CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 32

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA. What tho Premier said at Rotorua about tho Public Works policy was, with two exceptions, sot out in his Public Works Statement of last sossion. Those two exceptions were tho purchase of tho Manawatu Railway and tho completion of tho Midland. Tho former of tlieso ho mentioned in terms which justified tho impression that immodiato stejis would bo taken. 'To tho 1 second, ho was contont with referring as a necessary thing, saying nothing about the timo when it would bo undertaken. Out of this material many of the critics of the Government managed to manufacture a huge borrowing policy of enormous proportions and rockless oxpondituro. Tho result of that criticism was scon only tho other day in an article republished hero from tho llobart Mercury, which took upon itself to lecture tho Government of Now Zealand handsomely on tho extravagance of its intentions. Tho result is all tho more extraordinary as many of tho opponents of tho Government in Now Zealand wero plainly disappointed that they had not determined to throw a lingo loan proposal before tho House. Nevertheless, they managed to produco tho impression that tho non-borrowing Government had at last thrown off tho mask. This impression tho Premier’s speech at Hokitika has effectually dispollod. Wo pointed out after tho Rotorua speech that tho Premier had, whilo keeping to tho lines of tho Public Works Statement, indicated a forward policy within tho moans of the Colony, fair to all tho districts, prudent, and yet sufficiently forward to satisfy o very body oxeopt tho would-be borrowers of ton millions. Wo pointod out, in commenting on his remarks at Rotorua, that tho Manawatulino could bo purchased without tho risk of having to got a shilling from the taxpayer, that tho Midland Railway, if its completion woro to bo arranged for in tho spirit of the Promior’a announcement, must ho relegated to the Midland Company, and that a million would do tho rest, adding that tho points mentioned by the Premier for carrying tho two big railways to—tho Northern Trunk and tho Otago Central—had boon fixed by committees of the House of Representatives. Wo mention this to show that there was no excuse for misunderstanding tho Premier’s announcement of policy at Rotorua. As it was misunderstood, tho Premier did tho right thing in sweeping away tho result at Hokitika. In view of his statement at tho latter place that there will bo no loan proposal at all, wo have only to add to our former remarks that tho expenditure of the million to which wo then roforrod will probably havo to bo spread over some years. Wo confess that we should not havo boon sorry to see a million loan for tho

completion of the works named, in the Public Works Statement—Otago Central, Grand Trunk and Eketahuna-Woodville—-at a more rapid rate than the rates of the past few years, on the principle that if a thing has to be done it had better be done quickly. But we are content, and the country is, we feel, with us, to wait for the Treasurer’s next Financial Statement in the hope that, without recourse to the London market, means may be proposed for bringing about this very desirable consummation.

The rest of the speech was a vigorous defence of the policy and administration of the Government. Nothing could be better than the justification of the land policy, the financial policy was well handled, the reference to the banking legislation and the prospects of the Bank was complete, unanswerable and reassuring, an d t* 1 ® happy phrase “ spoils to the vanquished used in connection with a certain very improper proceeding concluded a very ihir reply to the charge of “ spoils to the victors.” With regard to the last, it is, of course, quite true that two blacks do not make a white, but the fact remains that the Government, so far from establishing a now system, have not gone so far a s some of their predecessors. A great deal too much has been made of this matter. All Governments exercise patronage to some extent, and so long as the public service does not suffer, let criticism be directed to things of graver import. Moreover, it is a fact that the patronage of this Government has not been confined by any means to its friends. It is not. the first Government that has so behaved, it is true; but let the fact be remembered, not ignored. Lastly, Mr Seddon’s reference to the Premiership revives a subject which was referred to last year, about the beginning of the session. On that occasion we showed that Mr Seddon was quite justified in acting as he had done. The corroboration he introduced into his Hokitika speech strengthens his case. Mr Ballance may have had his wishes as to his successor, but he was too wise a man not to recognise that the appointment lay with the party, and that his lieutenant was the proper person to hold the position until the party could declare its mind. There are here two things. The regrettable misunderstanding that has arisen over the question of the leadership was due to the fact that the distinction between them was lost sight of. The only pity is that this was not recognised when the party finally chose Mr Seddon. It should be recognised now, and the matter should be regarded as finally cleared of misunderstanding THE WOOLLEN COMPANY. We congratulate the Woollen Company on the conclusion of the little uncomfortable episode in their history. A searching investigation, an admirable report, a meeting which blew off the steam, and the election of a strong board —and things are in good trim once more. Business capacity, financial judgment and .expert knowledge are combined in the new board in a degree happy enough to ensure success to the Company’s operations. We see no reason why this, one of the most valuable of our institutions, should not command it.

ME GLADSTONE AND THE ARMENIAN ATROCITIES. Everyone wao reads that the Sultan is infuriated by the outspokenness of Mr Gladstone will feel proud of the courage and lofty spirit of the veteran statesman. The “ inconsistencies ” of Mr G ladstone are a favourite subject with his political enemies who do not understand the greatness of mind which sets truth before everything. But in his denunciation of injustice and wrong Mr Gladstone has never swerved. Forty-five years ago he made a tremendous sensation by his exposure of the Neapolitan prison'system. Being in Naples on a holiday, he happened to be present at the trial of the patriot Poerio, and was shocked at the means employed to procure his condemnation, and indignant at the sentence of imprisonment for life passed upon him. He set himself with characteristic energy to study the administration of King Ferdinand 11., and he visited the prisons, saw the prisoners, and made himself acquainted with the whole subject. The result was the publication of the famous “ Letter to Lord Aberdeen,” a pamphlet of tremendous vigour, in which the whole story of what he had seen and discovered was set forth with abundance of sickening detail. The sensation it produced was European. No one talked of anything else ; the 70 deputies in prison or exile out of 140, the 20,000 people imprisoned on political charges, and their sufferings, were discussed in every Continental capital, and the indignation throughout Great Britain was immense. In the session of 1851 Sir De Lacy Evans, the Liberal member for Westminster, asked Lord Palmerston if the Minister at Naples had been instructed “to use his influence in the cause of humanity.” Lord Palmerston replied that the British Government could not make formal representations to the Government of Naples on a matter relating to the internal affairs of the country. He added, however, that he had thought it right to circulate the pamphlet throughout Europe by sending copies to the British Ministers at the various Courts, with instructions to give copies to each Government. In making the announcement, he paid a noble tribute to Mr Gladstone, which at this distance of time is worth reproducing: — I think, said Lord Palmerston, that Mr Gladstone has done himself very great honour by the course he pursued at Naples, and by the course he has since followed. For I think that when you see an English gentleman who goes to pass a winter at Naples—instead of confining himself to those amusements that abound in that city—instead of diving into volcanoes and exploring excavated cities—when we see him going to courts of justice, and visiting prisons, descending into dun-

goons, and examining great numbers of unfortunate victims oE illegality and. injustice, with a view afterwards to enlist public opinion in tho endeavour to remedy those abuses —I think that is a course which does honour to the person that pursues it: and I concur in opinion with him that the influence of public opinion in Europe might .have some influence in setting such matters right.

Public opinion everywhere was roused, and the Neapolitan Government finding itself universally condemned relaxed its severity and opened its prisons. Poerio, the man at whose trial Mr Gladstone conceived his lino project, was the first to feel the benefit of his pamphlet. Reviewing the whole story the Edinburgh Review soon after, an opponent of Mr Gladstone, said “we confess we envy his party a man whose talents Ave have often admired, but whose generosity of feeling had not been sufficiently appreciated.” Rather more than a quarter of a century after the [powerful voice was once more raised. It was in 1876, after the terrible accounts of the atrocities in Bulgaria had been written by the celebrated McGalian, the greatest of correspondents, as Archibald Forbes called him. Mr Gladstone questioned the Government in the House, and got no satisfaction. He published his pamphlet on “The Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East.” Public opinion Avas roused once more throughout Great Britain, and the pamphlet was everywhere quoted and discussed. “ Anarchical misrule,” “ The murderous desolation of B ulgaria,” were in every newspaper, and one expression, “ the expulsion of the Turk bag and baggage,” became especially famous. Speeches everywhere followed at meetings great and small, all of Avhich Mr Disraeli characterised as “the harebrained chatter of irresponsible folly,” and the discussion raged considerably. In the House of Commons Mr Gladstone moved his famous resolution censuring the Porte for the evasive reply it had made to the despatch of Lord Derhy > regarding the atrocities, hut was defeated by a majority of 151. But though unsuccessful in Parliament, Mr Gladstone had the nation Avith him, and, therefore, may be said to have prevented the Aveight of Great Britain from being thrown into the scale on the Turkish side. The “bag and baggage ” policy was effectually carried out by Russia by the end of the following year, 1878. Part of Mr Gladstone’s speech in the Commons during the above debate is worth reading, as showing the spirit in which he has taken up the Armenian question.

The time is short; the sands of the hourglass are running out. The longer you delay, the less in all likelihood you Avill be able to save from the wreck of the .independence and integrity of the Turkish Empire. If Russia should fail, her failure Avould be a disaster to mankind, and the condition of the suffering races, for whom Ave are supposed to have laboured, will be worse than it Avas before. If she succeeds, and her conduct bo honourable — nay, even if it be tolerably prudent—the performance of the work she has in hand will, notAvithstanding all your jealousies and reproaches, secure for her an undying fame. When that work shall be accomplished, though it be not in the Avay and by the means I would have chosen, as an Englishman I shall hide my head, but as a man I shalL rejoice. Nevertheless, to my latest day I Avill exolaim, .Would God that in this crisis the voice of the nation had been suffered to prevail ! Would God that in this great, this holy deed, England had not been refused her share! The third time is now. Mr Gladstone has given us something like a repetition of the “ bag and baggage ” speeches of 1876, and the matter has entered on the usual course of denial, doubt and discussion. There is this difference, that the British Government has no predilection for the Turk, and no desire to look at things through favourable spectacles. Another important point is that the British and Russian Governments are friendly, more friendly than they have ever been since the Crimean war. A formal agreement to arrange differences amicably was entered into the other day, and that has been followed by a substantial concession in tho Pamir country by Russia. JMoreover, the Porte has agreed to an independent commission of inquiry. And, as yet, public opinion has noAvheve been roused. Diplomatically, the position is so far perfectly safe. The feature of principal interest is the eAndence Mr Gladstone has given that he still possesses the energy, spirit and determination to defend the oppressed Avhich he used so effectively nearly half a century ago. The development of the situation in Armenia will not bo without the impress of his master mind, and the opinion of his countrymen about his attitude will be the same as the opinion which Lord Palmerston so happily expressed in dealing Avith tho Aberdeen letter which so strongly moved a byegone generation.

THE TARIFF COMMISSION. There was only one Pecksniff, and there is only one “ Superior Person.” Why there was only one Pecksniff we need not stop to enquire. Why there is but one “ Superior Person” we are reminded daily. He is superior to facts ; he is superior to figures ; as a prophet his superiority is appalling ; he has just assumed the superior role, of conscience - keeper to Messrs Duthie and T. Mackenzie—who are both, in his opinion, fit to be members of the Tariff Commission —and his superiority as a critic of the other Commissioners is characteristic. The main fallacy underlying his criticism is that the Tariff Commission is set up to consider the question of Freetrade v. Protection, and to decide in favour of Protection. The real question is the adjustment of the anomalies, of which the Customs Tariff is, as everybody, who is not “ Superior,” is quite well aware, is full. Another fallacy is that the Commission is supposed to consist of commercial experts. None of them “pose as commercial experts,” not even Mr Duthie, who is dubbed a commercial expert by the “ Superior Person,” nor Mr T. Mackenzie, who, without any more pretension to expert rank than any of those fiercely described as not experts, is pronounced by the “ Superior

Person” to be quite fit to serve on the Commission. Why Mr Mackenzie, who is not an expert, should be fit to serve Avhen others are condemned for not being experts nobody can understand, and nobody is likely to care. As to Mr Duthie, who is Superiorly branded “ expert,” it is of course clear that he has considerable commercial knoAvledge ; but it is equally clear that if he is an expert at all he is an expert in one line. He has, we feel sure, no more idea of posing as the possessor of expert knoAvledge of the Avhole tariff from end to end than he has of taking the “Superior Person’s” advice to refuse to act. The fact, of course, is that the value of a Tariff Commission depends very largely on the evidence of the Avitnesses examined. We in ay, therelore, remind the “ Superior Person,” in passing, that when the Commission makes a report contrary to the weight of the evidence it Avill be -time for him to charge them Avith the fact. At present his prophetic instincts, though good enough to induce him to make Superior assertions, are not of any value to anyone. Besides beixig valueless, they are wrong. Major Steward is not a subservient Ministerialist; he has, on the contrary, a sore feeling against Ministers on account of the Speakership. But he is a man of just mind and very conscientious, as his decisions during his tenure of the Speaker’s chair very fully testify. To refer to Mr Tanner as a blind follower is too ludicrous to be anything but a wilful perversion on the part of a writer Avho has betrayed some acquaintance with the course of Parliamentary business. Mr Tanner is one of the most independentminded, determined men in the House, and as fair as he is independent ; just as unlikely to take orders as to the exercise of his judgment in the capacity of a commissioner as Mr Duthie. Mr Hutchison has a fair mind on this tariff question ; Mr McGowan has gh r en many evidences of sound judgment, knowledge of the world, and independence of character; and Mr Stevens, Avho hails from a country district, cannot by any stretch of imaginative explanation bo regarded as likely to display rabid Protectionist tendencies. Why the callings of these men should be sneeringly referred to is a question interesting only to students of snobbery. The Tariff Commission is, on the whole, a fairly good commission, and may be expected to do reliable work. INTERFERENCE WITH BELLIGERENTS. It is impossible to credit the report (from Shanghai) that Admiral Freemantlo was ordered to us 6 force to prevent the Japanese squadron from entering- the Yang - tse - Kiang. Such an interference with the l-ig'hts of a belligerent would not be tolerated for a moment, and Avould have been the subject before this of very earnest diplomatic protest. If the British Government gave any &uch order to their Admiral as that represented, it could only have been after agreement to that effect with all the Powers who are Avatching the struggle in Eastern waters with no less keenness and anxiety. . In that case the orders would have been made public. But it is notorious that Lord Rosebery’s attempt some months ago to obtain a European concert Avas a dismal failure, and was so denounced by nearly every journal in London. The more likely explanation of the neglectwf the Japanese to send a squadron into the great Chines© river is that such an expedition is not part of their strategic plan, which strikes at the capital, and has no force to spare for desultory operations.

AN ENLIGHTENED PLAN. The great difficulty of the timber trade in every colony is the difficulty of gettingseasoned timber. In fact unless a steady supply in bulk of seasoned timber can be relied' on, it is useless to seek outlets in distant markets. The only result of sending away unseasoned timber will be a bad name and consequent death to the industry. Those engaged in the trade are perfectly aware of the fact, but for lack of capital are powerless to cope with it. Invention has come to their assistance with artificial processes for hastening the work of nature in this respect. Is the trade availing itself of those facilities ? Not in New Zealand wo fear. But in Sydney, a cable message informs us this week, a large plant for seasoningtimber is about to be erected on a site given by the Government in a busy part of the harbour, and thore is the further information that the Government intend building- a wharf close by for ocean-going ships. The process employed is said to bo able to do the work of seasoning in three weeks. That is an example for New Zealand to follow as fast as possible. It is well known that no rimu was available for the trial shipment to London because of the difficulty of getting it seasoned. Now there are millions in rimu. Where is the enterprise to get a seasoning plant ? We trust not far off.

FOG SIGNALS. The Shipmasters’ Association have received a cable message strongly recommending- them to advocate the use of cotton powder fog signals at all lig-ht-houses: as used at the Eddystone and other important stations in Great Britain. We have to thank the Secretary for the information. It is true that the transmission of sound in foggy and cloudy weather is very uncertain, so uncertain as to be regarded as _ amongst things capricious. A series of reports from the United States and other countries is, wo learn, in the hands of the Mai-ine Department, illustrating this curious fact, showing by carefully prepared diagrams the very erratic course of sound Under circumstances which make steady, reliable results very desirable. And there is, we may add, local information to the same effect in the department’s possession. Still, though fog - signalling is imperfect, it stands to reason that some signalling is better than none at all. The recommenda-

> tion of the Association will, therefore, we | have no doubt, obtain the attention and ! weight which the advice of a competent • ' body of men in possession of good informa- ■ tion deserves. , THE FATALITY ON BOARD THE i - BULIMBA. ; Tee explanation of the engine-room people i is the most extraordinary we ever remember to have heard. If that explanation is correctly reported, the engineers, or some of them, warned the unhappy young woman of the danger of going near the machinery when in motion, and seem to regard that warning as an exculpation of their weak- • ness in yielding to her persistency. It is of course the strongest condemnation of their conduct, for it is an admission that they who knew the danger allowed a per£ son to incur it who was ignorant and foolish. We would not be in their position for a great deal. The result of their weakness ought to be a lesson to all who are in charge of machinery. THE COLONIAL TREASURER’S MISSION. Mb Ward, as we anticipated some days ago, is to proceed to England on public business. What the business is we are not informed. But the Cabinet has, we observe, decided unanimously that, whatever the business is, Mr Ward should go and attend to it. Now it is perfectly obvious that in large questions of public interest requiring delicate negotiations there must be often a proper reticence. When a private negotiator goes off on a trip to a distant market he carries his heart with him, but he does not wear it on his sleeve for daws to peck at. The same rule applies to the conduct of public business. The duty of the public critic on such occasions is sufficiently discharged by a consideration of the capacity of the representative man selected by unanimous consent of his colleagues. In this case the duty is easy. The Postal Conference has shown very emphatically what it thinks of Mr Ward’s capacity as a man of business, and a man of integrity. No greater compliment has ever been paid to any public man in Australasia than the compliment implied directly by the change in the programme of the Postal Conference, made avowedly to suit Mr Ward’s convenience. This has struck even Opposition critics in this country. Indeed, one of them, who is not remarkable for saying kind things of the present Government, has with great emphasis, and without any qualification whatever, remarked upon the significance of the action of the Postal Conference. He has in good set terms paid Mr Ward the compliment which is deservedly his in consequence of that very uncommon resolution; the only resolution of the kind, on lecord in the annals of Australasian intercolonial business. The capacity of Mr Ward for important work thus stands admitted. It is a reputation he has earned by a striking career of work, public and private. Common sense, integrity, experience, original ideas, determination, clearness of vision, persuasive powers—these are the qualities which have been recognised as his by the public men composing the Postal Conference, with whom he has been brought over and over again into contact. They, at all events, will not be surprised to learn that Mr Ward’s colleagues have unanimously selected him for important and delicate work in the public interest at the other end of the world. That Mr Ward’s mission will result in great advantage to the Colony we have no doubt. No man can command success, but if success is obtainable, it will be obtained by Mr Ward. The prophets will probably tell us that he is certain to fail. We will take the liberty of suggesting to those prophets that it will be better for them to wait until he does fail before venturing upon a crusade of condemnation. In Mr Ward’s absence the routine work of his departments will be carried on as described in another column. The time is short, and the Avork is not onerous, entirely of a routine character as we have said. The arrangements appear to be perfectly good. The prophets in this case also will do thepiselves credit by waiting for results before they condemn. At the present stage, condemnation, being based on prophetic conjecture, must necessarily be worthless. The Cabinet sees its way to public advantage by sending one of its members on a distant mission, arranging for his routine work in the meanwhile. It is a perfectly fair and feasible business arrangement, which must bo judged by its results. We have every confidence that the results will be good, and so has the Liberal Party, we feel sure, which has placed theJjGovernmenb at the head of affairs in this country. Every fair-minded man in the Colony will see, first, that in important matters involving delicacy of negotiation reticence is commendable; and secondly, that a very capable man has been sent to do the work of negotiation. If during the four months any unforeseen press of work should arise, there is plenty of force at the command of the Government to help in getting that work done. We ; wish Mr Ward a pleasant voyage, a safe return, and the complete success ■in his . mission which his ability and integrity j deserve. <

THE CRICKET MATCH. The third of the test matches between Mr Stoddart’s English Eleven and All Australia is over, and the result is a brilliant victory for the Australians a victory which should to a great extent make amends for their two previous defeats. The victory is one of the most decisive ever gained by Australian cricketers over an English team, and it is all the more creditable because the luck was fairly even throughout the struggle. The weather and the wicket were the same all the way through. There may be a great deal in the reasons advanced by the Englishmen for their failure with the bat in the first innings, i.e., that they were affected by the oppressively

hot weather, but still 382 runs is a margin wide enough for any allowances of this sort. Candidly, we think the Australians have Avon on their merits. The honour of Australian cricket depended upon the issue, and it can therefore be understood that the team captained by Giffen entered the field Avith a determination to win. They had the first use of the Avicket, and but for the plucky and brilliant play of Callaway and the younger Trott the innings Avould have been a failure. Even 238 cannot be said to be a good score for such a team. However, if they had failed with the bat they meant to make it up in the field. Their bowling and fielding is described as brilliant, and indeed it must have been when such poAverful and consistent batsmen as Stoddart, Ward, Brown, Brockwell and the others were dismissed for the insignicant total of 124 on a wicket which if anything was in favour of the batsmen —for mark hoAv rapidly the Australians scored on it. The Australians showed improved batting form in their second innings, eight of the eleven reaching double figures, and ,tlianks-to the brilliance of Iredale and Trott junior, a splendid total was the result. The Englishmen had to make the tremendous score of 526 to win, and had they succeeded they would have been famous for all time. That they fought hard and died game Ave knoAv. There was all the bulldog' pertinacity which carried the day in that memorable match in Sydney, but the Trott family Avere too much for them. The Trott brothers had a hand in the dismissal of every man except one, and this is the second time this season they have performed this remarkable feat. Evidently they are a terrible pair. Even the champion Giffen has been overshadowed in this match by the wonderful performances of Albert Trott Avith the bat and ball. The career of this young cricketer, who in his first - international match scores 38, not out, and 72, not out, and takes eight Avickets for 43, Avill be watched henceforward with great interest. Small Avonder then that he has been offered an engagement in England. He is really the hero of the match, although the part taken by Iredale, Giffen, Bruce and Callaway should not be forgotten. This decisive Avin has given the honours to the Australians, for even if they did not Avin the first match it must be admitted that, considering the circumstances, the honours were theirs. Whether they can retain them is a question to be decided by the next contest in Sydney.