CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 17

CURRENT TOPICS.

RUSSIA AND GREAT BRITAIN. The announcement that the two Foreign Offices have come to an amicable understanding is the most important that has been conveyed to us by the cable since the war scare of 1885, and special force is given to it by the explanation that the agreement is not an alliance, but an agreement to settle all differences peaceably. It means that the two great Powers who are all po verf ul in Asia have agreed to discover that there is ample room for both to work out their destinies without menace and without friction. Extremists are of course sceptical, and their persistent spokesman, Professor Yambery, has lost no time in recording a characteristic protest. But tho arrangement for all that may be to the advantage of humanity. If it works well it will release the tension of the old Eastern question which gave us the Crimean war, very nearly gave us another in 1878, as nearly did the same in 1885, was responsible for two wars in Afghanistan, and is a perpetual menace to the peace of the world. The peace traditions of Alexander 111. are bearing fruit, and the marriage of Nicholas 11. to the granddaughter of the EmpressQueen is probably not without its effect in bringing about the new state of things. THE CHANCE FOR TIMBER. We are pleased to note that the opportunity is being vigorously pushed by the Government. On that side there is no faltering, no paltering, no hesitation. Quite alive to the necessity for taking advantage of a new opening the Government is. What is required is the cooperation of the particular interest which the Government is pressing forward. The opportunity for getting the timbers of New Zealand to the front in the largest market of the world is unique and unprecedented. As we have more than once pointed out, certain of our timbers have been declared to be the best in the world for paving purposes, and the experts have at'uho same time given them first place for beauty of furnishing. The unexpected has happened after long expectation. It is a paradoxical way of putting it, but there is no other that fits the position quite so well. The Government recognises the position perfectly, while the doctrinaires keep on remiftdip£ that the exports do not pay

for the imports and the public and private interest. They are not accurate by any means; they are to a certain and a large extent misleading. But there is enough in their subject to prove that it is a good thing to try and add to the available going assets of the Colony. They therefore justify this new departure in regard to the colonial timbers. The -departure, however, has the great advantage of speaking for itself. It does so in the circular sent round to the sawmillers which we publish elsewhere. All that is required is the co-operation of the sawmilling interest. The sawmillers of Westland liave agreed to find 100,000 feet of timber for the first venture. The Government offer practically the same terms as Tasmanian Government gave the other day 7as we showed. Southland, Wellington and Auckland, should find another 100,000 apiece, -and then the business will be started. After the first venture the sawmillers should form their association, and push the trade. The Government is prepared, we understand, to encourage the settlers lo*utilise the timber they now destiny. That will help the business largely. With welldirected enterprise and enlightened competition, the timbers of New Zealand ought to add appreciably to the volume of our exports. THE CABLE SERVICE. It is, we presume, the necessity for economy which has driven the Victorian Government to the determination to withdraw from the joint guarantee. When a Premier openly admits that every shilling has been absorbed, even the shillings that ought to be kept available, And when the estimated deficit for the year is half a million, and when there is an outcry against the unpalatable direct taxation which is declared to be inevitable, we can understand a Government making a wry face at <£12,000 a year. More especially as the popular impression is that the mercantile class alone gets the benefit of reduced cable charges. The impression is erroneous, but in politics there are times when erroneous impressions count for much. It will be humiliating to Victoria if the whole of Australasia is driven by Victorian false economy back to the old cable rates. .Victoria's main object in her present difficulties is manifestly to encourage trade and stimulate production. A low cable rate is undoubtedly one of the methods of encouraging these factors of national prosperity. We trust Victoria may not be too panic-stricken to take the enlightened view that becoming boldness is her proper course. Mr Ward, we learn, is urging the Victorian Governmentto reconsider its deplorable decision, and trying to unite the Governments of the continent in support of his remonstrance. We trust he will be successful. ■ SAMOA. j ' The action of President Cleveland clears the atmosphere somewhat, and may clear it a good deal more. The comment that the President fears to tread -where the New Zealand Premier is rushing in is hardly fair, because the cases are not at all parallel. The United States are not a colonising people; their policy is selfcontained, they have enough to do in their own large territory; they are averse to all policies of acquisition except on their own Continent, recognising that their destiny is to carry their flag to the South ; and they would not object to carry it North also if they could. The British Empire represents a policy exactly opposite. Australasia is vitally interested in the Pacific, and New Zealand as the outlying colony of the group has special interests to conserve. The move for , a decisive course came therefore properly from New Zealand, and was for that reason very generally applauded. American and German interests stood in the way, and of these the former are in a fair way of being abandoned. Should the President’s advice be followed in that respect, the German interests ought not to prove too difficult for judicious diplomacy to adjust. It is a mere question of an equivalent, and the country which surrendered Heligoland can find equivalents in plenty. Whether the Prime Minister of Great Britain sneered at the New Zealand proposal we have yet to learn. But if he did we are not aware that any sneer of his can detract from a project which is statesmanlike and reasonable. We repeat that the President's Message may have a distinctly good effect by clearing the way for the British command of a great highway of British commerce.