TOPICS OF THE TIME.

Hastings Standard, Issue 15, 13 May 1896, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE TIME.

Since Lord Wolsley has succeeded to the post formerly held by the Duke of Cambridge, " Tommy Atkins " appears to have received more attention. Various improvements have been affected, making the soldier's life more endurable and more attractive. In India, according to Lieutenant-Gcneral Sir Henry Brackenbury, Iv.C.S.G., the British soldier is well paid. He receives the equivalent of his sterling pay at the current official rate of exchange ; and, as his expenditure is all in India, he has benefited by the fall in the sterling value of the rupee. He is well-fed, -well-housed, well-clothed, and a new clothing scheme is on the point of being introduced, which, while it results in economy to the State, will also save the pocket of the soldier, and will ensure his always being clothed in a dress suitable to the climate, the cloth clothing worn in England being, with the exception of certain regiments, abolished for India.

An interesting article was published in the March number of the Foreign and Colonial Importer on the subject of the decadence of the tinplate industry of Wales. "We cannot blame the Welshmen" the journal states, "but must ascribe it to the exigencies of trade. It was never believed that America would succeed to any great extent in supplying herself with tinplates, and owing to the growing demand for her tinned goods the consumption of tinplates become considerably more than three times that of the rest put together. Under these circumstances works sprang into existence all over Wales to meet this demand, and now that the American production has become an accomplished fact the Welsh works are in a dilemma. Prices are down as low as they possibly can be." Statistics show that in 1862 the exportation of tinplates to America scarcely exceeded half a million ewts. A gradual increase set in until 1889, when the enormous total of 6,733,840 cwt. was reached. Since that year the American importation has fallen off to ■1,408,020cwt. As regards Australasia, the increase has been somewhat erratic; but during the past three years a great increase has been noticeable, the total importations in 1893 being 153,880cwt. against 320,040cwt. in 1895. The existing works in Wales number 100, representing 520 mills, 190 of which are now idle, thus leaving 330 in operation, whose estimated productive powen is about 8,250,000cwt. per annum. Values are stated to be now so low that it is almost imposible for them to sink lower, as the gradual shutting down of mills which are unable to earn a profit is proving. Advices from another source state that the men are accepting a reduction of from 15 to 25 per cent, in their wages which may assist matters. Some of the mills have also been converted into corrugated iron works, and it is rumoured others will follow.

Me Chamberlain's speech in the House of Commons on the Transvaal trouble is reassuring. " It was the Government policy to maintain its position as the paramount State and reunite the races," said the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the statement will be

duly appreciated by the young man, who, by the Grace of God, is the Emperor of Germany. Oom Paul, also, will find in the speech something to ponder over. "No douht there were faults on both sides, and the Boers were constantly breaking the conditions," said Mr Chamberlain. The task of reuniting the races will no doubt be a very tedious affair, but Mr Chamberlain said some time ago that he would exhaust all pacific means in his endeavours at reconciliation. When peaceful measures fail then the Maxim guns and Lee-Metford rifles will be given an opportunity. South African affairs look black enough to predict that a settlement will not be arrived at except after a war. The developments of the next few weeks should be very interesting.

For peppery pulpit oratory commend us to the Rev Mr Burton, the Minister in charge of the Anglican Mission at Esperance, West Australia. On Sunday, the 26th ult., the rev. gentleman delivered an extraordinary sermon. He spoke in strong terms of the immorality and intemperance of the town, and characterised the meeting held during the Aveek in connection with the railway question as a general drunken orgie. He then requested seven telegraph operators to keep quiet; the young men got up and asserted that * they were not children, nor did they wish to create a disturbance. They were most earnest and devout worshippers, but would not stand insults, and these good young men marched out in a body before the congregation. It is a difficult matter to decide vjhich to admire most, the " sermon in spasms " of the reverend preacher or the rare piety of the telegraph operators. Perhaps it would be charitable to assume that the parson was suffering from indigestion and that the telegraph operators were off their " dots " when dashing for the church door.