THE WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 22, 25 January 1913, Page 11

THE WEEK.

THE POTTTTOW. Lord and Lady Liverpool paid Ml official visit to Auckland on Tuesday and were welcomed by the Mayor, Councilera and a large gathering of citizens at the Town Hall. Their Excellencies returned to Wellington by train in the evening. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey), after paying a visit of inspection to the Tlauraki Plains, expressed surprise at the quality of the land. He had, previously thought tne land was good, but did not realise that it was,as good as it is. If the settlers only stuck to it a competency awaited every man who had taken up land on the Plains. On Wednesday Mr. Massey visited Eotorua, and in the evening was the guest of the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner. Speaking in reply to the toast of his health the Prime Minister said that the policy of the present Government was a policy of settlement. They did not intend to allow Crown lands to lie idle if it was possible to find settlers to go on that land, as it was recognised that the prosperity of a country depended to a very great extent on a progressive settlement policy. It was intended to give the settlers as far as possible absolute tenure of their lands. It was also expected to give them railways and schools for their children, and everything that would tend to prosperity as far as it was possible to do so With the funds at its disposal. The Government had had very serious difficulties in connection with financial matters, difficulties inherited from its predecessors, but he was pleased to say that, in spite of the loan difficulties, the revenue of the Dominion was buoyant, and the returns for the last nine months showed a very material increase.

The Customs revenue for the quuarter! ended December 31 was £867,115, against £783,370 for the dome quarter of laet year. The revenue for the year was | £3,335,719, against £3465,655 for the year 1911. Imports for Hi* quarter totalled £5,723,944, and exports £4,352,703. Total imports for 1912 were £20,975,676, against £19,545,879 in 1911. Exports totalled £21,770,243, against £19,028,490 in the previous year. . Gold entered for export during the quarter was 63,7800z, of the value of £249340 and the total for the year was £1,345,115, against £1,816,----782 in 1911. There appears to be little chance of a big strike of slaughtermen being averted in the South, but Auckland will be affected lees than any other part of New Zealand. The Auckland union is affiliated with the Slaughtermen's Federation, and cancelled its registration at the same time as the other centres took the same step. But the Auckland slaughtermen at Southdown are working under an award that does not terminate Until October next. The only other Auckland unionists concerned are the employees at the abattotirs, who would necessarily require to give 14 days , notice of any intention to cease work. All that can be said at present is that no such notice has been given. Over one hundred delegates representing trades unions through the Dominion are taking part in a conference in Wellington convened by the Federation of Labour With the object of arriving at some scheme for the organisation and eoraolidation of labour. Resolutions were passed in this direction includuing one to oppose all members of Parliament and Parliamentary candidates who will- not pledge i themselves to support-and vote for tun .proposed amendment to .the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act carried at this conference.

The Anglican General Synod was held in Nelson during the week. -The Synod resolved to celebrate the Marsden centenary, and the introduction of Christianity and the foundation of the colony in. a manner worthy of the occasion during Christmas week, 1014. Servioea will be held on the Maraden Cross site, where the first Christian services were held. There will also be a Church Congress for all New Zealand at Auckland in February, 1915, and a great thanksgiving centenary fund will be taken up throughout the Dominion.

A boy named John Band ley, about 15 years of age, who w*s caught in the Albert Brewery yard on Wednesday night with stolen goods in his pbeeeation, admitted having burglarised the premiees of Messrs Smith and' Cmighey, drapers, and escaped by crawling over the roof and descending by means of a water-pipe. He also admitted having broken into the City Chambers on Monday night. He Was formerly on the training ship Sobrapm at Sydney, and reached Auckland by stowing away on the steamer Victoria. Speaking at a civic reception at the Town Hail early this week, the Mfryor (air. C. J. Parr) stated that when the Valuer's report for the year came down it would be found that the capital value of the «Hy had increased by over £1,000,000 during-the past 12 months. At the Gity Council meetiflg on Thursday the report of the City Valuer (Mr. B. (tickling) wae received. The report stated that the ratable value for the city of Auckland for the rating year 1913-14 amounted to £732,289, ac against £679,369, the ratable value for 1-912-13, making the increase for the 1913-4 period £52,920. New , bufldinge and additions were responsible for £16,709; property previously exempted and now ratable, £560; amd Increase on old values, £35,851. The capital value of 4h* ciVy worked out at £14,645,780, an increase during </he pact 12 months of £1,088,400. Two ettpplettehlary valuations h*Ve yet to be submitted, and these figures will probebry be augmented.

the first prosecutions under the amendment to the Criminal Act dealing with <white slswery, which provides thai offenders unay be flogged, took place at the Old Bailey, and the judge ordered the cat in- two idstthcea. Although different** of opinion continue to exist between tlie pdiiie»l leaden* of South Africa, the country is united on the question of defence, 45,300 men being enreCed itt the Territorials to date. There ie some talk of a private referendum of the party to cboow between Both* and Sertzog. A big project has been annoaneed for reclaiming the south bank of the rivet Thames frota the Soathw«rk Cathedral up to the 'Westminster Bridge. This wonld run parallel with tile present Victoria Embankment, and wonld greatly beatify this splendid eweep of the Thames. Excitement ie brewing over the forthcoming debate on tie Franchise Bill, Sir Ethrard Grey bjcviag , given notice of an amendment which -will practically diride the Hooae -on qaeetion of gr?ing the vote to women. Mr l*oyd Geofge- h«e promised a deputation (A women (who threatened that the inilrtouicy of the ' past wonld only be • pinprick compared with what would follow if they did not ' get justice)' tint' 3 soy amendment giv--1 i% «ie franchise to women were incorporated the Gorermwiit -wonld carry the 1 l>3l through. Several amendmeirte have 1 been put forward By various members of 1 the House, and the debate promisee to 1 be even warmer ti*n that on tbe Home Ifiatoßfll.

The week hae been, remarkable for. th« a number of shipping disasters. There f were a namber of Wreoke, with come lose a of fife. Aβ an instance of the havoc a that -hae been wrought it may be me*- i tiosed that.in. one day Lloyds' losses i amounted to £500,000, and this was. in ] addition to over a million that they loai t during the recent blizzard' in Great Bri- ! t tain. \i At * farewell gathering in connection with the coming voyage of TT-M.fi. New "ml mil to the Dominion that gave her to the Motherland, the Colonial Secretary described the trip ac "an Imperial mitwjan." Sir Joseph Ward, >wbtp was among those present, said -yhe. invjtaiion to ororseae Dominione Jo Jakepart in the delJbei*tionß of the Defense Committee wee a move forward- but eomething more was required. Imperial statesmen should be aWe to devise an Imperial Parliament to deal with Imperial affairs and provide an irresistible navy. Great Britain ie to pay the interest on a £3,000,000 loan for the development of the cotton industry in the Soudan. A great outcry » being made in the Old Country about .the enormous number of deaths caused i>y motors, the tally of pereora* killed in. three. Mentha beingLsiO, a* againet 140 persons..kjHed. by.ota»ex vehicke. The Marconi Company ha» aeked to be released from its contract, alleging' that it cannot eteni tbe vexations delays in going on ■with the work. The Company also protests against damaging statements being made, with no opportunity being given to the umiqiany to refnte them. Burghwe visited' a Hoßmrn jeweller's phop during the week-end and worked for twtive houra with their blowpipes. They irtre within three inches of £30,----000 ixorth of pearle when they were disturbed, and' decamped, leaving behind a very scientific kit of burglars' tools. •■■»« U COatifOii Vv Ett.TW The returns of the overseas trade of the- ComttKncWeaMh during the year 1012 Show that the importe were £78,098,313, an inma—o of £11,000(000 over the figures of tbe previous year. The net cuetome excise duties amounted to £1£,643,293, an increase of £2,000,000. During lt»12 the exports totalled £78,----834,730, a decrease of The value of specie arid bullion exported, increased by £396,351. Other items decreased £IJM3^79. An Engiieh syndicate of financiers has offered to find £}0-,000,000 for a bridge aeroEß Sytfney Sarbour on condition thai tbe Govenunent gTree it the contract rights and other coneeesfons. There ie net nnroh likelihood that tbe offer wDJ be accepted. (Mr Joseph Cook hae been choeni to succeed Mr Deakin ac Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament. A big Sre efc Flatman'e timber yards, St. KiVda, Metfcourne, did £60,000 worth of damage. The inßorancee amounted to £10£50. Hie Sydney fish market* -are reported .» be mrpaying, add fish is eaid to be dearer to the public. An. investigation » being made. Mr Beeby, who refligned ownig to differencee with the labour party, was eucceasful" at tHe Blayney second ballot, beating Mr WSMttington, the liiberal eandadaie, by .Votes to ; 2;008. FOREIG* AXTAxks. There was much excitement in Parie ■■ over fche electron of the Freucb 'I'resldent, M. Poincare, the Premier, was eifectdd ' by a large majority over M. Pains, the 1 Minister for Agriculture. The selection la* been uinveweiUy approved in Europe,

and M. FaHieres , euoceasor ha* been congratulated on all hands. There to some talk of a duel between M. Poincare and <BL Qemenceau, a former Prime Minister, over an alleged insult, but the matter -wae n&sfaetorily explained. M. Briand has again been caJkd on to form a Ministry, and has accepted the responsibility. He will hare associated with him iM. Joinart (Minister of Foreign Affairs), M. Etienne (Minister for War), M. Baodin (Minister for Marine), M. Jean Morel (Miirieter for the Colonies). The reception hy Turkey of tlie Note from -the Powere coiKwiißug the terms of peace ia the Balkan War hvt been kw>p-i-ng Europe on the gui Vive for tho whole week, 'and ttKarcTwas relief when it was announced that .tne Grand Council had unanimously approved of the Government* decision to frankly accept the advice of the 'Powem on «11 points, which meant that she gave up Adrianople and submitted the question of the disposal trf the Aegean leJande to the decision of the Powers. The matter h«i> now been somewhat complicated by the resignation of the Turkish Cabinet and \ the coming into power of Sherket P&stia, tanner Minister for War, who declares that hie party hae determined to . suve the national honour 'or perish. TJiey do not want" the war to go on, toot will not give up Adrianople and are deter, mined to keep it. lSgfct coai bede, distributed over 250,----000 acres, have been discovered: on the efrore of (Lake Tanganyika, Eastern Africa. The director of Bottle railway companies in Hungary, has been arrested aa a charge of embeeriing £333,000., He confessed to issuing £416,000 worth of forged shares. , Matters in connection with the dispute between America and Great Britain over the Panama Canal tolls are much as they ■were. 'America's reply to fche British note ie conciHetory in tone, and enggeste that when a -proclamation fixing the tolle is made, if the matter be not eatisfaetoTy to Great Britain, the question might be referred to a High Commiaeidn 6et up under -the Anglo-British Arbitration Treaty of 1911, which was never ratified, ibut which America ie now prepared , to ratify. There promises to be a bitter .figfrt in the States, where Senator Root is heading a campaign in favour of America, efrbher receding from Hie position she hae taken up or eubmitting the matter to arbitration.