The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1926.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 51

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1926.) THE WEEK.

“Nunquam, allud Datura, allud eapientia 61x11** —Juysnal. * “Good nature and good sense must ever join.”— lira-

Watching for the river to fall and the bed to be laid bare that the

Hope Deferred.

gold may be won has been the mental as well as the

actual attitude of the thousands who are financially interested in the Kawarau scheme. Apparently it is a question of hope deferred, but whether it will prove to be a case of making the heart sick depends upon a variety of circumstances. That well-known humorist and paradox-maker, Mr G. K. Chesterton, has some verses concluding with the refrain: “I don’t care where the water goes if it doesn't go into the wine,” and this reflects the position of hundreds of the residents of Cromwell, Queenstown, and the regions round about. They don’t care where the water goes so long as it doesn’t go into the Kawarau. Whether or no, before the gold can be won, it will be necessary to follow out the programme outlined by Sir Julius Vogel in his prophetic novel, and "close the outlet from the lake to the Molyneux,” remains to be seen; but there are .firm believers in the ultimate success of the operations. One such enthusiast—Mr R. T. Stewart—speaking at the annual meeting of the Otago Expansion League last week, declared that no one with a knowledge of mining, and especially of hydraulic mining, could have any idea of the treasure waiting to be lifted if means could be found to lift it. Mr Stewart was emphatic in his belief that there was sufficient wealth in the Kawarau to pay New Zealand’s national debt, and that great wealth would also be won from the Shotover. The whole idea is, of course, dominated by the little word "if”—if the gold is there and if it can be lifted there is a golden future before the Dominion. "There was nothing revivified a country,” said Mr Stewart, "so much as the winning of gold, and if the Kawarau scheme turned out a success it would have an important effect upon the country.” Experience goes to show that the lure of the precious metal is stronger than any other passion or desire that flesh is heir to, and while the fainthearted may despair and give the contest o’er, there will be many determined to persevere to the bitter end. Thus the situation remains shrouded in that glorious uncertainty which provokes the gambler to speculate on a possible success.

There are indications that Parliament will conclude its business before

The Imperial Conference.

the end of the week, leaving the Prime Minister free

to depart for London in order to attend the meeting of the forthcoming Imperial Conference. In view of the grave and difficult nature of many of the vital problems to be discussed at that Conference, the statement made by Mr Coates to the House of Representatives last week possesses many points of interest. As might have been anticipated, the Prime Minister affirmed his earnest aim to continue unaltered in degree or in character New Zealand’s traditional attitude towards the Mother Country—an affirmation which means a faithful adherence to that spirit of Imperialism so consistently expounded and followed by Mr Massey. This signifies the maintenance of that Imperial unity in regard to questions of defence and foreign policy which, while consistent with the liberty of action of a self-governing Dominion, leaves no room for carping criticism. Another vital matter to be discussed at the Conference is the redistribution of the population of the Empire upon a scientific basis, a matter calling for wide and delicate adjustment. Mr Coates pointed with pride to the fact that during the past five years no fewer than 60,000 people have come from the United Kingdom and have been absorbed into the community of the Dominion. “When it is remembered,” continued the £rime Minister, “that New Zealand has a small population with limited areas suitable for settlement and practically no export of manufactured goods this must be regarded as a good record.” The difficulty, of course, arises in determining the number of migrants which the Dominion is able readily to absorb, since, as Mr Coates pointed out, to exceed that limit would be doing a disservice to the Dominion and to the migrants themselves. The assurance that every possibility will be explored by the Government to safely increase New Zealand’s population by migration without disorganising the economic life of the Dominion will be generally accepted as satisfactory, and Mr Coates may be trusted to state the case for care and caution before the Imperial Conference.

It is not a wise policy to tinker with the tariff. Indeed, the Minis-

Trade and thi Tariff.

fie ter of Customs is opposed to frequent tariff amend* ments. which in Australia,

mcnis, wiiicn in Ausiraiiiii for instance, tended to produce chaos in business. At the same time he admitted, seeing that in New Zealand there had been no tariff revision since 1921, an overhaul is now due. An active agitatiori in favour of a higher protective duty for certain of the Dominion’s secondary industries has been carried on for some months past, and the agitators will be disappointed that the Customs Amendment Bill, passed last week in the Lower House, affords them no relief in the direc-

tion asked for, .the main motive of the Bill being to check the importation of American motor cars; in which connection the Prime Minister’s remarks on the desirability of increasing in every way poe«. sible the volume of inter-imperial trade calls for attention. There is a growing feeling among the consumers of the Dominion that the use of British manufactures in place of those emanating from countries without the Empire is a duty to be regarded and a sentiment to be entertained. Already, as Mr Coates quoted figures to ehow, New Zealand, proportionately to population, is Britain's best customer. Last year nearly one-half of New Zealand’s imports came from the United Kingdom, and during the same period the United Kingdom absorbed nearly 80 per cent, of the Dominion’s total export of produce; so that from an Imperial standpoint New Zealand is still considerably in Britain’s debt. Last year New Zealand imported from without the Empire goods valued at £14,000,000, and even admitting that a proportion of this went for commodities not otherwise obtainable there remains a possibility of diverting a large amount of this trade into inter-imperial channels. There is no valid reason why so many New Zealanders should ride in American motor cars and spend their evenings viewing American films. “I am convinced,” said Mr Coates, “that if British manufacturers will produce goods suitable for Dominion requirements at a reasonable price there is still a wide field for further progress in inter-imperial trade.”

After extending over a period of nineteen weeks, there appears to be

The Coal Strike in Britain,

a faint hope of reaching a settlement. There has

been a succession of efforts to intervene between the miners and the mine owners, these including the leaders of the churches, but all to no avail. Mr Baldwin definitely declines to endeavour to promote any scheme of settlement in-: volving a continuation of the subsidy, aided thereto by the reflection that a sum of £23,000,000 had practically been thrown away in a fruitless endeavour to reach a settlement without a stoppage of work. A sense of weariness now pervades the ranks of the miners, this leading to dissension in their midst. As a result of a conference Mr Winston Churchill has been requested to convene and attend a conference of the Mining Association and the Miners’ Federation, when a proposal on the part of the miners will be considered “for a new national agreement, with a view to a reduction in labour costs to meet the immediate necessities of the industry.” IE is officially stated that this proposal forms, in the* opinion of the Government, a sufficient basis to request the mine owners to resume negotiations. This opens the question whether the mine owners will agree to meet the miners to discuss a national agreement, since the determination of the mine owners to deal only with district associations has all along proved a bone of contention*. In the opinion of many of the influential British newspapers, it would be madness on the part of the owners to turn a deaf ear to this latest overture. Obviously, if a settlement is to be reached, there must be a certain amount of give and take; the sacrifice cannot be all on one side. The Sunday Observer puts the matter fairly when it says: “If the miners accept the extended hours the owners must sacrifice their objection to a national agreement. The owners’ veto can no more be tolerated than Mr Cook’s futile slogans.” If the owners listen to reason on this point it is possible that a satisfactory settlement may ultimately be reached.

A special interest attaches itself to the meeting at Geneva of the

The League of Nations.

Seventh Assembly of the League of Nations, for upon the temper and decisions of

the delegates will largely depend the efficiency of the League to pursue its mission of peace. Theoretically the League should be more than equal to its selfimposed task; actually it is doubtful whether the high idealism which alone can lift the discussions above the level of petty wrangling for national and political advantage is sufficiently widespread to ensure success. The deadlock reached in March last over the question of Germany’s admission to a permanent seat on the Council of the League is apparently on the point of being removed. According to a message from Geneva the last difficulty has been overcome, and the German delegates are expected to take their seats on the Council this week. While this has been achieved, the League has suffered a setback in the reported withdrawal of Spain from the League. In regard to America, Sir Francis Bell has pointed out that the reservations made by the United States in regard to joining the World Court include a power of veto, which if exercised would inevitably wreck the League. These and other like difficulties serve to foster the impression that until the League of Nations is able satisfactorily to settle its own differences of opinion not much help may be expected from it in the preservation of world peace.