PUBLIC OPINION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16431, 24 December 1913, Page 11

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) PANAMA EXHIBITION. When the Supplementary Estimates had gone througn Parliament, it was discovered that no provision had been mado for the representation of the dominion at the Panama Exhibition, or rather tho Exhibition to be held. at San Francisco in honour of the opening of the Panama Canal. This was an error in judgment on the part of the Government. The great point is that the new American tariff is a new factor, the governing factor, in the commerce of the future. In the light of this fact there shines hope of not only the absorption of all the produce of our growing agriculture, but the substitution eventually of a new outlet for tho market of Britain, filled to overflowing by the producers of Britain- herself. The immediate future in. such a mar< ket is substantial enough to make us strain every nerve to secure success, and the remote future may carry in its hands the issue to us of life and death. This opening does not concern country people solely. Tho merchants. and the manufacturers are much > interested in the capture of the new market.— * NewZealand Times." MEN FOR THE NAVY. , The decision of the Government to train a limited number of men for naval service, either in ships patrolling the coasts of i the dominion or in British ships in more distant seas, will shortly be given effect to, the training . ship Philomel being now stationed in these waters. New Zealand is essentially a very junior partner in tho naval affairs of the Empire, and has other matters in hand which must command a major share of its attention. At the eama time, within our limitations there is a certain amount that can be done in the way of local effort to assist in maintaining the strength of the British Navy. In this category probably nothing mora practical can be devised than to devote a portion, even though it be a small portion.' of our' manhood to naval ser» vice.—" Dominion." ~