NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

TUBKEY'S NEW: EE A. . Everyone knows the secluded life ft j Turkish lady has had to lead up to the present. , With the hew 'Constitution, however, and' its reforms, life is going to be changed ■ for | those who have aeon kept in the background for so long. " Freedom, absolute freedom," were the worde used by a Turkish lady the other day when asked what difference the Constitution would make in her life. So far they have been allowed to receive their lady friends, call on them, and go for drives, but there was no freedom in this life, and even when driving they had to be closely veiled. The veil will not bo done away with, but a lighter one will be worn; and this will be more often lifted. Gradually, as time goes on, the veil will disappear, at least thiß is the present opinion, but now it would not be understood, especially by the uneducated class, just the same as if ladies started at once going about with their husbands to public functions and ( I amusements. At present - the only know-' i ledge the Turkish lady has of the outside [ world ie what she has read in books, and what she has heard from her foreign sisters, but in the future the women folk will be allowed to travel. Gradually they are to enjoy a more interesting life, they will go about with their parents and husbands, they will gee different countries, will be able to mix more with people, and get to know something about the world as they see it for themselves, and not have to rely on hearsay. Verv few Turkish ladies have ever been away from the place they were born in ; a few have got away, and under the old regime would not have been allowed to return, but now that is all changed, and in future wives will go abroad when their husbands are Bent. Later on, no doubt, children will be sent away for their education. The present dress will only undergo a slight modification. Instead of the shapeless out-of-door cloak, the Turkish lady can now wear well-fitting dresses, or jackets and skirts.

JAPAN AND TARIFF REFORM. From the China Gazette we take the following passages from the • speech recently made by Count Okuma to a meeting of the Conference of Chambers of Commerce, at iokio. "At the present time," said Count Okuma, " the problem was to secure victory in the coming tariff war. The existing circumstances point to a probability that the tariff systems of . the world are about to undergo great changes. In Great Britain the Chamberlain fiscal policy was at first rejected, but it appears from the results of the recent elections that tins policy is now attracting the British, public. There are, in fact, indications that the foundations of the British fre« trade system, which has lasted for about 70 years, will be shaken. In the event of thii change being effected in Great Britain, a great tariff war will be waged throughout the world, with the result of a.victory for Great Britain, owing to the large wealth and population of the Empire. It is impossible for Germany and America to vie with Great Britain in such a struggle, although the war may v last for a year or two. At the end of that time the various Powers will enter into treaties establishing tariffs at reasonable rates. That period may arrive before the rise of Japanese commerce and industries has fairly commenced. Realising in what direction affairs- aro trending,. ' both ; .the , American, parties are • already making the tariff question the basis of their political platforms. It therefore behoves Japan to pay great attention to the coming tariff revision in this country. Japan must be an exporting nation. 1 0'. v .'.'": ,'l .'l 1 ".,, , .\ N .;