THE WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 8

THE WEEK.

ISEPEaiAI,. In the course of an important speech it the Guildhall banquet oa the King's Birthday, Mr. Asquith said that the present year was memorable for a striking and eventful step—the development ■jf the Empire Defence Conference, which had followed the inspiriting manifestations of the loyalty of the overseas dominions, and the offers of naval assistance from Xew Zealand, Canada, and Australia. It was a fully representative conference, and had come to a practical conclusion which for the first time laid down upon definite principles, with due regard to a variety of local conditions, the respective parts which,, by free agreement, the Motherland and the dominions were to play in case of any possible aggression, for the defence of their territory, commerce, and trade routes in the common interests of the Empire as a whole. The international sky at the beginning of 1900 had been somewhat clouded, and he was far from saying that all possible sources of disquiet, in the BaJkans and East Europe had been removed, but there was nothing, so far as he knew, in the existing conditions which should not yield to time. Referring to Germany, he was unaware of anything ■which could be held to stand in the way of the full and friendly understanding which he believed it was the cherished object of the -wisest statesmanship and of the best moral and social forces of both countries to promote. The Lords have read the Finance Bill a first time, but its second reading debate has not yet been opened. " The Daily Telegraph " states that the "Unionist peers overwhelmingly favour Lord Lansdowne's amendment, which is expected to refer the Budget to the judgment of the electorates. Forty peers, it adds, have 3igned a memorial announcing their intention to abstain from voting. " Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, in a letter to Mr. Lloyd, the Unionist candidate for Rhondda, declared that the navy is not properly organised or trained; that no plan of campaign exists; and that it is dangerously short in many units. Unless the country awoke to the great necessity of adequate naval defence shortly, there was no doubt the Empire would soon be a thing of the past. The same day, Admiral Sir Percy Scott reaffirmed the navy's unprecedented efficiency from the standpoint of organisation, training and preparation for war. but remarked that the reforms securing this efficiency had not been introduced without a certain amount of obstruction, friction and jealousy being manifested. The birthday honours list included a barony for Sir John Fisher, First Sea Lord "of the Admiralty. The " Times " says that the distinction conferred is an ihonoiu-able crown to a great career, possibly a fitting harbinger of its conclusion. The list included knighthoods for Lieut. Shackleton, the Hon. Geo. McLean and a K.C.M.G. for Mr. G. H. Reid. FOREIGN. Count Bernstorff (German Ambassador to America), in a speech at Philadelphia, declared that Germany's foreign policy was purely commercial, and that she had no territorial ambitions or deepseated designs against other States and the existing balance of power. Trade ! rivalry should never lead to war. The envelopment of Germany's navy was intended to protect her commerce and mercantile marine. Jeffries and Johnson met in Xew York and agreed to fight before Tuesday, July 5, 1910, 45 rounds or more, before the club offering the largest inducements by December 1. The winner is to get 75; per cent of the gross takings. Each of •the contestants is to deposit 5000 dollars ( £ 1000 forfeit, and also a side bet of tha same amount). THE COMMONWEALTH. ■fhe most important event in the Commonwealth this week is the coal strike at Newcastle. Trouble had been brewing in the colliery districts for some time and at Clifton the miners were out. Nothing in the nature of a general strike was expected, however, when suddenly 12,000 Newcastle miners decided to go out. Xo specific cause was given for the strike, the general statement being made hy the men that there was much to -Strike about. Stocks were low, and they took the opportunity as a favourable one. A table of grievances, containing some very intricate points, was prepared, and a conference was asked for. The miners of the southern and •western districts canie out, and the ■waterside workers are ready to follow unless a conference is granted, and the employers refuse a conference unless the Tnen first return' to work. THE DOMINION. ■The Budget submitted to the House of ■Representatives on Wednesday night can scarcely be summarised so as to give an adequate idea of all its important features. Important new land legislation i= promised. Lease-in-perpetuity tenants are to have the right to purchase their land at the original valuation, subject to five contributions to the Crown on account of the "unearned increment." If the t-ena-nt and his heirs pay one-tenth of the increase on the unimproved value of his land every 33 years for 165 years, the land becomes tkeL- freehold property. Tenanrs under the renewable lease, now eiibjeet to recurring valuation every 66 years, may purchase at the original valuation, subject to a charge to the State of one-fifth of the "unearned increment" every 33 years. And finally, •tenants of lands acquired under the Lands for Settlement Act, and hitherto fleld =o!ely as leasehold, may purchase the freehold at the original valuation, but subject to double the contribution demanded in the ease of ordinary Crown lands—that is to say, on condition that every 33 years the State is paid twofiftbs of the increase in unimproved values since last periodical valuation. Provision "is made for the purchase ot native lsmls to the extent of several ■hundred thousand par year. The revenue of endowment lands is set aside for University purposes. It is intended to ibuiid a nenr University a; Auckland, on the sita of the present Government House grounds. The figures quoted by the Prime -Minister- .ehow-"clearly--4;haf. though out national liabilities have increased by over £32,000,000 during the past nineteen years, the whole of this increase has been expended upon "reproductive objects producing profits." The Premier calculates that we will need about £330,000 to meet the inevita-ble increase in. our outgoings next year. We must pay £ 150,000 a year for our Dreadnought, cruiser, .by way of interest and linking fundj and our new military service scheme will cost an extra £ 100,000 a year, with further outlay on armsand equipment at the rate of £50,000 a. yea-r for some time. The new death duties schecne is expected to give the CTreaaiury an additional £150,000 i ths

-paesenger rates for long railway joxtrneys are to be made uniform, so as to give an extra £100,000; the income tax is to be graduated, so as to produce £80,000 a year more; the receipts "of racing clubs and the profits of banks are to be taxed so as to give another £68,000; and & further £50,000 is to be raised by levying temporarily an additional 1 per cent on the value of all imported dutiable goods. Theee modifications of our fiscal system should produce considerably over £ 100,000 more than the estimated additional expenditure. The scheme submitted by tie Prime Minister for internal defence requiree all young men between eighteen and twentyone, to undergo two years' compulsory ■training at stated times, with fourteen days in camp. An active force of 20,000 of all ranks is to 'be raised, composed of men between the ages of 18 and 30 years who chose to join, voluntarily. There ia to be a central training ground in each island. The new licensing legislation foreshadowed in the Budget is the result of a compromise between the views of the Trade and the representatives of the No-license party. In future two issues are to be put to the people: (a) That the number 'of licenses continue; (l>) that no licenses be granted in the district. The issue, "That the number of licenses in the district be reduced/ is not in future to be put. In other words, the reduction issue is to be. altogether eliminated in future polls. The three-fifths majority will be reduced to 55 per cent, and hereafter every vote cast for local no-license is to be counted for national prohibition as well as for local no-license. If national prohibition is carried 'by 55 per cent of the votes recorded; it will come into force at the end of five years from the date of poll, and thereafter no further poll shall ■be taken until national .prohibition ha& been three years in force. Upon National prohibition coming into effect, no intoxicating liquor of any kind shall be "imported into, manufactured, or sold within New Zealand, except sucn as is strictly required for medicinal or scientific purposes. Should local no-license be carried, it shall come into operation two years from date of poll, instead of ehi months after, as at present, and -means no-license only, and not absolute prohibition. The reduction vote is to be discontinued. In districts where no-license is already in existence, the non-restora-tion vote shall count also for national prohibition. If the restoration vote amounts to 55 per cent of. the total votes recorded, restoration shall 'be deemed to be carried. Some .-ensation was caused in Auckland on Wednesday afternoon when a tremendous explosion occurred off Ta■niaki, and it was -seen that the Auckland Ha-rbour Board's powder hulk had been blown to atoms. It was feared that the caretaker and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Finch, had 'been tilled, 'but they, both arrived in town during the afternoon Finch stated that during the morninghe noticed smoke issuing from the hatch, and endeavoured, but unsuccessfully, to suppress the fire -with buckets of water. He then set .his wife adrift in the small boat, and tried to scuttle the ship. Failing in this attempt, he jumped overboard and swam to the boat, which he reached in an exhausted condition. They Towed aehore, and subsequently the hulk blew up. Two fatal accidents have been reported in country districts during the week. Mr. Joseph Gane, one of the oldest settlers of Waikaxo, wa- killed while assisting his son to ring bulls, and Harry Byre, employed at the Kauri Timber Company's Whitianga sawmill, met hie death through a piece of timber flying off a log going through the drag bench.