NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 1

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Thebb is every promise of much closer commercial and friendly relations being established between these colonies and the North American Continent, even without the Panama Canal. The Canadian Government are evidently very anxious to have cable and steam communication between their western territory and Australasia; while the Government of the United Stateß are also showing themselves most desirous of cultivating our friendship for commercial reasons. Their latest act in that direction is the proposal to reduce or altogether abolish the duty on imported wool—a step which the various Australian Governments have for some time been urging. Our Premier, the Hon. Mr Stout, noting the position of affairs, has cabled to the Premier of New South Wales, suggesting that the Australasian colonies should jointly ask the Secretary of State to represent to the United States Government that these colonies, co allied to them by descent from the same race, would regard the removal of the duty from Australasian wool as an act of great friendship and consideration. The Premier of New South Wales accepted the proposal on his own behalf, and said he wonld communicate wilh the Governments of other colonies. Sir Julius Vogel has alsourged the mail contractors, Messrs, Sprecklea Bros., and Mr Center, to bring all their influence to bear in the same direction. Mr Stout, in his telegram, expressly advised that in the representation sought to be made to the United States, there should be no mention of retaliation, or anything in the nature of a threat. At a time when " Protection " is urged on many hands as a cure for the dull times, it is gratifying to find nations acting on the broader principle of giving free scope for the interchange of commodities, as well as for the cultivation of friendly i feeling. —-, Major Atkinson is a believer in Australasian Federation, and therefore it was to be expected that, in referring to the question of France and the New Hebrides, he should attempt to throw the blame of the present crisis upon those colonies who had held aloof from the Federal Council. Speaking at Normanby the other night, the leader of the Opposition said :—"Had the colonies been able to speak with one voice on this question, France would not have the New Hebrides, or Raiatea, or Rapa. He did not object to the French getting the islands for colonising purposes, but she wanted them for no such purpose, but rather for that of securing a position which, in the event of war, would prove a thorn in the side of England, and would necessitate the maintenance^ of vast armaments in these colonies." The argument cute both ways, however, for had New Zealand and New South Waleß been in the Federal Council their representatives would in all probability have opposed the action of the Council, and perhaps have helped on the annexation which has been averted. As matters stand, the Federal Council were able to makes unanimous representation to the Home Government, and this backed by the expression of public opinion in the two colonies outside of the Federation has produced the desired result. The New Hebrides incident has, we believe, proved all the colonies to be united in spirit on questions of South Pacific policy, although the Go- . vernmentß of the day in two of the colonies have shown that they misrepresent the popular feeling on the subject. Until harmony is attained, tbe form of Federation would do no good, but would rather be productive of harm. There is not much in the way of comfort to be gathered from the Customs returns for the first quarter of the present year. These seem to show a falling off in the producing and purchasing power of the people as compared with the corresponding period of 1885. Taking the four principal ports, the comparative figures of imports are as under:—Auckland, £463,894 last quarter, against £544,072 in 1885 ; Wellington, £374,804 and £384,241. respectively; Dunedin, £521,368 and £642,606; Lyttelton, £333,853 and £352,491. -There is here a steady decreaee all Bbund, most marked in the case of Dunedin. With regard to exports, the figures are: -Auckland, £245,912 last quarter, against £174,502 in 1886 ; Wellington, £533,402 last quarter, against £501,511 in 1886; Dunedin, £594,410 last quarter, aizainst £555,321 In 1886; Lyttelton, £644,606 last quarter,: againßt £722,497 in 1886. Hew there Je •. solid advance at Auckland, WelUngton, and Dunedin, though mot sufficient to make up for the falling off in imports. Takine the total of imports and exSK^WlTfind thorn *, be £3,712,249 . in the March quarter of 1886, against ; £3,877,241 in the corresponding quarter of last year, being a decrease of about. £165,000. Auckland as usual, shows up well in the comparison with other ports, for her proportion of the decrease is only £10,000-her total trade in the past quarter having been £708,806, against £718,574 in the March quarter of 1885. I The returns, ou the whole, are not dia- . couraging, for although, as remarked, they give no distinct evidence of improvement, the difference between this year and last Is no greater than could be satisfactorily, see! counted for by the ordinary fluctuations of i trade. ' ''■;''