THE OAMARU MAIL FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1920. FORWARD OR BACKWARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14008, 12 March 1920, Page 3

THE OAMARU MAIL FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1920. FORWARD OR BACKWARD.

A cable message from London which appeared in our last issue is well calculated to give thinking people pause, and lead' to an inquiry as to whither -we are moving. We are told that shipping companies are combining to increase the outward freights by at least 50 per cent., and that some owners are considering the laying up of ships owing to the fabulous cost of. bunker coal, which is quoted at £7 15s a ton in London as compared with 15s to 18s before the war. ]t must be perfectly evident to all reflecting minds that" this sort of thing cannot go on without seriously prejudicing the commerce of the wprld and intensifying the position in regard to % the cost of living in countries dependent upon importation for supplies of essential commodities.' A remedy must be found, or international commercial intercourse must suffer and modes of living, undergo material modifications. It will be noted that the alleged proposal of the combined shipping companies is only to raise outward freights from Britain, those upon inward cargo being apparently left on their present level. Such a position would appear on the surface to be favorable to the producers of the overseas' Dominions, but it would not prove so in practice., So great an increase in outward freights would of necessity check imports and so operate detrimentally in the matter of shipping facilities, and it is quite conceivable that the consequent demand for means of transport would' lead to an increase in the rates of freight from the Dominions to the Mother Country. One of the first essentials for the se r curing of, even reasonable freights \s that ships shall be able to .secure loading each way, and it is obvious that any influence that seriously curtails outward cargo from the Mother Country must have a prejudicial effect upbn our export trade. The seriousness of the situation is made plain by the announcement that some owners contemplate laying up vessels because of the price of bunker coal, for, be it remembered, this consideration arises at a: time when there is a shortage, of ships to do the world's carrying business. The question naturally arises : Whither are we going? Are Ave moving in the direction of the adoption of some motive, power that will supplant- steam, ;inci reduce the cost of propulsion to a reasonable level? Or are we moving backwards to sailing ships -and the time when voyages to and from the Old World were counted: in months and not weeks? Indeed it" is becoming a question for serious consideration whether for carrying purposes resort should not be had to sailing .vessels as a means of cheapening the exchange of commodities that are essential to*life under modern conditions: hut in this connection there arises tlio ouestion of whether or to what extent the universal substitution of steamships for sailing vessels has banished seamanship as properly understood. We note in this connection that in the United States the ouestion of returning, to sail is being discussed as a means of solving the oroblem of transport by water. The, New York Evening Sun only a few weeks ago dealt with the subject in these words: "The question arises, in view" of ttie great need for cargo-carrying vessels, whethef: or not the sailing ship, with" its small crew, iiol heavy fuel cost, and its other economical features may not' become a. most substitute for the higher-cost steamships in":cases where speed is not a necessary consideration." In whatever direction ft may. be sought, it is nuite clear that some means must be found for cheapening commercial intercourse between countries depe'ndent upon water carriage.

The cablegram from Capetown giving results of the general election now proceeding in South Africa is calculated to give rise to a false conclusion-in the absence of some explanation. . TTie House. of Assembly -the Union of South Africa consists of 130 members,; the Cape of Good Hope returning 51, Natal-17. Triiirs.vaal 45, and - Orange Free State 17. The returns to hand at the time of writing, therefore represent, only .five-sixteenths. of. the total. , The . figures- giyen in • the mes"sage almost exactly coincide, with- the number of members be reis#ned by the old Cape Colonv, aijfl •** .fore lit"A <' ' - ,• ,> r "' • v. ■-■•J;-*

dined to believe that tliev refer to tliar division' of the Union. If that assumption be correct" we Ji'ave ail explanation -of the .relative position' of the several ■parties. The Cape, being the most densely populated, is tlie most likely to give Labor its heaviest vote in ? tlie r Union, and its population "being also •mainly of British descent or - sentiment i would" naturally support: the- Unionists, ithe most British . party, .but -a .-party- ! that- has given to the Union Goyernt ment a ... - fairlv consistent - support though that Government consists in the, main ot Boers or . men of Dutch descent. This will also account for the smallness of the numbers returned as Ministerialists -or . Nationalists. These will find, their full strength in .the Transvaal and the Orange Free .State. During shunting operations at the Duntroon railway station this morning; the Kurow train to town got down the' incline to' the bridge, and being over-, 'weighted with a string of 30 trucks, was unable to return to the station yard. - There is a steep incline at the spot and -a double bend. The consequence was that the train had to go on: downhill to the next siding, and there do its shunting, with a resultant delay of 40 minutes. This practical de- ..j monstratibri of the quantity of work I done on the line and the calls upon i the engine used should make it evident even to the railway officials who have the say in the matter, that the engine is of an obsolete type, and should be replaced. The Secretary ol the Hospital Trustees, Mr W. Giblj, 'wishes to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of £1 ■ 18s from the employees of the Pukeuri . Works. / Lovers ol nuisic would do'well to* keep next Tuesday: night free for the annual national concert in the Opera House. This popular entertainment finds greater favor with the public year by year, and is rightly regarded as a high-class and artistic production. The promoters liave secured the < services of somtj of the leading' artists of Dunedin and Timaru for Tuesclay evening's .performance, when a pro-' rivalling the acknowledged eix • cellence of past years will be presented. Attention is called to a preliminary notice elsewhere - m tin's issue,'and patrons of the theatre, should watch for the detailed announcements whic-h will appear on Monday and Tuesday.-. The following rinks will represent Meadowbank in a match against Phoe-. v nix to-morrbw afternoon; at 2.30 p.m. on Phoenix green :—Kennedy, Howe, Sinclair, Bee (s); Kelly, Patterson, jilacklock, Martin . (s); Keith, Donald, Denholm, J. Denholln ,(s); Hedges, Cuthbertson, Bastings, Whyte (s).

The return of Captain Euan Dickson ✓with his Avro aeroplane, which is forecasted in our advertising columns, will be hailed with joy by all those who last time failed to secure a thrilling flight, and they were many. Those wanting the longer flights will be more likely to be accommodated, as- the frequent landings' are rough on the plane. The public'are requested to. pay for admission instesad of standing outside. It is certainly rather hard on an aviator to be expected to give a hazardous .exhibition for-a few who pay, while lie is equally visible to the many who do not. Early application for fliglits is advisable, 'as the demand is likely to be very keen. A very successful- skating session was held last night in the Drill Hall, and the 10th Regiment Baby will considerably benefit. Skating to-morrow afternoon, and evening is advertised elsewhere. A correspondent at Willowbridge furnishes the following Harvesting operations are in full swing i,n the district. Most of the crops are cut, aiud a bit stacked. . Small dots have been threshed, and oats have yielded up to 100 bushels per acre. The crops promise well all round. _ The potato crops are pretty badly blighted, which -will make the main crop a deal, poorer than was expected. The annual meeting of the Duntroon portion of the Wa-itaki Islands will be held in the Library on Saturday, night. The members of the Hibernian Society are requested to meet at the lodge-room at 8 a.m. on Sunday next. In view of their impending departure from Oamaru to take up positions, in Auckland and the up" of their dressmaking business, the Misses Falconer request, through our advertising columns, that all outstanding accounts be settled immediately.. A programme, chiefly consisting of dance music, will be given by the 10th Regiment Band in the Gardens this evening, commencing at 7.45.- A collection will be taken- up. " Mr ,B. Billing presided over a good attendance at the lecture on "The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus," by Ambassador Booth last night, which was listened to with great interest. Messrs .J. D. Familton and Sonswiil sell by auction to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m., on account of Mr Pochin, who is leaving for England, his Clement Talbot motor .car, 10 li.p. The car is ill first-class running order, and is to be sold without reserve.