The Timaru Hearld. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1938 BRITAIN’S FIRMER POLICY IN EUROPE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21126, 27 August 1938, Page 8

The Timaru Hearld. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1938 BRITAIN’S FIRMER POLICY IN EUROPE.

Although the diplomatic commentators on the situation in Central Europe are becoming a little alarmed at the increasing tension arising from demonstrations of Germany’s military might and the “incidents,” both diplomatic and physical in Czechoslovakia, proof is not Picking that Britain is likely to -adopt a stronger line of foreign policy in future. It is now reported that Britain in the next few days will declare afresh her attitude towards the Czech situation. The declaration is likely to take the form of an unmistakable assurance to France that Britain will support her should she become involved in any conflict as a result of fulfilling her treaty obligation to the Czechs. It is understood this decision was reached at a Ministerial conference hold in London, following the return from Prague of a Britisli official who brought back news of Lord Runciman’s activities. It is becoming increasingly clear, moreover, that the growing strength of Britain—measured by the only yardstick appreciated by the totalitarian powers—has already contributed substantially to the preservation of peace in Europe. In a word, in spite of the critics of recourse to rearming, Britain’s defence programme has reached the point that the words of British statesmen are no longer treated with scant respect; indeed, the pronouncement of the spokesmen of Britain now carry weight that has been lacking since the Homeland embarked on a disarmament programme in an attempt to lead the world away from another arms race. With the British Navy restored by some 400 ships, either built or being built, with the Royal Air Force possessing about 2,000 first-line planes, and with the Regular and Territorial armies nearly 400,000 strong, it is beginning to be evident that Britain no longer proposes to see her interests brusquely swept aside. Some indication that British diplomacy is slowly hardening is seen in the mission of Lord Runciman as independent mediator in Czeclio-Slovakia. His visit has cut across Germany’s oftrepeated claim that the Sudeten problem concerned only the Germans and the Czechs; Further evidence of Britain’s stronger line is her sharp reminder to General Franco that it was time he replied to the withdrawal plan. This development is also seen in Britain’s recent loan of £6,000,000 to Turkey, while loans to Bulgaria and Greece are likely to be made in the near future. British assurances of credits to the little Mediterranean nations and of economic assistance to Central European nations are somewhat of a counter to the plans of the RomeBerlin axis. Backed by a strong right arm, Britain is now able to “rely on force” not in making warfare upon defenceless peoples, but in keeping the peace of Europe. BROADCASTING THE RAILWAYS REPORT. Because of the indisposition of the Prime Minister, which everyone, irrespective of party alignments, will regret, it would not be fair to accuse the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Savage) who is primarily responsible, for the so-called “news” included in the official news bulletin issued by the Prime Minister’s Department, of the unfair use of the national broadcasting service in “putting over” the “story” of the New Zealand Railways activities for the year ended March 31, 1938. The listeners were told last night of the records the operations of the New Zealand Railways have set up List year. Mention was made of the increase in revenue, the extra train mileage covered, the increasing popular support of the railways and road services, and all the favourable features of the report that would seem to suggest that Ministerial control of the State-owned railways has been infinitely more businesslike than the control of the Railways Board that was presented with the “running shoes.” The news bulletin said last night: "The gross revenue of the railways during the two years of the present Administration is a remarkable proof of the earning capacity of the railways when trading and the conditions of the country generally are favourable for their operation, particularly as there has been no increases in the rates for passengers and goods during the two year period.” But why leave it at that? The broadcast propagandist did not think it timely or pertinent to mention that only once within the past thirty years, namely in 1922, have the New Zealand Railways produced lower net earnings thun the year under review. In other words, although the Minister of Railways in his reports proclaims from the housetops and through the national broadcasting services from end to end of the country that the “results” have been attained without any increases in the rates for passengers and goods during the two year period, the compilers of the “news” bulletin refrained from mentioning that railway charges have been kept down at the expense of the taxpayer who has been called upon since the present Government attained office to provide an ever-increasing sura each year to meet interest charges on the capital invested in the State-owned railways. The following comparative figures are really informative: 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 £ £ £ £ £ Net earnings .. 632,797 903,858 1,051,477 1,087,491 1,085,558 Interest charges 2,335,808 2,309,754 2,300,651 2,330,886 2,282,365 These figures show that in the past two years under Ministerial control, the New Zealand Railways Account has required the Minister of Finance to dip into the pockets of the general taxpayer for more than three million pounds to square the railways accounts. This aspect of the railways was obviously so unpalatable to the Labour propagandists who Speak over the national service, that it was not mentioned. It is nevertheless plain that the Ministerially-controlled railways in New Zealand are becoming more and more dependent on the general taxpayer to square the annua] accounts, and yet in face of this disturbing trend the Minister of Public Works, as a solution of the unemployment problem, is pouring more and more borrowed millions into the construction of new railways that the highest expert authorities who previously reported on the proposals, declared most emphatically would never pay their way, but would certainly impose additional burdens on the general taxpayer! MARKING TIME IN PARLIAMENT. Unless it is discovered that the Government is bent on giving every Member of the House an opportunity to “have his say” it is difficult to find an explanation for the failure of the Leaders of the House of Representatives to push on with the business and clear the decks for the general election. The Government may be full of confidence, but the country is being given the impression that deep-seated hesitancy has so completely gripped the Government that it fears to go very much farther forward in the implementation of its Socialist policy.