PASSING EVENTS.

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 35

PASSING EVENTS.

History is philosophy teaching by examples. —Thucydides. Such sympathy as was accorded to the proposition that the people of New Zealand should’ boycott German-made goods has died away. It was as absurd as it was senseless. If there is difference of opinion between one nation and another, indeed, if there is rank enmity, the boycotting of the manufactures of the one by the other is a paltry way of attempting to adjust differences. On account of the war, a similar movement was started in Holland against Great Britain. The Dutch proposed to boycott English commerce, but it was discovered to be a socialistic agitation, and had for its motive the punishment of capitalists whom it was imagined were responsible for the war. The fact, too, that the dockers of London had given merely a platonic support to the appeal of Dutch dockers for aid. contributed also to the eninity incited by the socialists of Holland against British commerce. But the British working man has had enough of strikes; besides, he was not- going to immolate himself to gratify the enemies of his country. Like the agitation to boycott German goods among us, the attempt to stifle - commerce between Great Britain and Holland has died of inanition, and we may expect to hear no more of the vain and purposeless project to put an end to German goods coming into this country. Thero is, however, no reason why German or other foreign goods should be admitted into New Zealand on the same terms as those made. by our own people anywhere in the British Empire. Great- Britain is the only country in the v or Id that is unable to offer concessions to her colonies in negotiating commercial arrangements or treaties. Great Britain does not discriminate between the products of this country and those ? Russia, and offers no advantages to ier colonies to continue trading with ~f c ma y be said that the colonies, jvitb the exception of Canada, have ofCnnm 0 , a( ] val , )ta £ e s to the Mother r y> but tnat has not prevented ie discussion of a proposal that the t«S °H° f - 110 Exchoc i»er should conor Sf!. th f' institution of a reciprocal le ytml tariff to raise revenue of m& Great -? rit f\ n hl tlie Position her colm?r. C f nSK -' ra . 10 couc essions to view t ” f ° r Sllu ?‘ ar favours with a trade ti oncoura g'»K inter-imperial v c,,lury remarkable m. El ‘* am bas witnessed a Then Groat MV m man, > f acturing. alone a,T,„ t ? in 1 t tood Practically day she has nr faC^m ' ng natio »- Towhich Britlsli n„7 riVals ‘ The markets ,t,sh enterprise, settlement and

capital have created in the various dependencies of the Empire are as open •to her rivals as they are to herself. While other nations preserve their own markets to their- own manufacturers, Great Britain practically invites foreign traders to enter into competition with her manufacturers in markets which she has spent millions to make, and for the interest on such expenditure she is taxing all her people. The question is attracting much attention, and while there are. difficulties in the way of its being adequately and satisfactorily setr tied, the more it is discussed the more desirable it becomes that steps should be taken by representatives from all parts of the Empire at the Coronation to mark out a policy that would at once enable the Mother Country to place herself in the position of offering trade concessions to the colonies, and of the colonies similarly treating the manufactures of Great Britain. By subsidies and tariffs have Britain's trade rivals fostered their trade, and since their tactics have proved inimical to British commerce, it is only reasonable to expect that English statesmen should set themselves the task of discovering some method of protecting British trade from the inroads of subsidised and protected rivals.

The Defence Department in New Zealand, in making its selection of men and horses for the various contingents, gave practical effect to the suggestion' that riders should he on the light side if possible, so that the horses would not break down through over-weight. This has added to the mobility and endurance of the New Zealand forces and helped them to earn a name for such soldierly qualities as are most required in South Africa. It is recognised as absurd to expect horses, however strong and speedy, to pursue the enemy with effect if they have to carry from sixteen to twenty stone upon their backs. We have seen how thousands of horses have broken down in South Africa, and it has frequently been remarked that a complete victory would have been secured but for the inability of the horses to continue in pursuit of the fleeing Boer. What is wanted in Soutli Africa is some corps of light, active, quick-moving troops, who would be able to outride and outlast the horses and men m the Boer commandos, and the New Zealanders come, perhaps, nearest to what the Commander-in-Chief realises he most urgently requires. The war has taught the British War Office that the regulations laid down for the formation of cavalry corps must be abandoned* at least in such a conflict as has been waged in South Africa. But the system cannot be reformed in a day, and the British Government has been compelled to fall back upon willing colonies to supply her immediate need. It has been remarked that the private owner of horses will not employ heavy men as riders, grooifls or stable men, simply because the light and active man is'able to get more out of a horse with less detriment to the horse than men of twelve or thirteen stone. Now, it is imperative that cavalry men should he taller and naturally heavier than infantry. so that the horses in the earlier stages of the war have been stronger and slower than would have been the case had the riders been lighter men ,and the accoutrements not so cumbersome. The success of the New Zealanders in the field has impressed the authorities with the fact that the best men for mounted work in South Africa are those who have been used to horses all their lives, and it will have been noticed that the Defence Minister has announced that preference will be given to young men residing in country districts. To be sure, the best riders and the best shots are to be found in country districts, and it generally happens that the young men are light,’active, energetic and accustomed to such work as will he required of them in South Africa. If the war is to be concluded before the Coronation, only an efficient force can do it, and it is understood that the War Office is determined to stamp out the guerilla warfare between the nether millstone of strong, patient and slowly-moving troops and the upper millstone of light, vigorous and speedy mounted men—more capable of pursuing than the Boers are capable of flight. This may bo a further reason for the honour New Zealanders have had conferred upon them in being requested to send a ninth contingent. However, it is certain that our young men are of the stamp Lord Kitchener considers he has most need of if the war is to be brought satisfactorily and speedily to a conclusion.

The outbreak of smallpox in London has been widespread and of considerable proportions. Our cablegrams have informed us of tho increasing number of deaths and of tho precautions taken by shipowners against loss through the ravages tho diseaso has caused in shipping. From statistical returns just to hand it appears that no part of London has escaped. Much to the surprise of most people the east end has escaped very lightly, and in the wealthier and less crowded parts of London, St. Paneras. for instance, the disease has been most disastrous. It is manifest that, however conducive to diseaso filthy surroundings may be, tho fact that individuals have been themselves careful to avoid as far as possible contagion has

reduced the death-rate. Of those who contracted the disease, vaccinated pa-' tients suffered least in mortality, the j death-rate among the vaccinated being twenty per cent, as against sixty per cent, of the unvaccinated. The deathrate is likely to be less than mentioned among the vaccinated patients because they have hitherto shown the larger per- ! centage of recovery. Among children ! who contracted the disease no recovery of an unvaccinated case is reported, v jule the number of deaths among those who had not been vaccinated since childhood and those who had not been vaccinated at all was considerably less disproportionate. But the lesson to be earned from the outbreak and spread of the disease in London is, as far as we are concerned, that there ought to be no abatement of the vaccination law in ■New Zealand. Some time" ago there was a great deal of discussion as to the 1 utility of vaccination at all as a preventive of smallpox. It cannot be shown that vaccination gives immunity from contagion, but it has been demonstrated that it mitigates mortality. No vaccinated child under five years is reported as having contracted the disease, nineteen out of twenty of the unvaccinated children affected have died. Among children over five and under ten years of age only one vaccinated child died out of fifty affected, and of those who were unvaccinated thirty deaths were recorded. Again twentythree out of twenty-four vaccinated children of fifteen years recovered, whereas out of fifty-seven unvaccinated thirtyeight died. And when the cases tf adults of forty are considered it is found that thirteen out of fourteen unvac- . ciliated persons died. All this demonstrates to us the necessity for practising vaccination as a public and private duty. In the public interest there ought to be no exceptions allowed, unless it can be shown that the child is physically unfit at the time. Parents will be doing an injustice to their children if they neglect their duty with re- | gard to vaccination. There are numbers of parents who do not believe vaccination does any good, but the outbreak of the disease in London and the statistics affecting the mortality of the vaccinated and unvaccinated set at naught all their real. and sentimental objections. It- has not been shown as yet conclusively what caused the outbreak of the disease, but. it is proved beyond doubt that those persons who anticipated the disease by being revaccinated have escaped contagion altogether. It may therefore be concluded that vaccination and re-vaccination are alike desirable if not imperative in the interests of the public-health.

From Japanese papers it appears that Russia is anxious to conciliate Japan " liile at the same time being desirous of acquiring a naval base on the southern coast of Korea. Some politicians in Japan were some time ago favourable to their country entering into an arrangement with Russia so as to avert a struggle for dominion in Asia between the diplomatists and perhaps the soldiery of these two countries. The revelations of Russian duplicity in connection with the Manchurian Convention have, however, shaken Japanese confidence in Russia, and although there may be some among the Mikado’s advisers who would rather divert Russian aggressiveness in the Far East than thwart it, they are without a following among their own people. Many public men in Japan despair of ever regarding any overtures made by Russia with confidence. After the Manchurian incident, in which Russian avowals were contrary to her pri- 1 vate treaties with China and to the 1 detriment of Japan, the Japanese are j now suspicious of all proposals made by ! the officials in the Czar's service. The ■ latest proposal by Russia to Japan lias 1 not helped to allay Japan’s suspicions. Russian newspapers advise the making , of conciliatory overtures to the Japanese ' Government, but it would appear that \\ liile Russia desires Janan to acquiesce i in her possession of Manchuria, 'she is promising at the same time that Japan’s supremacy in Korea will not be disturbed. Nevertheless Russia is eager to conciliate Japan, and is as determined as ever that she shall obtain a port on the Korean peninsula. It is the announcement by Russia that the Power holding Vladivostock should possess such a naval station as Masampo in Korea that has stirred up the strongest suspicions in Japanese minds against Russian aggression in the Far East. Were an understanding arrived at between Russia and Japan a long period of tranquility might be ensured, but the tactics of Russia have shaken the world’s confidence in any overtures she may make, and Japanese journals have shown that what Russia concedes to Japan is nothing more than she already possesses as far as Korea is concerned, and f>3r this alleged concession Russia stipulates for a free port on the peninsula where Japanese authority and influence is io remain undisturbed. It might be that Russia would not. object to the Japanese taking possession of Korea altogether on being allowed to permanently occupy Manchuria; but it is beyond Japan’s power to make such a concession to Russia even if she desired to attach Korea to her own territory. Japan is not only anxious to have a free hand in her c.mi-

sns n “• * SSSb-Sst“ „ b ot. is s^‘S^r»s. , i£i 11 ? denounced the Proposal to enter “to any understanding with Russia, The aim of Russia to convert Japan into an al] y “ the Far East lias failed, and f ° r the P resent ad attempts to ad quire Manchuria with the aid of Japan are at an end. After all that has -been d ° ne V Eur °P e “ JW» to secS" some influence in Farther Asia, it is not that “ the event of k rupture T lth Russia Japan would stand alone; but even if that were so, there -are many public men in who have the utmost confidence in their country’s ability successfully combat Russian hostility lf the "’orst comes to the worst,