimed: “By our signatures we declare for peace, the blotting out of national antagonism, and the banishing of unpleasant memories,” adding, “it is in this spirit that I sign the Treaty, from which we are determined to exhaust everything that can provide against war and in favour of peace.” On behalf of Germany Dr Lather made a strong point when he said; “The abandonment of feelings of mistrust, which wo desire mutually to renounce, is even more important than the contents of the Treaty, which denote new world relationships. There must be unity of purpose to work peacefully together.” The representatives of the other concurring nations spoke in similar strain. Sir James Allen undoubtedly voiced the opinion dominant throughout the Dominion when lie said; “The event was the beginning of a new era of peace in Europe, in which New Zealand was glad to participate even in the humble capacity of spectator.”

“What shall be done unto the man whom the King delighteth to Sir Austen honour?” was a question Chamberlain, propounded aforetime. In Peace Maker, the cas© of Mr Austen Chamberlain the answer is found in the bestowal upon him of the high distinction of the Order of the Garter. It is in recognition of Sir Austen Chamlierlain’e gift as a peaco-maker that

he has received so conspicuous a mark of the Royal favour. How conspicuous is the honour thus conferred may be judged from the fact that the Most Noble Order of the Garter is bestowed, in practice, only upon royalties and peers, and that Sir Austen Chamberlain, K.G., is only the third exception to the general rule, the others being Sir Robert Walpole and Sir Edward Grey before lie became Viscount Grey of Falloden. In his public life Sir Austen Chamberlain has been handicapped because he was the son of a famous father, but his great achievement at Locarno should go far to abolish the handicap and secure for the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs due recognition of his genius for pacific diplomacy. It was Dr Streseraann who, on behalf of Germany, paid a tribute to Sir Austen Chamberlain’s tact, amiability, and determination to achieve a successful issue in the matter of the pact, and as a feat of diplomacy Locarno is likely to vie in history with the “Peace with Honour” Treaty of Berlin, which covered Lord Beaconsfield with such great glory. Europe is now in a position to celebrate a happit: Christmas than has been possible sin.v the Christmas of 1914, and Sir Austen Chamberlain will have earned the blessing of thousands of people who shuddered at the bare possibility of another great and terrible war.

The marvel of the prospect of an era of peace and goodwill in Peace and Europe is only equalled by Goodwill In a similar joyful prospect in Ireland. Ireland, where the boundary dispute has for years remained as a fruitful source of friction between Northern and Southern Ireland. The issue is now settled, an announcement having been made that the present boundaries will remain unchanged. Once again Britain has. interposed as peacemaker, giving proof of a sincere desire to promote amity and unity by suggesting a solution which has involved her in considerable pecuniary loss. The Irish Boundary Commission had prepared a refiort, which,, had its,purport been pubished, might have had a disturbing outcome, more especially since Mr de Valera had anticipated its tenor, and, indulging in his customary inflammatory utterances, had appealed to Republicans and Free Staters alike to “unite in defence of their common interests,” whatever that might mean. Happily Mr de Valera’s gains have been completely spiked, and he has been left lamenting oy Mr Winston Churchill’s definite statement that a complete agreement has been reached. According to Mr Baldwin’s speech in the House of Commons, the powers of the Boundary Commission have been revoked, the Free State agreeing to the retention of the present boundary in consideration of being relieved of certain financial liabilities due under the Treaty to Great Britain and estimated at about £5,000.000. representing the annual interest on an obligation of about £100,000,000. The feeling in Ireland is that Mr Cosgrave, on behalf of the Free States, has made a good bargain; whilst in England there is a sense of relief that the final phase of a troublesome problem has been solved. Mr Cosgrave’s message to the Irish Times, announcing the agreement, breathes a true Christian spirit: “We bring back,” he declared, “an instrument solemnly executed by friendship. This agreement is accepted in the spirit in which it was negotiated and signed, and provides a basis for a sure and lasting peace.' The difficulties in the way of an amicable settlement are suggested bv Mr Churchill’s statement that the reaching of an agreement was preceded by three days' continuous conferences. Mr Churchill paid a tribute to the success of the Boundary Commissioners in the cause of Irish peace and unity, and he declared : “I am glad that for the first time there is a complete triple agreement between Britain, the Free State, and Ulster, absolutely settling the boundary question which threatened to embroil Britain in strife and confusion 18 months ago.” Mr Churchill regards the settlement as an immense advance in the steady,progress of reconciliation, appeasement, and consolidation since the Irish Treaty was signed. Thanks to the settlement, the people of Ulster and the Free State are now in a position to wish one another a merry Christmas, and to enjov the consequent festivities without any forebodings whatever.

The official termination of the shipping strike in Australia removes Peace and the Dominion the one Goodwill In factor detrimental to a New Zealand, reign of peace- and goodwill, thereby preparing the way for a heartv Christmas celebration from the North Cape to the Bluff; but, of course, centring- in Dunedin, on account of the Exhibition. The Australian shipping strike, the effect of which was felt in a degree in the Dominion, has lasbad for more than three months, to the great detriment of busijjess and involving a considerable loss of wages to the striking seamen themselves. The failure of the strike was foregone from the beginning: indeed it is amazing that the futility of the strike to secure anything but loss to the strikers does not sink into the dense minds of the agitators who foment these continual industrial disturbances.. In this instance the nature of the response made bv the Australian voters to the appeal of Mr Bruce is evidence that the people of the Commonwealth yearn for a return to the atmosphere of peace and goodwill. The preseneo in Dunedin of the Hon. W. P. Reeves should servo to remind all extremist. agitators of the “more excellent wnv” of conciliation and arbitration of which that gentleman was the originator and which. If consistently pursued, would have established New Zealand in the reputation she once enloved of being the country “without strikes.” At least, it is encouraging to heed the tribute paid bv Mr Reeves to the leaders of the more moderate section of Labour in the Home-

land, and to his declaration that Bolshevism had done the Labour cause antf the Socialistic Labour cause more ham than anything else during the past fifty years. Mr Reeves also expressed the opinion that the younger generation ol New Zealanders were quite equal to solving the problems of the future—social, industrial, and political—as they arise from time to time.

After an absence from the Dominion of thirty years, Mr Reeves is Thirty Years* In a position to draw a Accomplishment, contrast between the New Zealand of yesterday and to-day, and his observations on this point are extremely heartening. He reregards the transformation as “so great, so remarkable, and so striking” that he “can hardly think of anything else.” Mr Reeves, from personal observation, is convinced of the tremendous possibilities of irrigation in Central Otago. The contrast between the watered and the unwatered land partook of the dramatic, and it was all due to the magic of the water, which is adding considerably to the prosperity of Otago. Mr Reeves also extolled scenic beauties of Otago as affording unexampled enjoyment for the tourist and the artist. “If the people of Europe only knew,” he exclaimed, “what glorious landscapes New Zealand had the number of visitors would be trebled and quadrupled.” And Mr Reeves made an appeal which should not fall upon deaf eais to “regard the beauties of New Zealand as a sacred trust and not allow them to be marred or ruined in any way.” It may bo hoped that Mr Reeves’s remarks and observations will be heeded bv the thousands of visitors flocking to the Exhibition, an’d that they may be induced to discover for themselves all that the Dominion holds in the way of attractions.