NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

VOTES FOR SOLDIERS. Votes for soldiers, -which the New Zealand Legislature provided for in connection with the general elections last year is a matter that has engaged the attention of the Canadian Parliament. A few months ago the Parliament passed a measure which secured for Canadians now fighting for the Empire the right to exercise the franchise in the event of an election taking place while the war is in progress. The Act provides for the distribution of ballot papers to Canadian soldiers or. active service, and for the papers to be forwarded to returning officers in Canada. Accordingly, should a Parliamentary general election take place in Canada, six scrutineers will be sent from the Dominion to the theatre of war to give effect to the j Act. " Apparently," says an English paper, " the Canadian soldiers themselves nave expressed no wish 10 exercise .the franchise, and it is stated that before the measure became law it was generally felt that the Bill was a mistake. Once introduced, however, it had to pass, because, so determined are the people of Canada to see this war through to a victorious conclusion, that no one would oppose the Bill for fear of being suspected of lacking in patriotism. For this reason, therefore, every man of the Canadian contingent has. by virtue of his enlistment, become a Parliamentary voter." GREAT BRITAIN'S LMPORTS. The September returns of the foreign trade of the United Kingdom contain some interesting information in regard to imports. The importations of iron and steel and manufactures thereof showed a decline under every heading except pig iron and steel blooms and billets. The imports of sheet bars and tinplate bars especially declined. In the case of steel blooms and billets, the cessation of imports from Germany and Belgium was more than counteracted by the enormous increase in those from the United States, from which country Great Britain received nearly 37,000 tons during the month, as compared with only 600 tons for September, 1913. Imports of copper and lead increased largely, but the imports of tin showed a reduction. Those of quicksilver and crude zinc fell considerably in quantity, but increased largely in value owing to higher prices. Import* of cutlery and hardware decreased both in quantity and value. The value of electrical goods imported showed a decline, which was most noticeable in the case of rubberinsulated wires and cables and telegraph and telephone apparatus. Machinery showed a considerable increase, largely owing to greater imports of road locomotives and machine tools. Imports of cotton manufactures fell in value by about 24 per cent., and those of woollen manufactures by about 80 per cent. Those of jute manufactures more than doubled in value, but those of linen yarn almost disappeared. Imports of silk manufactures showed little change, whilst imports of clothing, boots and shoes, and hate all showed substantial redactions. Of other goods, the most important increases were in dye stuffs and tanning substances-, in undressed and dressed leather, and in motor-cars. Imports of earthernware and glass, of painters' colours, and of printed paper showed large reductions.