ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13180, 13 January 1905, Page 3

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

(From Our Own Corbesfondsnt.)

LONDON, December 2.

It is formally announced that at the next meeting of the Cold Storage and Ice Aslociatiou Mr H. C. Cameron, the New Zea}and Government Produce Commissioner in Great Britain, will read a paper, illustrated by lantern illustrations, on "The Resources of New Zealand, with Special Reference to the Meat and Dairy Industries." A discussion will follow the paper, which .is to be read next Tuesday in the Prince's .Saloon at the. Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, during the progress of the eattlo show. Mr Thomas Borthwick, president of tho Cold Storage and Ice Association, mil be in the chair.

Mr Arnold Forster, 'Sccuetary of State ; for War, who is tho Conservative candidate for the Borough of Croydon at tho next general election, addressed a meeting of Conservatives and Liberal-Unionists this week at; Croydon for the purpose of introducing himself to the members. In the course of his speech, he referred to the question of fiscal reform, and said thai we ought to take any reasonable means of putting- an end to the foreign practice of excluding British goods, We could call to our assistance, and bring to our counsel, the people of our own race in the colonics. There could be no doubt at all as to which side the duty of a sensible and patriotio Englishman lav when lio had before him the problem of allowing tbc Prime Minister to summon a conference of the selfgoverning colonics to see if we could preserve the Empire against these attacks, and to make greater solidarity between tho United .Kingdom and its colonics. It was somewhat of a suqirisc that there should be, found responsible statesmen in this country who could give the answer " No " ; and yet that was the answer which Mr Asquith, and man after man on the othor side of politics, would bo compelled to give, many of them much against their will, at the next, election. If he asked the question in that- hall, what answer would he get?—(Loud cries of "Ave.") That was the policy of the Prime Minister, and the jioiicy to which he. himself was a most devoted adherent. If that conference -was summoned—and, despite Mr Asquith, it would be summoned,—and if that confereiiue came to a clear and unanimous conclusion, he at auyratc should be very slow to refuse to pay attention to Ihe recommendations oi a conference so formed, so summoned. lie believed that the wisdom of our people so expressed—the wisdom of the people here, in Canada, in Now Zealand, and in Australia,—after consultation in a, conference, ought to be giTen weight m the mind of every sensiblo man. That was a policy with which they might go forward with courage and certainty into fne conflict which awaited them., A greater mistake could not be made by a partv than in adopting the a.lvioo of Mr Asquith to oppose such a conference. Speaking at Southend on the same topic Mr Asquith said: "Heaven forbid that he should under-value - the colonial markets, which all of them would desiro to sec extended. Lot it, however, bo remembered Mint, broadly speaking, two-Iliirds of the who.o of the export trado was done with foreign countries, and only one-third with the colonics. Wise and prudent men would not. under tlie impulse of some -wavo of sentiment, sncrifico or imperil tho twothirds for the sake of a possible increase in the one-third. When it was suggested that there was a larger potential market in t.he colonics, or that wo recoivod botter treatment there than in foreign countries, if- became ncocs-ary to point out that tho colonial tariffs wore prominently directed against ourselves. . \ . Even in the matter of cement, were we treated better by the colonies than by foreign countries? To Germany cement wont duty free; in Belgium it was duty free; and in tho United States there was an import duty of 8s per ton, On cement for Canada, under its preferential tariff, tho duly was 8s per ton; it was 12s under the New Zealand preferential tariff; and in the Australian Commonwealth the duty on cement was 15s par ton. They might now loave the facts of the case of cemont to speak for themselves. . . . What was meant by tlie scheme for a colonial conference? Liberals were abused for opposing it, and were declared by somo opponents to be indifferent to the intnresls and unity of the Empire. They were askod, What harm could the conference do? Why, all the harm that was duo to Inring people into a fool's paradise. There could not be preferential tariffs with Out two preliminary conditions, both of which were impossible. One of these was that the country should consent, in favour of the colonies, to tax food, to tax raw material. Tho people would not consent to anything of tho kind. colonies now had their open ports and free access to the Ixat market in the world. The conntry oould not give them more. It was suggested that it might give other people and foreigners less; but no wise statesman who was faithful to his trust on behalf of the whole vast population would restrict the sources of tho supply of necessaries or curtail the markets at home, and abroad by increasing the cost of production, lowering wage«, and depressing tho standard of national life. Tho prosperity, contentment, and strength of tho people was a national asset and safeguard. The colonies should bo told in the plainest possible terms that at no time and under no conditions could wo consent to tho re-establishmcnt of a syslem of preferential and proteciivo tariffs." Mr H. F. Wyatt is to read a paper on "The Navy and the Empiro" at a meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute next Tuesday. Writing to The Times about colonial contributions to tho co?t of naval defence, that gentleman compiles a list of the principal sources of opposition to colonial participation in naval defence— viz.: (1) Theory ,of no taxation without representation; (2) theory of need of all resources for internal development; (3) theory of need of local squadrons for coast defence; (4) impression of Unitod Kingdom departmental inefficiency, derived from contemplation of South African war; (5) in Canada, relinnoo on a possible application of the Monroe dictrino by the United States; (6) in Canada, attitude of FronchConadiuns; (7) in Australia, attitude of Labour party: (8) belief that navy must in any case defend colonial sea-borne commerce:. 19) conwarative want of funds. Having been engaged for.nearly two years in discussing these and like grounds of objection, he ventures to say with somo confidence that everyone of them is fallacious, and that tho fallacy of most of them is capable faf demonstration. On the other hand, Mr Wyatt is very sure that until this demonstration has been made, and made to the Fniisfaetion of our colonial brethren, the Mother Country will not get tho measure of naval help it needs. Failin? their conviction on theso points-, full help will never bo proffered, save-in some tremendous moment, when, from lack of preparation, tho dosiro to assist, however passionate, will be unable to furnish tho power. Tho root oause of Greater Britain's backwardness in this mutter may, Mr v Wyatt thinks, be summed up in a single phrasewant, of familiarity with problems of war and of international relationship. That want is the: natural, almost the inevitable, outcome of the sheltered condition of tho colonies, nurtured through generations under

the intervening shield of England, What is needed is fuller knowledge, springing from .fuller study; but/to fulfil that need organised effort in tho colonics themselves is an absolute necessity. The only organisation on earth that has attempted .that-ta9k," Mr Wyatt goes on to say, '.'is the Navy League, and it might carry it in a few years to ends of Ihe last'importance to the Empire, ; f it received. say, one-fifth of te support accorded by Germans to their German league. I have found British porls where previously our own work had' not been begun, or where it was abeyant," but whence copious subscriptionswere being sent to strengthen that German organisation ivhich aims, soaroely with conocalment, at wresting the supremacy of tie seas from the British people. Our rich men give their thousands and their tens of thousands to purposes of luxury and self-indulgence, but not one has yet bestowed tho value of a eecond-class raceliorse on tho society which is doing work of a nature vital to the Empiro that guarantees his wealth." On Tuesday afternoon in this week a meeting of members and friends. of tho Central Society for Women's Suffrage was held at 83 Lancaster Gate, by permission of Lady Meath, vice-president of the society. Lady Beetive, who presided, said she took a keen interest in the cause, and was convinced that earnest efforts in London would 'briilg about a strong and un'animoua feeling such as animated the women workers in the textile, tho North, whero they had determined to pay the expenses of a candidate to represent their views in the new Parliament. Mrs Russell Cooke moved a resolution declaring that " Ihe withholding of thei parliamentary franchise from women sole Won the ground of their sex is unjust in lirinciple and inexpedient in the. interest of tho nation." .She denied the allegation that women were indifferent about the possession of tho parliamentary vote. From thoso who were owners .of property and from women workers the demand was gathering strength. .She was quite aware that an abstract resolution passed in the House of Commons was simply.duo to a friendly feeling among members who had 'found women useful as canvassers; it was only by great and persistent efforts in the constituencies that legislation could Ijk effected. Mr Cyril Dodd, K.C., seconded the resolution. Theoretically, it was unjust to deny votes to the Jarger proportion of tho population, and educated women were better qualified to form opinions 011 matters of ourront politics than many men who exercised the franchise. Mrs W. Pember Itcev.-s descril>e<l from- personal knowledge the effcet of the extension of the franchise in New Zealand. No violent change in political opinion, she said, had resulted. At tho first election the women voted in greater proportion than the men, but since then the men had voted in increased numbers. A healthy active interest had been aroused among all classes, and the thoughts of the rising generation were turned to political subj«t« to the groat advantage of tho State. Tho' resolution was unanimously adopted, as,was also a further' resolution in favour of forming a suffrage committee to organise the supporters of the movement in Pcddington. Mr W. J. Tonkin (Duncdin), who called yesterday to take leave of mo before embarking on his return voyage to New Zealand, informed me that he had not been successful in his efforts to extend the frozen rabbit trado'in this country in consequence of tho superior advantages enjoyed by Ncwl South "Wales in tho competition owing to the lower freights from that colony. However, he was glad to seo that the (freights from New Zealand were lower now—viz., 10s per ton instead of 50s. But meanwhile tho trade in Loudon had been in a-large degree alienated from New Zealand' in favour of New South Walos, which encourages tho rabbit trade, whereas New Zealand does not, preferring to regard and treat rabbits as vermin, simply to bo exterminated. "Yet tho export of frozen rabbits from New Zealand," remarked Mr Tonkin, "is worth £150,000 a year. But it docs not appear in the official returns. Rabbits fro lumped together with 'other frozen goods,' and so tho public docs not learn what a valuable trade it is; and I may mention that a saving of btl per crate in the cost of carriage would make a difference of £11000 a year to my business." Mr Tonkin is returning by tho 5.5._ Papauui. At a meeting of " congregation" of Oxford University,'hekl on Tuesday, a statute was introduced to exempt candidates for honours in mathematics and natural science from Greek in responsions and in the Holy Scripture examination, and to allow them to substitute French and German, but it was ultimately rejected by a majority of 36. Tho vice-chancellor presided, and there was a very largo attendance, tho proceedings being hold in tho Shcldonian' Theatre, Oxford. After a. lengthened discussion tho vote was taken, when 161- voted for the change and 200 against it. So the motion was lost.

This week tho report of the New Zealand Crown Mines Company was issued. It is made up for the year cud'cd 31st August last, and is to be submitted at the meeting which is to he held next Wednesday. The directors state thut the cost of development work, _ amounting to £2756, has been met out of revenue, and 1 tho usual 10 par cent, lias been written oft' fcr depreciation of machinery, plant, anil buildings. Alter meeting these cliargcs there is a net loss of £2422 for tho year, which, being deducted from the credit balance of £15,992 shown in last year's report, leaves a surplus of 513,570. which it is proposed to parry forward. The unsatisfactory result, of tho year's operations has boon due to tho disappointing nature of tho developments in the lowest levels and tiie general falling off in oro values throughout tho mine; the amount realised from bullion having' been only £52,642, against £80,462 for the previous year. As stated in the circular of the 10th October, ilr Pinder's report confirmed the advice of tho general manager as to the exploratory work which should be done to prove the mine at and below the No. 5 level, and tho directors accordingly cabled to Mr Daw to proceed with tlmt work as rapidly as possible. At tho same time authority was given to shut down tile mill should it he found impossible to rim it without loss. Tho directors concur with the opinion expressed by Jlr X'indcr, that tho futuro of the properly depends mainly upon the results which may be disclosed in the lowest levels, and tho shareholders will bo promptly informed of any important developments that may occur. "Tile Judicial Committee of tho Privy Council has recently been the subject of a good deal of criticism in the colonics," says a London paper,, wliioh continues: "Not long ago a judgment of Lord Macuaghten's moved the Chief Justice of New Zealand to accuso the committco of givingits decisions 'under misapprehension or ignorance of the local law.' Now some ill-feoling has been oreated in Canada by a judgment given by Lord Davcy, in the course of which he said that tho committee could not 'adopt' the reasoning of Mr Justice Osier in KirkPatrick's case without doing violence to the English language and to elementary principles of English law. According to tho Canada Law Journal, Mr Justica Osier has a reputation 'sccond to none among tho personnel of the Canadian Bench.' and 'Lord Davcy's talk a/bout violence being dono to our mother tongue is baseless to the verge of maliciousness.' " Once more tlie Australian'mail contraots are coming up for discussion. There is likely," says the St. James's Gazette, "to 'bo a great deal of trouble very soon over the Australian mail service. The' existing contracts with tho chief steamship companies—the P. and 0. and tho Orient— which convoy the mails, expire at the endi of January next, and the arrangements for the future are in a most unsatisfactory state. It is considerably over a year since the question was first raised. Shortly before Mr Chamberlain quitted office ho reminded the Australian Government of the uewssity for considering tho renewal of the oonfcract, and lie, suggested that the matter should be dealt with in conjunction with the China mail service contract, which was then being diseased by the Imperial Government. The Australian Government did not see its way to enter into negotiations immediately, and from time to time announced further '"postponements in response to subsequent reminders. When at last the Federal Government took up the question, it issued the famous declaration that it could not renew the contract unless black labour was abolished on the ships which carried tho mails. To this attitude it adhered, despite the arguments of the shipping companies, who refused to comply with the demand. The next development was tile decision' of the 'Australian Government to institute an independent service. Tenders were invited, but nono of tho offers were acceptable. Delay .followed upon delay until the Imperial Government became impatient, and in the interests of tho colony itself fixed up a. ''contract 'with the P. and 0. Company to carry the mails to and from Australia for three years for a subsidy to bfe paid' by tho 'British Government alone. The contract; however, provides only for a-fortnightly service. At present there is a weekly service both ways,, the mails - being taken by the P.". and O. ■ steamer one week and' by an Orient boat the °li 01- " "\ e c ' t 5' feeling unmistakably is tliat it would bo. monstrous if a weekly mail servifo between England and Australia were to bo wantonly sacrificed to local fads about oolourcd labour.