(PUBLISHED DAILY.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVII, Issue 2952, 16 October 1891, Page 2

(PUBLISHED DAILY.)

FBIDAY, OCTOBEB 16, 1891.

THE WEEK.

The European cables this week have been interesting, though there has been nothing particularly new in them. That is, they have simply given further information in reference to facts already before the world. The immensity of the catastrophe which has befallen Eussia in the failure of her crops is presented to the gaze by the statement that thirty-two millions of people are in distress, but these enormous figures imply an amount of misery which it is impossible to appreciate out here. If the position be so bad now, what may it be expected to develope into before the conclusion of the winter now only commencing ? There seems to be a terrible time before the peasantry of large territories in Russia. It appears that uiatterß have been made worse instead o^ better by Government interference, as, indeed, is generally the case. When the scarcity first began to make itself felt the natural result was an increase of prices, and, no doubt, this in turn would have led to a diminution of consumption and the husbanding of resources, but the natural laws of supply and demand were interfered with by an Imperial edict fixing the price at which grain was to be sold, and fixing it at a comparatively low level. The effect was to encourage a consumption which must lessen the supply of necessary food later on.

Pasbin» from the domestic affairs of Russia to her foreign policy it is to be noted that De Giers, her Foreign Minister, during a holiday trip, has been giving assurances of a pacific policy. It may be wondered tbat with such a domestic calamity as that just referred to on hand Russia could, from the necessities of her position, have any other than a peace policy. But the Turkish concession in reference to the Dardanelles, giving Russian war vessels a free passage, ia not yet beyond the region of discussion. It is, of course, a matter which goes to the root of the " Eastern question." Lord Salisbury, we are told, assumes in his memorandum that the rights given to Russian vessels are also assured to British. The question is, if possible, made more grave by the declaration of Mr. Gladstone in favor of immediate evacuation of Egypt. The position is pretty well understood, but it is put so plainly by a Continental paper tha>s a short extract may be produced

as showing the importance of the question raised :

"If Russia were able to open or force a passage for her fleet through the Dardanelles, how easily might she effect a coup de main against the Suez Canal in case England [if she evacuated Egypt], instead of at all times being able to dispose of the Egyptian army, were forced to summon troops to the threatened point from Malta, India, or the Mother Country. In the Dardanelles, as m Egypt, England defends her Eastern possessions, and, therefore, we do not imagine that in the question she will be Egypt

inclined to give way. ... is, and must remain, English, in order to assure the safety of the "Britisn Empire and its commerce. But, if the Dardanelles stand open to Russia, she can cause great embarrassment to England, can sweep down on the coast of Italy, can severely injure the whole trade through the Suez Canal, and can with ease ' rush,' seize, and fortify Constantinople before help could arrive from Europe. Such would be the result o£ an agreement opemag ti» Dardanelles to Russia and excluding a British fleet from Besika Bay. . . That the European Powers would not willingly permit such a one-sided alteration or international treaties Russia knows quite well. It is really on thie account that the raising of the Dardanelles question causes anxiety.

Disttjbbino indications are shown in the military energy among the nationalities which lie between Eussia and Turkey, and the takiug of votes to {strengthen places so famous in the history of past wars as Silistria, Varna, and other points of the firtst importance strategically.

The cables relating so much strong feeling between the various sections of the Irish party seem to show that the re-union of the contending parties is nofc so easy a matter as it appeared. The thought at once arose that the death of Parcell would remove difficulties but it appears to have stirred up the fires. "With the Irish party still at " sixes and sevens " and with Mr. Gladstone demanding the evacuation of Egypt, hardly a position likely to bring him popularity, it would not be a matter for surprise if Lord Salisbury saw his opportunity for taking the General Election, which cannot be deferred much longer.

It is satisfactory to note that the " sealing question " between the British and American Governments is likely to be settled on a compromise ; the terms are yet unknown.

" Strike" news is a little less exciting than usual, and tbe outlook more promising: for a continuance of peace, or the semblance of peace, than it waß"%t week, but a feature of the cables from Australia is the complete fait&re of General Booth to convince the%emocracy that his schemes for 1 "over sea colonies " ought to receive t support of Labour out here. He have to fall back on that offer a the Cape, we suspect. The er of the labour party in New 1 South "Wales is shown by tbe fact tbat they are able in the Parliament to force the passage of the eight hours law. At any rate, they have left Sir Henry Parlies in a minority on the question, and, in consequence, it seems that he will have to resign.

Mb. Vaile, of railway reform fame, will take heart of grace from that wire relating tbe success of the Huugarian zone system. To be sure it is Baid tbe Hungarian zone system is not Yaile's system, but then Mr. Yaile says the Hungarian Government got their idea from him— a prophet with honor, save his own country — and that if details be not the same the success in Hungary proves his contention as to tbe principle tbat under a stage system instead of mileage traffic would be encouraged and the receipts would advance far more rapidly than tbe eipenseß.

Fbom Australia the news of the week is the deadly character of the influenza epidemic. 'A very large proportion of the victims are being carried off, and, as many prominent colonists have fallen, attention has been more markedly drawn to the fact.

In New Zealand the general opinion gathered from press criticisms of the Premier's speech is that more borrowing is to te a part of the policy of the Government. All along we have consistently held that the public works nVmanded cannot be carried on without borrowing — that the revenue cannot stand the strain of carrying on railways, making roads, acquiring land for settlement, and settling it ; so that we are in no way surprised. Further, we believe that if it can be secured that the spending shall be judicicious borrowing is quite legitimate, but the "rub" is bow to secure it? There might be home hopo if the spending rested with a non-political body like the Railway Commissioners, but we have small hope of any Ministry spending^ it ■judiciously: a lamentable confession to have to make, but the Public Works Estimates of the present year only serve to strengthen the feeling. Then there is the very important question as to whether the money should be borrowed at Home in the cheapest market, or in the co'ony, where it will be dearer, and the appearance in the limited market of the State as a borrower wou.ld possibly increase the rate oi interest to private borrowers. Of course, on the other hand, if the State borrowed locally the debenture holders would be liable to taxation, but, then again, they would allow for that, and, after all, it comes back to the old question, which is the cheapest market ?

Writing earlier in the week we pointed to the strong probability of the increased population in Central Taranaki leading to a revision of the boundaries which would throw Hawera borough into Waitatara. The decision of the Eepresentation Commission has now been made public, and it will be seen that it quite bears out the prophecy we indulged in. The boundaries of Waitotara have been brought

in a northelry and westerly direction to the extremity of old Hawera riding. The inexorable logic of figures has led to a separation which will hardly be welcome, but, it seems, cannot be avoided ; hat, so far as we can at present judge, the boundaries will present on the map a much less fanciful appearance than they were given by the delineation which at present is in force. Hawera is divided from an electoral district in tbe political history of which it has from the very outset played an important pare; but it finds itself once more joined with Patea, in connection with whom it will have a powerful influence in determining the electoral fights of the future. " Waitotara "is certainly a misnomer in so far as it may be supposed to indicate the geography of the district or the centre of political power. HaweraWaitotara would have given, at anyrate, a better idea of locality, and there is precedent for it in the title of a seat in the Sonth Island, "WaimeaPicton.