ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 30

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Special to the New Zealand Mail London, March 12 LOUD SELBORNE ON THE COLONIES.

Tho Under-Secretary for the Colonies (Lord Selborne) has not hitherto been much in evidence, but the other day be made a rather important Imperialist speech at Hilston, in Northamptonshire. Proceeding to show tho importance of Imperial affairs to working men and the necessity of maintaining an eiliciont navy, he said if once our countrymen beyond tho seas thought our right arm was weakened, and it was known that the strong man no longor kept his house firmly but unostentatiously, then the tie which bound them to us would be lessened, and finally snapped becauso their pride in us would bo undermined, and they would lose tho sense of security in upholding that which was to them such a tower of strength. (Cheers.) Our colonial relations were no mere matter of sentiment. They were to our commercial and industrial classes a matter of bread and butter. The statistics relativo to colonial trade prepared by Sir Robert G iff en in 1891 showed that Great Britain derived overwhelming commercial benefits from its colonial connections, and this fact showed that British trade flourished best under tho British flag. Great development was in storo for our colonies, and if our Empiro remained intact that development would be increasingly beneficial to tho trade of tho Mother Country. One of tho lessons we should derivo from these considerations was tho necessity of maintaining a powerful navy, in order that we might, in case of need, defend our colonies, protect our maritime commerce, and maintain communications with the regions whence wo receive so largo a proportion of our food supply.

Lord Selborne said that "at no cost whatever would they ever allow any other country to interfere with the internal affairs of South Africa." A remark received with loud cheers. THE COLONIAL MARRIAGES ACT.

The Agents - General have been approached by Air T. Paynter Allen, the secretary of tho Marriage Ivuform Association, '.vith a view to obtaining their support for the " Hill to Logalisu Certain Colonial Marriages," prepared and brought into tin: House of Commons by General Laurie, Mr Thos. Curran, Mr liogan, Mr Harold Finch-llatton, Mr Henry M. Stanley, Air Faithful !3egg and others.

The Agents-General, one and all, ha

promised to do their best for tin.-; measure, but so far they have not decided upon any united course of action. Probably when they meet to discuss the matter, a., they intend to during tho next few days, they will decido to deputationiso Mr Chamberlain with a view in inducing him to get the Bill taken up as a Government measure. THE SALVATION AIiMY IN AUSTRALASIA.

On dit the American sell ism in 'he Salvation Army will eie long be followed by similar divisions in your part of the world. It was really to increase the cohesivoness of the Army that General Booth took his recent tour". Whether bo has done much good you know better than we do. Tho course of events in Australia and New Zealand will now bo eagerly watched. Should their branches follow the American example the fate of the Army as a united church will bo sealed. Meanwhile here is a ballad from the Westminster Ga/.otte on—

THE BATTLE OF THE BOOTHS. 'Twixt Billy Booth and Bally Booth The courso of friendship runs not smooth, The fight's begun, the stubborn son must victory's colours fly, Or young 8.8. by old 8.8. bo beaten by-and-bye! Now, pause, good General, pause and think, Pre longer linos of strife you link, "What myriads fond (beyond the pond) of Ballington will storm If you essay in U.S.A. a new S.A. to form. IMPERIALISM .VXD FINANCE. It would, every good-natured person will I am sure feel, be a sad pity if an honest penny or two could not bo turned out of the gust of Imperialism which at present is agitating Great Britain and her colonies so profoundly. Let us, therefore, welcoino with effusion that " great enterprise " the " Imperial Press, Limited," which certain philanthropic patriots are bringing out for the sole purpose "of aiding the noble movement now progressing for strengthening the ties which unite the Mother Country to the splendid colonies which are the pride and the power of 'Greater Britain."' Oh! those ties. How varied and how beautiful are their uses. " Colonial Joe." and the enterprising company - promoter find them como in equally handy. COLONIALS AND CHEAP MONEY. In a lengthy leader on " Colonials and Cheap Money," the Financial Times includes a table which- shows at a glance tho enormous appreciation in Colonial Government securities since tho closo of 1893. The profits shown in this table to a patient holder are startling. The New South Wales 3.\ per cents., redeemable in 1921, stood at 93 in December, 1893, whilst at flie end of February tho market quotation was Jlo.] a rise of 15.1. New Zealand Us in (ho same period have risen from 106 to 115, Queensland 3J's from 90J to 107 J, South Australian 3.1 from92J to 109, Victorian ■!• per cents, from 102 J to 110$, and 3J per cents, from 92 to 106.}. These prices do not show tho lowest point reached during tho paralysing bank crisis, for in 1893 tho New South Wales 3.1 per cents, touched 831, New Zealand •!■ per cents. 97, and Queensland 3J per cents. 75. Rich indeed must have been tho harvest of those having faith in tho celobrated and much-advertised " recuperative powers of the Australian colonies." Of courso the fact that to-day Australian Government stocks cannot bo bought to pay tho investor more than .-£3 (is 3d per cent, has nothing whatever to do with tho British public's faith in the colonies. It is merely the result of " cheap money " —according to financial editors. Tho Financial Times is not surprised at the appreciation shown in its faille, but deems it strange that the colonies have taken so littlo advantage of the high prices ruling to increase their indebtedness. " The demands of tho colonies for fresh loans," it says, " have been on a, very moderate scale, ami chiefly for conversion purposes."