CABLES.

North Otago Times, 24 May 1909, Page 2

CABLES.

*_- it_ ■-< HOME AND IOBEIGN. \liy Electric Tolegraph.^Cooyright.) Per Press Association. Recoived lay 23, at 4,45 p.m. London, May 23. lord Northcofo presided at jthe Australian banquet in the Trooodero, at which I'JO guests were present. lord Charles Berqeford, the, guest of tbo evening, said that tho Dominions could best help the Empire not by spending two (millions in battleships toi serve in British waters, but by making efforts to save themselves. The only way.tho Dominions could bo hurt was by tho cutting of trade routes. Torpedo boats and submarines in dominion waters would not avert that danger. It was unlikely .that a foreign-cruiser, could enter a Dominion harbor and blow tho town to pieces, but it would attach it-

soli to, tho waterboumq cqminorce,' Lord Charles Berqsford said tko investment, of Wo millions in

hemo defence and in : cruisers which could protect trada routes would'boa bote investment .than helping to do fend Br tain's Bliores.'

Commencing with cruisers, thq Dominions might eventually have larger craft. Tlioy could havo fleets rendyequipped before ■ tho Rosyth base was finished. It wan essential that, those fleets ba controlled und administered by tho Dominions, but in war they should join tho Imperial fleet, whila in peaco tlioy should join tho Mediterranean fleet,) and tho officers and men could bo interchangeable. That would bo an efficient method of making h'n Imperial navy. Then wilion any part of the Empire was alltacked the wholo Empire would, go as ono great service to its inssistnnce.

Ha said without doubt Australia had splendid men,' but training was essential. They could not learn their duties in a month or in a year, or oven in'two years, "If things go on as they are go' ing now," ho said, "iti will bo impossible to maintain itha two-power standard Jut tlia-t ctvif oasijy toa kep* up if wo linvo an Imperial navy." Ho considered it absolutely necessary that eight battleships bo built this year, but these wera insufficient for the-fleet wo shall havo to form owing to tho deferred obligations of (he last four years. There was no need for panic. Mr Coghlan proposed "British and Foreign' Trade," and (Mr ißason "Success to the Imperial Press Conference," to whicli Mr J. 0. Pairfax, of Sydney replied. Received May 23, at 4.30 p.m. . London, May 22.

At the Colonial Institute banquof The Hon. A. Lyttclton presided. He said he considered that ■the port Britain and the overseas Dominions wdrc to play 'during the nest century largely depended on <tho coming Defence .Conference.

The Chairman said ha wasin absolute accord with Canada and Australia in thc( desire (to possess their own navies. Everything ought to-be done to foster a spirit of nationality in the colonies; thus Britain would dcrivo greater benefit than from mere contributory aid, He beliovod ' this

ivas the present Government's view. But it was necessary that these navies should have "their place in the Imperial organisation, and time was required to form national defences and cxerciso them in readiness for war.

Tho coming Conference, he said, migilit supply a formula of uniot which at present was missing. When

Australia and Canada arrived at their full stature they would take their natural places among 'theiforces of tho Empiro as a whole- under comprehensive patriotism, Tin Chairman referred, amid cheers, to 'New Zealand's splendid audacity in offering two Dreadnoughts, Tho speakers included Sir Gilbert Parker, the Agents-General, and Anglo-Colonials, Speaking at Lowestoft, Mi Macnainarn announced that by Easter of 1912 tho fleet would be so strengthened that Germany could not approach us, and the fact that ours too tho latest and most efficient types should add to the margin of superiority.

Several newspapers report that owing to the revival of'tho Triple AMianco aiv.l 'ltaly'9 and Austria's decision to l.uild Dreadnoughts, the British Govr nmant will build eight Dreadnoughts during tho present financial year, besides accelerating the production of guns and |arnior. Mr Asquith is t > bo iquestioncd on the subject.

Mn Balfour, addressing the Women's Unionist a..J Tariff -Reform'Association at St. James' Theatre, declared that thero was a universal impression lamong all classes in nil parts of tho count .y that tariff reform had got to corns and was coming. 'lt was impossLlo to contimuo piling direct taxation 'on small -sections of the community and heaping direot taxation on one or two articles of gen-, era] consumption. If tho Government were thus inevitably driven to some kind of gereral tariff it wo-uld -be folly not to use it in safeguarding our trade and uniting mora closely the colonics. The present system could not bo in tho direction of enabling tho Mother Country to do what tho colonies ask.

Mr Balfour urged tho necessity for sympathy in regard to Imperial finance, ar.d an Imperial policy, and dwelt upo;i tho vitality of the nocossity imposed on tho Empire, by forces slowly but surety shaping themselves in various parts of the world, to organise itself in the consciousness of its common needs, destinies and perils.

The Mo.herlnnd must show the colonics that sympathy with their aims and methods which goes beyond the mere production of n certain number of ships and guns, and must unite ih tho feeling of common interests o! everybody engaged in commercial and industrial work',

Mr Ralfour added : " The colonies demonstrate a desire for tho fiscal union of the Erapiro; are we, when driven to adopt a system lending itself in .preference, going to refuse the pivierence witliin our reach ? It would bo national madness to pursue such a policy, and I do not believe the country -will pursue it." Received ihy 24, at 1.5 a.m. London, May 23.

The woo! catalogued was 179,000 bales ; sold to Home buyers 88,000, lo the Continent 61,000, America 23,000, held over 10,000 bales, Compared with the Marsh closing rates best greasy merinos, suitable for America, advanced 10 to 15 per cent, average sorts fully *i\ per cent, good scoured 1\ to 10 per cent, faulty 5 per cant, fine crossbred for America 10 per cent, medium, lower, fine medium and top making sorts 10 per cent, coarse 7-J to 10 per cent; merinos and lambs fully 5 per cent, erossbreds'lO per cent higher. Gear sold at 9jd,

AUSTBALIAtf NEWS. By Electrifl Telegraph .—Copyright, Per Press Association, iU'Ce'ied May 22, at 7 p.m. Sydney, May 22. Arrived—Lattdcrtlnle, from .%v Zealand. Sailod (3.15 p.m.)— Manuka. The Underwriters' 'Association arcadvised,that tho ship Nodcrland, from Melbourne (March 23rd) for the English Channel, wlioat-ladcn, put into Coquimbo owing to stress of weather. The captain, itho second officer and five seamen were drowned. Melbourne, May 22. Arrivcd-ifoana.