PASSING EVENTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1651, 21 October 1903, Page 45

PASSING EVENTS

History is philosophy teaching by ex* ampies. —Thucydides, Into the great fiscal debate the rancour of party politics and private enmities are being imported. Such tactics aro calculated to obscure the issue and, warp tho judgment of the people. Appeals are mad© to sectional prejudices, and to the various proposals put forth motives are being imputed. This is to bo deplored when it is generally agreed that the condition of Great Britain’s trade and the question of Imperial unification demand that attention •should bo paid to tho fostering the interests of Motherland and colonies. But even morose, almost dull, men, like the leader of the British Liberals, are roused from their normal lethargic state, and Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man actually becomes vehement in his denunciation of Mr Balfour, and positively strenuous in upholding a freer trade policy. He told the people at Bolton the other evening that the Prime Minister “was prepared to let the Empire perish in order to save himself and his Government.” To affinn that that is tho frame of mind of the British Premier is to display a political bias that is not worthy of a leader of any political party. Let, it be admitted that in supporting frectrade principles Sir Henry is expressing his honest convictions. He believes in that policy be-* cause it was the best for the country, but it requires few facts to demonstrate that Great Britain has lost the power of holding her own in the competitive trade of the world. For thirty years her exports of manufactures have been gradually declining. In 1892 they were valued at 23G millions sterling- in 1902 they were 229 millions; and the British imports of foreign manufactures res© from 35 millions sterling to 99 millions. Thus it Is seen that the manufacturing trade of Great Britain is not only not holding its own, but the protected wares of other countries are being imported into that country to the tune of nearly one hundred millions per annum. What does that mean? Simply this, that were Great Britain manufacturing all she needed for her own people and for export more goods would be maiiu* faetttred, more operatives employed,; more wages paid. To merely believe ini freetrade is not going to restore Great Britain’s commercial supremacy: to continue it will lay it open to further dangers. Freetraders 7 faith is this: Buy in the cheapest market; sell in the dearest. Great Britain is buying in that cheapest market, blit the markets where the highest prices are obtainable are closed against her. She cannot now sell in the dearest markets. We notice that Mr Gladstone charges Mr Chamberlain with trying to capture the Irish vote by exempting maize from his tariff proposals. This is a very feeble contention, and the suggestion is contemptible. But how are the manufactures of Ireland being treated abroad. For instance. Belfast linen goods are subject to a duty in American porta of from 50 to 60 pen cent. In Ann erica these Irish linen manufactures would be worth more by twenty-five per cent, than is obtainable for them in Britain, yet here, for example, the maxim of the freetrader, “sell in the dearest market,” is inoperative, because ot the said protective tariff. Sonne notable converts have been made to Mr Chamber* lain’s views. Mr Arnold Foster is the latest; and after studying the question for weeks he does not hesitate to say that some alteration in the tariff is necessary. He believes that steps should be taken to insist on other, countries giving the United Kingdom the same system in regard to manufactured goods as she gives them. And if this is not done British industries must continue to languish.

From our cablegrams this week it seems that a peaceful solution of the Far Eastern question is not so Imminent as it appeared to be ten days ago. Russia wants much. She insists on.having more than either China or Japan are inclined to concede. Russia desires to relinquish in Korea what- she never possessed, in the hope that this subterfuge will, satisfy the Japanese. It would doubtless be gratifying to the Mikado to learn that the agent of the Czar. Prince Alexieff had withdrawn every Russian soldier from the borders cf Korea, but the determination to retain pcs session, of Manchuria is displeasing to Japan. Russia has made

promises, she has signed conventions, it is her duty to fulfil, her pledge© standby the terms of hor ,bomh The Czar’s govemraeivt is eager to po® rich and magnificent a as churia, and liis Ministers will go i lengths short of declaring nbiecta of there ambition. i ne moral obliquity of the Russian proverbial. His word is dispised and his Written /statement he frequently ienounoes. So it happens that alJicugh Russia signed a treaty to evacuate Manchuria at a date already passed, »ho is still in possession and is making excuses for . remaining. Indeed, Russia is now going the length of saying that China must make in her favour greater trade concessions or she will_ continue to occupy Manchuria. Russia agreed that all Powers doing business in Manchuria should be on an equal footing, but she now desires specific advantages for herself. Japan not only protests against her continued occupation or Manchuria, but declines to agree to the more favoured treatment of the wares of Russian merchants entering Manchuria by railway. China’s foremost statesman, Prince Ching, is under the sway of Russian influence, and sees little in what Russia wants that is objectionable. The power behind the throne :n China has yet to speak, and Prince Ching may find himself on the black list before many days are over. While the Russian Government is less objectionable to the Chinese on religious grounds, the populace hate “the foreign devil” inveterately. The Government of the Czar is determined evidently to insist on obtaining every concession it deems neoestsary and all 'the territory required even 'by the force of arms. It is reported that the Czar has telegraphed to Prince Alexieff to this effect so thaif Japan is also like-minded and no understanding is come to between these powers war may yet be declared. Russia is doubtless ready and Japan is not unprepared. The former has one hundred thousand soldiers in the Far East, and Japan’s fleet is ready to transport a formidable army to Korean ports to light the Muscovite. The tension is extreme. The Russian press admits that the affairs in Macedonia are of secondary importance to those in the Far East, where “the Japanese are seeking to ‘light a huge conflagration.” It is the ambition of the Russian to q.uench the s>ellicose ideas of the Japauese, and Prince Ukhtomsky’s orgap affirms that it would be easy to smother the fire while;.it still smoulders. It must be smothered, “even should it be necessary to* crush with a giant’s foot this .proud young State.” Russia is the giant country that would crush Japan, [but she will have to be careful i« the attempt less the smouldering discontent in European Russia burst into revolution and lame the giant that would rush to the distruction of .Japan. Russia has far more to lose in an unsuccessful war than her enemy.

Now that provision lias boon made for putting the Hutt Road in order, the Government ought to pfush forward with all possible speed the work of straightening the railway to Retone. It is a pity that both works are not to be undertaken simultaneously. Whatever money •is now spent by the Wellington-Mutt Road Board of Control, representative jof the local bodies interested, in fonning jand making this crocked, roadway straight will be largely wasted if the straightening of the railway is undertaken at a later date. The Board wili he restrained from making the road as permanent as it ought to be, because of the projected straightening of the lailivay by the Government. It may be some time before the railway is straightened, but if the road and railway are to he parallel, then both works ought to he undertaken together. All are agreed that the road Ims been a disgrace to Wellington, and the prospect or having it- put in good repair may induce the ratepayers to agree to a large expenditure upon it, but, as Mr Baker contends, those who use the road will not be satisfied with it even in repair if there is a chance of its being straightened and placed alongside the runway line. We think it would have been »ound economy had both works been un- . dertaken at the same time. The Pre■*aner has told ns that the Minister for Railways has the necessary legislation inder consideration for tire straightening af the railway line; and although he is satisfied this work would amply itpay any expenditure made in its execution, yet it is “not to be undertaken for some time.” This is vague and! uncertain. If it will amply repay any expenditure there is no reason why the work should be delayed at all. Indeed, it is false economy not to push it forward. The speech in favour of repairing the Hutt road is a strong indictment against the continuance of the present crooked iahway kne. Mr Scddon is unquestionably -right when lie says tkat the work would he a profitable undertaking for the Government, for we are awaie that various offers have been made by adjudicate to straighten the railway to Pet one for a share of the land to be reclaimed in carrying out the contract. For half of the land reclaimed a public company would acconv J xh tit i work, and that being so, the Government should either do the work itself, or a low it to be carried out in the way ;ogges e: . \velslington. is tlhe most rap d y p. ogres-mg Oity in JS ew Zealand, and it m

hampered in its progress"for wank or suitable sites for various maiwifaoturmg operations. It is calculated that eight or ten hundred acres would be reclaimed by the proposed straightening of this railway, and that area would yield fiom £320,000 to half a million of money. It is also calculated tliat the total cost of the work would not be more than £150,000, so there would be a fair margin of profit for the syndicates that have offered to do the work. We do not put these figures forward_as being more than approximate, but those who have given this scheme any consideration declare that these estimates err on the side of caution. Whether they are right or wrong, tiie fact that a syndicate has offered to do the work for half the land reclaimed is sufficient warranty for saying that the straightening of the railway should be put in hand at the same tune as the work the Hutt Road Act has -au thorised the local bodies to undertake.

The financial position of this country offers a striking * contrast to that ox any of the Australian states, and is another Convincing argument against our ever becoming an integral part ox Die Commonwealth. The banking returns show that business is advancing, tliat financial institutions are confident, and that people are enterprising. Complaint is frequently made that more business would be done, and more people employed by the starting of other industries were it not for the restrictions placed upon enterprise by labour legislation. \Y hether that is the reason or not is not demonstrable, although it is the conviction of many captains of industry, who will cite instances which to them are perfectly convincing of the inconveniences they have to submit to in ti.e conducting of their businesses. r I hese lestrictions may bo a deterrent to enterprise, but despite the labour legislation, the country makes headway. Money, scarce in Australia, is plentiful in New Zealand. The Government has a larger credit balance of no less a sum than three-quarters of a million than it had last year at this time. Fixed deposits have increased by nearly three millions in three years, and the increase last year amounted to eleven hundred thouamd. In free and fixed deposits the banks hold £17,702,883, and against this the banks have made advances approximating to 134- millions, so tliat over four millions of money —nearly halt or the free deposits—is apparently not earning anything for the institutions by which it is held. From this some are ready to argue that the country is in a bad state, but tliat contention is not c)ear. In the face of the foot that there are nearly nine millions of free deposits in the coffers of the banks, then a iibrio over tour millions is not too mucti to liolu ready for any emergency, indeed, some of tiie more prudent of our commercial men consider that this substantial maigm is not sufficient,, and tiie determination of one bank to steady its advances is being commended. I,coking at the advances made, and consider,ng at the same time tiie increased deposits, 'ocii free and fixed, the proportion of advances to deposits has not been proportionately increased, so-that the banking business of the country is being conchieted on the whole with greater caution than it was three or four years ago. This would seem to justify the remark made in pur hearing the other day, that the progress of New Zealand is steady and solid, and nothing of the nature of a ‘boom”’is being promoted. In some parts of the colony we learn that land values &tb somewhat iiiiiuced. districks Where dairying has made such raoid progress of recent years, there is a danger that too much is be.ng paid for dairy farms, and bankers and others may well restrain the anxiety of hardworking and industrious fariueis fioin burdening themselves with heavily mortgaged and high-priced holdings. it is well to provide for contingencies, and should a slight fall take place in the value of dairy produce tne hardship and toil oi not a few yv on Id become intensified. Prudence dictates that in newly-settled districts no. artificial advance in values should be permitted by moneyed institutions, and from the returns before us there is evidently exhibited a determination to rather not use the money of depositors at all than use it recklessly. The outstanding feature of the bank recuins is the progressive character of business, and the safe measure of assistance it is monetarily receiving.

Tiie painful case of the deadi of _ a young married woman, regarding winch a very full corouial enquiry terminated on Mondoy, is fittea to draw attention to a grave national peril upon which we have formerly touched when discussing the question of the declining birth-rate. _ It is not pleasant to cast any reflection upon tire dead, nor would it be right, even having in view the suspicious circumstances referred to in the jury’s finding, to impute criminality to anyone; but the peril to our national life ils so great, as the result of certain practices indulged in by women of the present clay, that wo should be culpable if we did not attempt to “ point the moral ” of this melancholy case. There may lie circumstances of a palliative character in thus particular instance, but leaving it and it,a peculiar surroundings altogether out of consideration, it cannot be doubted

that the case is but an eruptive symptom of a very dangerous condition, of .the body politic. Medical men, nurses and others were they called upon to give evidence on the subject,could make revelations as to the extent of “preventive” and abortive practices that would shook the community. Tire number or women under treatment in hospitals, publio and private, for injuries and ailments brought on by violation of natural laws, is really alarming ; and chemists as well as “ quacks ” are aware of tiie extent to which women seek after means of avoiding the responsibilities of maternity. The evil is one that has its physical as well as its moral aspect. From the physical point of view, the growth of the practices referred t«o is a symptom of racial decadence, of decline in stamina, and of a growing love of ■ease and luxury. The result can only be in most cases death or disablement, enfeeblenient of offspring or total less of reproductive power. The moral side of the question, is more serious, for the prevalence of these practices is evidence, of utter lack of Christian principle, cf civic duty /and of .self-respect on the part, of the women who resort to them. It may well be asked —What are the churches doing, as moral and spiritual guides, when such a deplorable lapse into blank paganism is taking place in our midst? Parliament talks of passing a law to prohibit the sale of “ preventives,” but really this is a matter beyond' the reach of civil power. It is a thing for moral treatment —the causes, as we have said, lying in a deficient sense of duty and morality. If there were no demand for these vile concoctions and devices, degraded men and women would not be able to sell or to apply them. It would almost seem that women are cursed with “a little learning”; in their case, it is too often true that “ knowledge comas, but wisdom lingers ” ; and because of their mistaken ideas of happiness and aim in life, they condemn themselves to premature death or to a life of wretchedness and uselewness. It is nob in this way that great men or great nations are made. “The mother makes us most,” and a nation is very largely what the mothers of the people make it. Surely it is tune tliat good and earnest women —and there are still many such —entered upon an educational crusade to save their younger and more frivolous sisters from the effects of an evil which, unless checked, will bring incalculable wee upon themselves and the nation. New Zealand is probably no worse —perhaps it is better —than other countries in this matter; but- it is monstrous tliat the evil should show its head at all in this young community, where there is abundance of comfort for all, and every scope for the fullest natural increase. It is impossible in the columns of the public press to handle this subject as it ought to be handled; but wo hope we have said enough to impress upon ministers of religion and social reformers generally the necessity for vigorous steps being taken to impart a healthier moral tone to the covmpunity.' -