NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10080, 16 March 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Some of the most suggestive statistics have been drawn up in various quarters on Great Britain's trade in 1895. Three things seem to stand out quite clearly from those statement?. First, that trade showed a considerable revival; second, that prices were the lowest on record ; third, that the profits to Great Britain were enhanced by the down grade movemont in values. Thus, in 1895, British imports amounted to £416,087,000 as against £408,345,000 in 1894 ; the exports in 1895 amounted to £226,169,000 as against £215,824,000 in 1894. The fall in prices is seen when it is stated that had 1894 prices been maintained, the £416,000,000 of imports would have realised £433,000,000, and tho £226,000,000 exports £234,000,000. As against 1890, the difference is enormously greater. Mr. Sauerbeck, in his annual index numbers in the Times, points out that the average of 1895 was 62; of 1894, 63; of 1892, 68 ; and of 1890, 72. How, then, does it come that larger profits wore secured in 1895 than in 1894 ? Tho explanation is simplicity itself. The fall in the value of the goods manufactured and exported was smallor than in the value of the raw material imported. Had prices been kept up in 1595 Groat Britain should have paid £17,000,000 more for imports, and obtained only £8,600,000 mora for exports. It follows that the difference of £8,400,000 is to her advantage. Lower prices are not, therefore, necessarily an unmitigated evil. With the whole world protected against her she manages nob only to sell her goods, but to profit by a condition of things which on superficial examination appears wholly disadvantageous.

There has been considerable discussion for some time in England on the question of whether it is necessary to retain the distinctive names of " Liberal Unionists " and Conservatives in the governing party. The Duke of Devonshire has written a letter on the subject, in which he points out that there can and must be no abandonment of the name and flag of Liberal Unionism until such time as the official and responsible leaders of the mad movement have either disowned ib or have retired from public life, like Mr. Gladstone. And the Duke added: "lb would be a misfortune if, by the premature lelinquiahraent of the name and organisation which have done such good service to the Unionist cause, any of our friends should feel themselves compelled to make a choice between the Liberal name and principles which they have never abandoned and the Unionism which may appear to have ceased for the moment to be a practical or urgent question." The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article on the letter, says " We should bemad to surrender a stone of the Imperial fortress, a flag of Its

j pttlements, while the Bec ti on w( , r~~ he integrity of the United Kin,, ] Wl ' J She Irish vote still waits to see if a " ' Qt way be picked up from the brnU 6 condemned bargain." a ' 1( l

The Westminster Budget, i„ aom9 n sonal reminiscences of Sir Joseph P P , sr ' S ay»:-;' I t wa ß touching toseeihepC: s '' m hls k,nd, open face, if, permit ' mentioned some of his companion ' expressed a liking for them. On one " *» he got UP from his corner T down his pipe, and played J K humming , ho air a3 ||(3 ' *>«. beautiful part-song which « ' ' all the world over, •«Sweet and L O , '"7 one had not known Sir .Joseph to L ' exceptionally straightforward man ° detested shams with a great one might at first almost have been ten,,. I to imagine that his was somethir."mock humility. But it was not - t ~, " w ' the same at all times, and a word ,"f miration touched him as deeply, w ,\ , received with as much gaatitude, as if ' stead of bemrr one of the most em'in"' musicians of the day. he was but a menT. of the rank-and-file."

There is every indication (hut <; r , , Britain will have to do some li.-hii,', maintain order and good govern:"..'.' Egypt, for the Dervishes are b-v-'n..'! troublesome, and, under the leader..),,,, Osman Digna, are threatening k Twolvo battalions of Egyptian i„f,J r '!' with one hundred British officer-- in c mand, and a battalion of C 0,,,, iu ',v Rangers, have boon put in motion, u.,'i are marching to tho scene of the dis'onler A Belgian expedition has attacked 'lie |i,,' vislies on the Uppor Nile. The Fin, c declare that Britain is simply seeki,,.- an excuse for postponing the evacuation o| Egypt, Negotiations for peace have ben opened between Italy and Abyssinia, :n----8° far matters have not progressed fa'v -" ably. The Italians regard the *, humiliating to their country, Mendk however, seems to be very" strong, and could roview 100,000 fighting men,' We i] armed and provisioned, in tho presence of the Italian onvoy. The latest inferin i;i- n regarding Transvaal affairs is to the eflJci that Mr. Chamberlain has state! that it is possible the convention admitting the suzerainty of Great Brirain might be abrogated, if President Kruger re dressed the grievances of the Uithnderf and granted the franchise to the Briii-l residents. Mr. Chamberlain suggest* , treaty of amity under which Britain woulc guarantee the independence of the public. It is stated that since notico rc terminate the Triple Alliance has not been given it is to be considered as renewed for six years. Mr. Gladstone is denouncing certain Russian statesmen for receiving honours from Turkey, He declare* thai Russia's attitude of late will make her responsible for any futuro outrages that maj occur.