HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS.

North Otago Times, 3 November 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS.

. 1 MANCHESTER LL.P. WOMEN, j On Saturday, August 25, a special! meeting of the Manchester branch of tho ; Labour Party was held to consider the i conduct of two of .its lady members in i connection with the Cockermouth byelection, The members whoso action was ] in question were Miss C. Pankhurst and. Miss Billington, both of whom havo tak-i eu a leading part in the agitation for j women's suffrage. Moth too, have suf- j fered imprisonment for various techni-i cal breaches of the law in connection! with their suffrage campaign. It was al-j leged that at Cockermouth Misses Pank-1 hurst and Billington supported Sir John j Handles, tho successful candidate, tho; accusation to this effect emanating from I Mr Hobert Smillie, tho nominee of tho • LL.P,, and being supported by a letter \ from that geutlemau to the Manchester' branch. j A motion for the ejection of the ladies; wn? met by an amendment that a com-; ir.ittce of inquiry bo formed before any,' action was taken, but after heated j tivo-hour'6 diccussion it was decided that! tho evidence was sufficient to justify ex- j puli-ion, A minority, however, protested i that l,he wholo proceedings were unfair.: Seen later by a press representative,' Mr Frauds Johnson, the secretary of tho! 1.L.P., said that the branch in question' had acted within its rights in deciding 1 to expel tho two suffragists, but it was; open to the latlorto appeal to the Na-, lioiial Administrative Council with a view : to reinstatement. If the council upheld tho I branch tho ladies would be unable to! join any other branch of the I.L.P. ■; Mr John«m explained that the dispute ] was quite a local matter, and did not) indicate antagonism by the LLP, to ui woman's suffrage movement, j ' i THE WRECKS OF A YEAH. I Tho statistical summary of vessels to-'i tally lost, condemned, etc., now publish- > fd by Lloyd's Register, shows that, dm-i ing 1905, the cross reduction in the effec-; tive mercantile marine of the'world' amounted to 883 vessels of '92,351 tons,, excluding -all vessels of less than 100 ■ tons. Of this total 382 vessels of 527,0731 tons were steamers, and 501 of 264,376 j tons were sailing vessels, ; Stranded and kiiidfed casualties which '• comprised under the, torm "wrecked," : are much the most prolific cause of dis- < aster. To such casualties aro attribut-' able''ll.6 per cent, of the losses of steamem and 41.3 per ceut. of the of '■ sailing vcosels. Tho next most common termination of:, a vessel's career is by condemnation, breaking up. etc., 22.3 per cent, of the' steamers and 27.3 of the sailing vexeis removed from the rnerjlmnt fleet s of the' world beiug accounted for in this man-. ner, !

MR KBlil HABDIBS PMNCIPLES.

Mr- Keir Hardie, M.P.. speaking at Ayr an tho afternoon of Aug. 25, beforo kicking; off at a football match, said it was very largely truo that the drinking habit had a good deal to do with the want of efficiency in the trade unions, Ho was addressing the members of tho Glasgow branch of the National Union of Dock Labourers, who wore enjoying their annual excursion to Ayr. Mr Koir Itardio expressed regret at hearing that the union wns not bo strong as it should be. If they wanted their condition improved it could only be done by having a powerful union. The main reason for the union not being so strong as it should be was the indifference, the apathy, tho careless habits of so many men, who preferred spending their time iu the public-house to trying toimprovo their own position. "What about the Zulus?" shouted someone in tho crowd, To this Mr Hardie replied that the Zulus in South Africa were being treated as tho dock labourers were being treated, as means of making money for a gang of unscrupulous and conscienceless money makers. Ab a member of tho Labour party he was going to stand up for tho Zulus or for any other race or peoplo who ivero being treated unjustly under the British flag, He etood_ up for working men at homo and he did so for working men in South Africa. That, was his reply to those men who took their .opinions from the party Press, forgetting that tho party Press was nearly tilwaya against the working man and on the side of the employer. Thoy wanted to see in the House of Commons a strong Labour party that would be able to compel the employer class and the landlord class to take their hands off the life of the nation, and enable the working people to have a chance to live. They knew the terrible curse landlordism had been in Ireland. It had been tho same in Scotland; it had been a curse, all the time, and thoy wntned to get rid of it. They could only do go by having Labour members in Parliament to fight tho cause of tho common people. CHINESE PIRACY, An interesting account has been published of the recent attack on the British steamer Sainam by Chinese pirates. The steamer on the evening of July 13 left Kankong, on tho West River, for Sanishui. Captain Joslin, tho Rev. Dr. It. J. J. Macdonald, M.D., of tho Wcsleyan Missionary Society, and Mr ,T. Seggie, chief engineer, observed symptoms of a slight disturbance among the Chinese passengers, of whom some .were pirates in disguise. Tho three Europeans,, led by Cant. Joslin, rushed to a watchman's assistance, when a murderous charge wag made upon them by a gang of EO Chinese, who attempted to reach the doctor and tho ship's officers with 6words, one ruffian inoamvhilo firing a shot from a poa riflo at Capt. Joslin, which lodged a bullet under his breast-bone. Tho thrco Europeans ran !o the wheelhouse for the ship's arms, closely pursued by tho murderous gang. Before tho .officers had time to get tho rifles out of the stand they wore forced to seek an oxit by tho opposite door of the wheelhouse. No sooner had they emerged than a second gang, armed * with lilies and swords, charged from the opposite direction. Seeing the overwhelming odds against them, the Europeans turned to the saloon, where they hoped to find shelter. Engineer Seggie was the last to get into the 6aloon and promptly closed the door after him. All this time Capt. Joslin was unaware that ho had been wounded, but blood now began to How from the wound. The doctor opened the captain's coat loascortain the extent of his -injuries. While he was so engaged a stinkpot -was thrown into the saloon. Capt, Joslin and the doctor rushed out, Dr. Macdonald calling to the Chinese in the vernacular, in which ho was quite proficient, "Don't, don't." Before he could utter another word, ono of the pirates drew his revolver, and, pointing it at.Dr. Macdonald, blew out his brains. Captain Joslin, incapacitated from furitheir flight by his serious wound, reached the doctor's cabin, whore he dropped on tho floor, blood streaming from hi; wound. The pirates followed, and ctartet kicking him as he lay on the floor. .His presence of mind did not fail him, and feigned death. He wore a gold ring, on his linger, which, beforo the pirates departed, they cruelly wrenched off, tearing his skin and a portion of his flesh as they did co. They then left him for dead on tho floor. Chief Engineer Seggie owe 3 his life no Ipss to his own pluck than to tiic assistance of his Cliincso fireman, who helped him lo a place of refuge behind the boilers. To reach him the pirates could only approach singly, and none da red to do so. Tho marauders,, having obtained complete control of the vessel, anchored her in a creek, and. forthwith began the work of looting, their booty, being, .trans-, ferrod into five long "snake-boats" thai wore awaiting in the vicinity. The pirates having made off, the assumed charge of the Sainam, and promptly cleared her.. Seggie got out of his hiding place. His injuries, though severe, wero due to. bums from the primitivo Chinese infernal machine and the scalds from contact with the hot boi!e:s. Capt. Joslin, with assistance, was taken up on deck, and thero he remained in a chair at his post till Samshui was reached. ANGLO-AMERICAN TERRITORIAL DIFFERENCES, . Matters aro in train for an early eetlfc 1 - ment of a number of outstanding issues between Great Britain and the United States which have been agitating Canada for a considerable timo past. Diplomatic exchanges have passed between tho Foreign Offices of London and Washington, by which the negotiations have been oifleially inaugurated, although they will not bo taken up seriously until after the return of tho United States Secretary of State from his 'South American tour. England and America will then resume tho discussion of their differences at tho point where they wero dropped by tho Joint High Commission which sat m Washington in 1839. It is a' matter for congratulation to learn that Canada's fears, as outlined in several newspaper despatches, that she will not bo a party to tho discussion are groundless, Another High Commission will not bo required, as the questions at issue will bo arranged through the ordinary diplomatic channels. No complications aro anticipated, and tho settlement is expected to bo comparatively simple, owing to tho advanced stago at which tho former High Commission left the discussion when the Alaskan Boundary question intervened and prevented a general settlement. $ Thero aro various questions to bo included in tho proposed new settlement, .chief among which is the sealing controversy, There aro calculated to be now less than a quarter of a million soals altogether left, and unless something is dono to protect them tho species is in danger of complete extermination. The proposed regulation is to prohibit killing seals in the open sea, where it is impossible to distinguish between the malo and female Both countries agree that it is necessary to protect tho femalo seals', each of which when killed means the loss of three live. An important matter to bo introduced into tho now settlement relates to the limitation of the use of the waters of Niagara Palls. By the regulation of this matter'by'lnternational agreement the historic grandeur of. the lulls, now so seriously threatened, will bo preserved. A high official of the Amoricau Department" of Stato who is entrusted with the preparation of the case for the Secretary of State lately left London, and it is understood, that the present condition of affairs is preliminary to the return of Mr Root, who intends to take up the subject in earnest directly he gots back. MANIFESTO TO THE RUSSIAN ARMY. Tho Labour ox-members of the Duma aro, says tho "Times" correspondent at St. Petersburg, actively proscoutmg their campaign to subvert the military forces of the Empire, and in connection with the mutinies at Sveaborg and Kronstadt, at Dashlagar, and other places, have printed and aro circulating a further manifesto addressed to the army. The following is one of tho most striking passages:— Remember, soldiers and brothers, how the Jewish high priests sent an armed hand into the garden of Gethsemano against Christ. The Czar's Government has dono likewise. As tho teachings of Christ struck terror into tho hearts of tho high priests, so tho Duma filled the Czar and his Ministers with dread. But the Duma found its defenders. The -artillerymen of Sveahorg, the sailors of Kronstadt, the garrisons of Dashlagar/ and other fortresses raised high tho standard of Jwi and liberty, to ajengq the viola,-.

\ :tion of our national honour. Had ! ithdr daring been crowned with euc- ; cess, a new Duma would have been ! immediately convoked, possessing full' ■authority and elected from the whole jpooplo. It would have established hew! jaws in our country, just laws lor the Ipoor, tlio workers, and tho oppressed.' ; |lt would have given tho people land, j 'it ■ would have shortened the military I'service, and would havo furnished the i .army with a now, a better, and a just j organisation. Many soldiers, however, I -did not understand tho true interests lof the nation. They killed their comj rades, tlwir brother soldiers, in Kron- | stadt and Sveaborg. Even if you'hold | yourselves bound by your oath, remem- ■ t)oi' that you have sworn loyalty,' not I only to tho Czar, but to tho Father- ': land, to all tho toilers of Russia, to your families, your fathers, your broj tlions. Those who represented the i •■working classes in the Duma also represented tho Fatherland. . Tho Czar i dispersed them, thereby declaring liim[•self against the working classes. He deccivedtho Fathorlaml. Soldiers and comrades, fulfil your oalHi to tho I Fatherland and show which is dearer • to you the Czar or the Fatherland. 1 Soldiers, tho nation is rising for the ! struggle. Is your pb.ee in the ranks jof tho nation's betrayers? No, bro-: , thcrs, your place is in tho ranks of: ' tho fighters for the authority of thej ! peoplo and for tho convocation of a. I constituent Assembly. ' The times nl-j ;hw no delay. Hasten to choo&j your i ' part. Let those among you who lack; • tho coinage to enter into open bos-, | tilitiea against tho enemies of the pso-l i plo declare once and for all tlujt they; ■will not firo on their brothers, on sol-': (Tiers who may mutiny, on workmen ■ ) and on peasants. Let those who shrink; ■ from .standing openly in tho fight re- : I turn homo with -their arms. But let: i those whoso hearts are aflame with fire; j and wrath raise an armed hand against! (ho enemies of the people, against thoi j traitors and oppressors. May tho glory: ! of the warriors of Kronstadt and the, i heroes of Sveaborg shed its light upon; ) them. ! j FRENCH ADVICE TO THE CZArJ j M, Anatolo Loroy-Beaiilicii recently ' addressed the following letter to the | '-Temps" on tho bomb outrages at M. [Storypin's villa: "The'lesson taught by; j the outrage on Apothecaries Island is sinister, but clear. The policy which; ) has closed the doors of the Taurida Pal-' j nco has silenced the voice of the pcoI pie's representatives in order to bringi : security and peace to tho country. ; But it has manifestly miscarried.' The i attempt was already doomed to fail- : lire." : In a further passage the writer says: i "In having recourse to the severity of j police measures after the outrage, tho Russian Government docs not appaiI ently realise that it is-trying to cure j tho evil by the very methods which i woro the causo of its origin and j growth. : "Tho Czar will only find the moral ! force- necessary to tranquilise the coun- ; try in tho nation itself freely electing ; its own representatives. If he delays I summoning a new Duma, the Czar's ad- : risers will have to deplore still further i and possibly more august victims." I ASIATICS IN THE TRANSVAAL. A special Government "Gazott«" issued recently contains a 'draft ordinj anco regulating the residence of unin- ' dentured Asiatics in the Transvaal, a i question the importance of which has .; bsen overshadowed by the controversy 1 over indentured coolies. Tho present ; Government have already made it clear , that it is not their business to attempt ;• a -final solution of this tremendous' \ problem, which has been in existence ; for many years, and is common to all j , South Africa, and which in Natal in > ■• particular has reached unmanageable ! j proportions. That solution must bo: I left to the elected representative-, of- ■ tho people of.the colony, 'flip object, J of tho present legislation is simply to.' • preserve the status quo while remedy- 1 ; ing certain obvious injustices under'; '■ which Asiatics have laboured hitherto.; 1 In order to preserve tho status quo j 1 it is proposed to onact that all Asiatics I entitled- to resido in the Transvaalmust be registered afresh so as to ; "hiak'o possible the detection of unaii- [ tlioi-ised residents, of whom, in spile; of tho existing machinery, there has ■ admittedly been a considerable influx. Tho title to residence remains tho I same—namely, presence in the colony at tho close of tho war or birth in the colony since tho war or a permit duly issued under tho peaco preservation i crdinanco and its amendments—that is | to say, practically, the title is granted ■ to bona fido residents under the old re- ! K'mei As compensation for tho trouble of -' re-registration and the certainty .of ; the strict enforcement of the law in the i future, Asiatics aro at onco given roi dress of certain grievances which havp | only served to irritate them .without , by real compensating advantages. The ! registration tax of £3 is to be abolished. I Asiatics who acquired fixed property ; in tho Transvaal before the prohibition j law of 188G aro to be allowed to bequeath it to their heirs. Asiatic reI ligious communities are enabled to ac- ! quiro fixed property for the purposes of I places of worship. Finally, provision I is made for a system of temporary per- ■ inits and tho relaxation of the Jiquor i liconsing ordinance in such casos at tho discretion of the Government.' Tho British Committee of the Indian National Congress received on August 29 tho following telegram from Johannesburg:— "Tho draft Asiatic Ordinance ■which has been published contravenes all past promises, and in worse than the existing law which was taken from tho Boer regime. It shocks Indian sentiment. Womon and children over eight years are required to register their names. Indians, who have already been twice required by law to register, registered the last time voluntarily to pleaso Lord Milner. This third registration is both unnecessary and oppressive. Indians prefer a continuance j of tho old law to submitting to the ■ wanton indignity which tho proposed | .Ordinance contemplates. Tho charge j of unlawful entry is denied, and a corn- ! mission of inquiry is requested. I I NEW GERMAN POLITICAL PARTY. I Tho "Neuesto to'achrichten" announces that at the next elections an en- | deavour will be mado to found a GerI man middle-class party, j If this succeeds there will be 21 difI forent political parties represented' in ! the Reichstag. j . The new party is to protect and furj thcr tho interests, in' tho first place, I of tho artisans whose existence is j threatened by the development of tho l vast industrial concerns, and in the I second place of tho small shopkeepers, j who experience great'difficulty in holdi ing their own against .""the universal ; providers, who are making such hendj way in all great towns. Tho "Neuesto Nachrichten" suggests ! 'that tho interests of this 'middlc-clas | party would be better servo:! if they ! attached themselves to one of the Rad- ! ical parties, which has always shown : lan open heart for their needs, j THE WELLMAN POLAR EXPEDI- -.: . HON. ■ A recent telegram from Hammerfest. says tho following message has burn received from Mr Wellman in Spitz■bergen:— I '.' "I havo decided not to attempt tho i voyago.northward this year on account of defects in tho mechanical equipment of iny airship." According to tho announcement made last winter in anticipation of such possibilities, the expedition will continue next year. The party is now, completing a great balloon houso and oilier features of the i plant, and,is making experiments with j a view to tho campaign in 1007. Thj«

■-•,-' —*■* ''ft/hrilrV«Y.Wfc f ,-'■'. year in one of preparation, and n&cl; year will bo one of action. Our confidence in success next year is increased, by this summer's work and by weather otoorvations. Tho mot6rs'work well and the balloon is in good condition' but tho car will bo entirely rebuilt in Paris during the winter. The expedition will arrive hero next May, and j will find every thing ready, I this year tho whole summer Was consumed in building plant. I return to Europe in the middle of-SeptemM' loaving a small party of men. here to?' guard our headquarters:" ' ,t?