The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. Gloucester Street end Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1934. TRIBUTES TO A KING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 February 1934, Page 6

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. Gloucester Street end Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1934. TRIBUTES TO A KING.

London Rcproaomativo* » R. B. BRETT & SON NEW BRIDGE HOUSE, 30/34 NEW BRIDGE STREJO LONDON. EjCA.

'T'HE SINCERITY of the tributes that have been paid to King Albert, not only by his own subjects but also by former allies and enemies, emphasises the personal qualities of one of the few kings whose sovereignty survived the aftermath of war. And this is a potent reminder in these disturbed times that the character of the king is still a strong factor in preserving a monarchy. That Germany is to-day able to join the rest of the world in praise of the man whose sagacity and courage fortified his countrymen to resist the crushing ruthlessness of German ambition should temper one’s judgments of that nation as Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary for England, tempered his at the time of the assault on Belgium’s neutrality. “Yet we must remember,” he said, “ that there are two There is the Germany of men like ourselves—of men like Lichnowsky and Jagow. Then there is the Germany of men of the war party. The war party has got the upper hand.” At this point Sir Edward’s eyes filled with tears (said Walter H. Page in describing the occasion). “Thus the efforts of a lifetime go for nothing. I feel like a man who has • wasted his life.” Yet King Albert, who must have continued to feel the emotional strain of the war, did not give the impression of post-war bitterness that has marred the statesmanship of France. He remembered—during the whole of . the war he had remained with his troops, being continually exposed to enemy bombardments. He was acquainted with Belgium’s grief. But he carried out his work of national reconstruction in peace with the same calmness and firmness that had marked his wartime service. ANOTHER TARIFF WAR. STIFF RETALIATORY DUTIES now operate against French goods imported into Britain, and so another tariff war is raging. The British Government certainly acted only under provocation, as France in December last reduced import quotas and made discriminations estimated as likely to cost Great Britain nearly eight millions a year. The immediate effect of these measures, however, warranted or not, niust be to accentuate a situation of economic chaos. On all sides we see high tariffs, prohibition of imports, embargoes on foreign exchanges, restrictions of immigration, premiums on exports and restrictions of credit. The inevitable result is unemployment, and throughout Europe there are huge masses of desperate ( and embittered human beings, victims of trade rivalry and extreme protectionism. It is these masses that are the best fostering soil for the social and national radicalism which nowadays constitutes the most real danger to peace. FUTURE OF THE MAORI. QCHEMES for native land settlement are looked upon throughout New Zealand with sympathy and understanding, and Mr Forbes yesterday, when answering recent criticism, made a timely statement to that effect. It is true, too, that relief schemes, in parts of the North Island particularly, by hiring young Maoris away to a seemingly easier existence, have proved more of a hindrance than a help. To counteract this influence the Government is rightly pressing ahead with a constructive policy. It is recognised, according to competent authorities, that a critical stage in the progress of the race has now been reached. The communal life of the pa is no longer practicable in an economic sense, and bush employment, for which the Maori is naturally equipped, is now decreasing. The one sheet anchor for the race is land settlement.