CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 31 March 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

"FIGHTING CHARLIE." Like the warships of his early days, Lord Charles Beresford, one of the most vivid personalities of his time, has been compulsory "scrapped." Veterans are generally unaware of their presumed decay and the remark of the average hearty sexagenarian, "never felt better in my life" is common enough. "Orders,are orders," however, and as Lord Charles is 05 years of old, he is unhappily a '•hacknumber." We must all acknowledge (says the London Times) that by the retirement of Lord Charles Beresford the sea and service has lost not only one of the most diligent, devoted and capable flag officers of his time, but one of the most interesting, sympathetic and lovable personalities that it has known in his generation. We need not enumerate his long ajid distinguished services. They are known' to all the world. Nor need we dwell on those engaging personal qualities which have added so much, and yet not more than was due, to their renown. It lias indeed been one of the disadvantages of his singularly interesting personality that Lord Charles Beresford has come to he regarded in the public estimation too much as a prince of good fellows—though, to he sure, it is hardly possible to esteem him too highly in that capacity—and nothing like, enough as a naval officer of high capacity and distinction. In spite of his many other interests in life, be has never trifled with his professional duties or neglected any opportunities that were open to him for perfecting himself in their efficient discharge. He commanded the devotion of all who served under him by his personal character, and their willing service by his unquestioned mastery of the lore, and practice of their very arduous and exacting profession. It is a mere tru'sm to say that, take him for all in all. he has been the most prominent naval officer of his day; but it. is also true, and should not be forgotten, that he has been in the front rank as a sea officer, even if his gifts were rather those of a dashing and fearless leader of men than of a consummate strategist like the present First Sea Lord of the Admiralty. His compusory retirement will, we are sure, be unfeignedly regretted by all his comrades in the service, and not less by his countrymen at large. But both will rejoice to reflect that Die charm and vigor of his personality still remain unimpaired, and that the wide range of his interests and sympathies will keep open many spheres of activity in which he can still serve his country on shore. OUR PRODUCING INDUSTRIES. Speaking at Waiau last week, the Hon. T. Mackenzie said that the position of the meat industry had never been more assured, and the country was on the verge of great possibilities in trade developments, especially in Europe. A trial shipment of 22 tons of Argentine beef had been sold in Vienna, and two other shipments of 800 tons each have been made from the Argentine. Switzerland was also about to adopt modification in order to admit frozen meat by way of Genoa. Portugal bad withdrawn ' the prohibitive import duty charged on all meat. Fn France no change had taken phire, but in Germany they could lookto the next election for sonic modifications. The tariff in Italy was %d a lioimd. i-i Germany about 2d, and in France 2%d for fresh meat. In Denmark meal was free, in Belgium the duty ou mutton was I'/.d per pound. Germany could not hold out. much longer, for the working people there could not submit much longer to the present conditions, under which the. people were already fed on hurt's, donkeys and dogs. Geimany at the same time was reducing her flocks, and within a very short time New Zealand meat would have access to Europe. The prospects for wool were good, (ho world's flock- having diminished, and the users increased in 15 years by a hundred millions. Jn the industries in the Old Country there was such a. trade revival that: we must maintain a good position, and a stage bad now been reached when the hunter for wool was lieeiiming clamant. There was a noteworthy incense in (In. use of wool sub--tiii'.tc-. and tii.. consumption of cotton, tlif most -rrious competitor of wool, would have been greater but for its dearness. Statistics of the world's cotton supplies also showed that there was far

from enough to go round. What the country specially required, however, was men and money; the spare spaces must be peopled, not only to ensure a reliable producing community to create the prosperity of town and country, but to have people sufficient to defend and retain the country. Great Britain had a surplus of population and capital, and New Zealand and Australia should have a much larger proportion of that surplus than they were receiving. .The time was coming, also, when the burden of the Empire must rest more heavily on the Dominion's shoulders. They must realise that changes were occurring in the history of the World, and these changes must be anticipated.