The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1917. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12087, 16 August 1917, Page 4

The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1917. EDITORIAL NOTES.

7HE WAR PURPOSES LOAN. "Whilst the "War Purposes Loan was still under discussion in Parliament we took occasion to criticise certain points which we considered capable of improvement. "We expressed our opinions freely and frankly, but now that the measure is no longer capable of being improved, since the Legislature has transformed the Bill into an Act, we consider that it is the bounden duty of one and all to give tho Government the heartiest possible assistance in every way. As loyal men and women it is our sacred duty to do whatever lies in our power to assist the powers which, are striving to reach the greatest goal for which a people have ever striven. Already tho Dominion has done well, just as have other portions of the Empire, but what has been done has proved insufficient. Much remains to be done before the objective is reached. We have already poured out our men and money in the groat cause, but what we have done will have been so much wasted effort if we do not do more. The glorious termination of the struggle is now becoming visible through the smoke of battle. Anything short of complete victory would be tantamount to world-suicide. Money, " the sinews of war," is required; the country is rich, and the Government ds offering terms which are tempting to the small and tho large investor. This is no time for hoarding wealth; this is! a time •when it is the duty of all, whether they possess £1 or £lO or £IOO.OOO, to come forward and place it at the disposal of the Government of the day. The prospectus for the first £12,000.000 of the new loan has now been published, and consequently there isno occasion to dwell on the excellent proposition which has been placed before . the people. Those who, from physical infirmity, age, or otherwise, women as well as men, cannot take part in the operations of the field—have an opportunity to fender material assistance. We should - .remember that Mr Lloyd George,-in one-of those eloquent de-

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liverances which sent a thrill through the world, declared that the " silver bullet" would win the war—that the side whoso financial resources would last longest would be the victor in the Armageddon now being fought. If tho units of the Empire, including, of course, those in God's Own Country, do their bit now, if they pour their treasure ir.to the public exchequer, they will h;*re tho infinite satisfaction of having done their duty—of sharing in the glory which will belong to those who free the worlS of.the awful menace now hanging over it. There should bo no hanging back; there should be no hesitation. The question of financial returns, although they are unquestionably liberal, should occupy but a subsidiary place in the minds of colonials. "Whether or not we like some of tho details of the loan, wo should sink our personal feelings, realising tho insistence of tho call of civilisation. Wo unhesitatingly predict that the loan will prove an emphatic success, and that a much larger sum than that required will be forthcoming. Never beforo have a people been asked to subscribe for a purpose which has greater potentialities, and we have no misgivings as to what will be the answer. Patriotism demands a liberal response to tho .Minister of Finance's appeal for "silver bullets," and New Zealanders are beyond all else a patriotic people. LAMO AHT. "W r> are pleaded to know from our "Wellington correspondent that the Government "will this session introduce an amendment to the Land Agents Act, 1912. on the lines of the Bill which was placed before the Legislative Council ;n 1913, wi:h the object of enabling the authorities, in ea c es of forfeited fidelity bonds, to distribute such moneys pro rata among those victimised by a defaulting land agent. In the original Act, by some extraordinary oversight on the part of the draftsman and tlio Legislature, no provision was made for such payments, although undoubtedly the framer.s of the measure intended that the money would be Utilised in this manner, and in the absence of specific directions the forfeited fidelity bonds went to the Consolidated Fund. This meant, in so many words, that tho Crown grew rich as a result of an agent's cjlefalca'tions or failure, whilst those victimised had no redress. "When the measure was passed the insistence by the Legislature on adequate fidelity bonds was intended as something in the nature of a guarantee to clients, who, until quite recently, were under the mistaken belief that the fidelity bonds to a very large extent insured the safety of the money entrusted to an agent. As stated previously, a Bill was brought in in the following year for the purpose of remedying the defects in the Act of 191.2. the author of the amending measure being the leader of the Legislative Council, Siv Francis Bell. The Bill, however, was not pushed forward, and did not reach the ITouso of Representatives. Since then the matter has not been revived, buS it is satisfactory to know that, in reply to a question by the member for Riccarton, at whose instance the original Act was placed on the Statute Book, the amending legislation will be brought forward this session, and we hope that members will insist on the Government putting it through all stages. It would indeed be a reflection on our Legislature if tho present Act remained on. the Statute Book without amendment, now that its weaknesses have been laid bare.

THE POPE'S PEACE PROPOSALS. ft is extremely improbable that the latest peace-making suggestion from the Vatican will meet with any greater degree of Allied favour than previous proposals from that quarter. "While all nations will accord the Pope the credit of a desire to settle the belligerents' issues on a grand humanitarian ba.sis, it is obviously futile to discuss peace terms iu the very heat and climax of the struggle. The enemy, however anxious for peace, is so obsessed by the plunder lust and so anxious to evade the consequences of his crimes that he can think of no peace which Willi deprive him of the fruits of his colossal tliofU and visit upon him just punishment. The Ailies, 011 the other hand, have consistently kept in view the absolute and imperative necessity for destroying the Prussian might, for the breaking down of the savage menace to liberty and civilisation, and for reparation and restitution to the full. To this policy must be added also the general demand for the retention of all colonial territories conquered from the enemy. The Pope's proposals are such a watering-down of the terms demanded by justico and humanity that they cannot be regarded as likely to exercise any effect upon the combat. The war must be fought out; however long it may take, there can be but one end to it. the victory of the Allies, and all the vast expenditure of blood and money, all the sacrifices of the Allied nations will go for nothing if the enemy is permitted to rise from the struggle with his powers for evil undestroyed. One clause in the Vatican peace programme particularly exhibits a confusion of war issues and an incapacity to recognise the rightful interests of the Allies' overseas dominions. Tho Pope proposes "the restoration of the ancient Kingdom of Poland, Belgium and the occupied French departments in exchange for tho German colonies." Tho bargain implied in this setting-off against each other of two wholly unrelated elements to bo considered in peace terms reveals an extraordinary misreading of the story of German aggression. The restoration and rehabilitation of France, Belgium and Poland, with full compensation, so far as money can compensate, for the ruin inflicted, are indispensable conditions of peace, and cannot bo permitted to hinge upon the restoration to Germany ot her lost colonies. For the safety of the Allied countries, particularly Britain, and for the peace and security of the world, Germany cannot be permitted to re-establish herself in the Pacific Islands, South Africa, or the Asiatic coast; this also is an indispensable condition of peace upon which the oversea dominions will most strongly insist. To make the restoration of the ravaged countries conditional upon other adjustments of interests would in effect, be bargaining with a robber and a murderer over property to which he has no shadow of right. The European Al-

lies have their own property to recover; J we on our side of the globe have to make absolutely certain that never again will the Teutons fen,in a, dangerous footing in the Pacific as bases of treacherous attack. South Africa for her part is bound to assure herself that the lands which &hc has liberated from the Germans at so great expense in lives shall he kept free for all time from the shadow of the enemy flag. These considerations must be. taken into account in the final settlement. For the present it would bo worse than useless to enter into negotiations or even listen to the Vatican proposals. The Hun power must bo smashed; it is weakening now, and if anything were needed to incite the Allies to supreme efforts it is the knowledge that Germany is ceaselessly intriguing for premature peace sethlomonta, her only hopo of escaping her dues of punishment from the world.