The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1902.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11666, 27 January 1902, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1902.

On Friday last the Press Association supplied some of the newspapers (but we were not included in the number) with a telegram -referring to certain remarks which had been made by the Premier on that day at a luncheon on board the troopship Surrey. He said that he had read with amazement press cablegrams stating that a contract for the supply of meat to the army in South Africa had been given to the Argentine, and he added: 'Did the Home authorities need waking up ? If they did, the colonies would have to let them know with no uncertain voice that Australia knd New Zealand could give them supplies, ample in quantity and of the best quality." . He informed those present that lie had cabled to the Imperial authorities, pointing out to them the grave injustice which the War Office had been guilty of in regard to this matter. In another part of this monfing's issue will be found the text of the memo- ! randum which formed the basis of the Premier's cablegram. It- was sent in the ' usual course, through his Excellency the Governor, but it does not appear that any answer has yet been received. If the contract or contracts have actually been signed the mischief, as far as it extends, has already been done, but it is to be hoped that the' War Office has not committed itself to the Argentine for any considerable leDgth of time. We need scarcely say that we entirely agree with the Premier's remonstrance. It is hard to understand how the War Office could have been guilty of such an act of folly and unfairness. The Australasian colonies have heartily supported the Imperial Government in the South African struggle. The value of the services thus rendered is by no means to be measured by the number of troops despatched to the scene of operations, though the total of the Australasian Contingents runs into many thousands of the flower of colonial manhood. All the troops which have been sent have acquitted themselves admirably. Even now, at the special request of the Imperial Government, more thousands of Australasian soldiers are being raised and sent forward as rapidly as possible, and an intimation has been given that if necessary further efforts in the same direction will be made. That, as we have said, is substantial assistance, but the moral value of the aid has been yet more considerable, • and has taught foreign nations a lesson which they are not likely to forget. Under such circumstances one would have thought that the commercial interests of the Australasian colonies would have been carefully safeguarded by the Imperial authorities when makiug arrangements for supplying the army in South Jifrica, and that foreign nations would not have been allowed ta benefit by the expenditure of a single shilling which could be fairly earned by the colonies. Common-sense and ordinary prudence should have dictated the course which we have pointed out; and we go even further, and contend that that course should have been pursued if the colonial prices were a little higher than those of foreigners. According to the message published this morning the reason alleged for dealing with the Argentine is that Australasia cannot supply the whole of the meat required, but the Premier points cut that Australia and. New Zealand can furnish supplies far in excess o: what the War Office wants, and that the meat is of the very bsst quality. There is no gainsaj'ing that assertion, and though tho Argentine meat is better than it used to be, and is said to be still improivng, it does not come up to the Australasian standard. Another point that the Premier urges with regard to New Zealand is that the colony is establishing a direct steam service with South Africa, and intended sending meat there. " If," he says, "ihe Argentine participates in furnishing the Army supplies, it will militate against the steam service, and prejudicially affect the colony in respect to its export trade to South Africa." It seems that the Imperial authorities invited New Zealand to tender for some of the supplies, but that the tender forms were received too late to be available. These matters may appear of small importance to the War Office,, but here and in Australia they will be looked on very differently. There will be a money loss to • the colonies, but that will not constitute the chief grievance. What will principally touch the Australasian colonies is the apparent indifference to their interests which has been exhibited on, this and one or two previous occasions. The obtaining of supplies from the Argentine will, as the Premier says, cause much irritation.