GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXV, 21 June 1902, Page 1286

GENERAL CABLES.

THE WEST INDIES DISASTER. A terrible eruption took place at Mount Pelee on June 7. Darkness prevailed from ten o’clock it the morning till two o’clock in th afternoon. The plains of Morneronge were covered with hot mud. Some lives were lost, but the other damage was moderate. THE AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT. Excepting the north-western district and portions of the coast, the whole State has benefited by the rains. The rainfall was especially good in the Eastern Riverina and the southeastern areas. Over two inches fell at Kiandra. The rain was only light out West. Splendid general rains have fallen in Victoria and South Australia. This is considered a hopeful prelude to the break-up of the drought. The Premier, in reply to inquiries as to the suspension of the fodder duties, said they must wait for information till the censure motion was decided. He considered it improbable that the Government would take any action in the direction of suspending the duties, as the difficulties in the way were, he believed, too great. The Railway Commissioner has reduced the carriage on fodder to a nominal figure, so as to relieve starving stock. This course was advocated by the Government. IMPERIAL TARIFF. In the House of Commons Sir W. V. Harcourt asked Sir Michael HicksBeach if the corn tax was a step towards preferential trade with the colonies. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said it was introduced as a war and revenue tax. because it was necessary permanently to enlarge the area of indirect taxation. He ridiculed the notion that the duty was the prelude to a

Customs union of the Empire upon a protectionist basis, and disclaimed the interpretation of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Canadian Premier, that the object of the tax was to introduce free trade throughout the Empire. It did not necessarily involve the imposition of duties as against foreign nations, but if we could secure free trade with the colonies, even some sacrifices in that direction might be made. Such free trade was not at present possible. The Government's policy was not to impose duties against foreigners, but to help to make the trade of the Motherland with the colonies freer. An amendment in favour of limiting the corn tax to a year was negatived by a majority of 63. The “Standard,” commenting on his speech, understands that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach refers to the possibility of obtaining an all-round reduction of duties for goods from one British port to another. Mr Archibald Colquhoun, the wellknown explorer and authority on colonial matters, read a paper before the Royal Colonial Institute on “Our Future Colonial Policy.” He advocated a federation founded on defence, with representation on an Imperial Council; also closer commercial union, emigration to the colonies and improved means of communication. Mr William McCulloch, a member of Mr Peacock’s late Ministry and Victorian representative at the Coronation, was unable to be present. He sent a memorandum advocating Hofmeyer’s scheme of a 5 per cent, duty on foreign goods imported into the Empire, to be applied to the purposes of defence, and declared that the British were already losing ground in Australian trade owing to German and French subsidies. He advised compulsory school corps throughout the Empire and preferred triennial conferences in London to an Imperial Council. Mr Robert Reid, in his Presidential address at the Sydney Chamber of Commerce Conference, dealing with the question of preferential trade within the Empire, said he hardly thought it fair that we as an Empire should go on opening doors to all the world while they shut their’s in our face. On the other hand, we had beaten all records by our enormous trade. We were honoured with over-accumulat-ed wealth, and our growing powei showed no sign of decay. While we should rejoice at the trade done within the Empire on the differential basis it would be unreasonable to expect the Motherland to do anythnig to jeopardise Britain's present mercantile supremacy. Touching on shipping combinations, Mr Reid declared that if such combinations were to increase and grow, nothing would save us from disaster but ownership to a certain extent of large liner steamers, which act as a bridge from Australia to the Northern Hemisphere. Referring to cables, he said the Eastern Extension Company’s introduction of the new rate was only brought about by the New Zealand Government’s decision not to submit any longer to the disability of the extra charge, and that if the Extension Company iic not come to terms they would lose the New Zealand business. It was high time the merchants of the Empire awakenetj to the importance of State-owned cables, where increase of traffic would not be followed by’ enormous rates, to the hindrance of commerce and the ultimate destruction of a great commercial Empire. If the Government possessed their own cables they need not be under the thumb of any foreign Power. Mr J. Austen Chamberlain (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) said the Opposition were asking Sir Michael Hicks-Beach to declare that Great Britain would never under any circumstances consent to preferential relations with the colonies, but it would be a strange proceeding to slam the door in the faces of the colonial Premiers, and condemn their proposals before hearing them. THE BRITISH NAVY. , The New South Wales State Governor, Admiral Rawson, speaking at the dinner of the Chambers of Commerce Conference, dealt with the relations between the

navy and comißerce. He said a strong navy stopped those panics by which millions of money were lost. If one quarter of the money lost in panics had been expended on the navy, there would be no panic. Great Britain must have a navy so strong that it would be capable of meeting any three nations. Admiral Beaumont declared that whilst foreign Governments might have a poor opinion of the British army, they had a great respect for the navy. If the future of Great Britain lay in the command of the sea, then every division of the Empire should be adequately protected. Unfortunately, as yet ,it was not so. THE SHIPPING COMBINE. In view of the Imperial conference, the Post Office is inquiring of the Agents-General what subsidies are paid for mail services. A committee, under a Earl Camperdown, recently appointed by the Admiralty to inquire into the Government’s subvention agreement, with regard to merchant cruisers, is also making similar inquiries. The shipbuilding combination in America is building what will be the largest dry dock in the world at Staten Island. The combine has secured contracts for three years, aggregating thirty-seven million dollars. Tammany Hall chiefs are repudiating Boss Croker. They state Croker's best quality is truthfulness, and they will take him at his word when he said he would never again be a Tammany leader. American Congress is formulating a scheme for the civil government of the Philippines which is equivalent to the offer of liberal terms to rebels. Mr George Renwick, of Messrs Fisher, Renwick and Company, shipowners, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in giving evidence before the Steamship Subsidies Committee, said foreign Governments encouraged and fostered their merchant shipping especially by subsidies. The British regulations harassed our subjects. Foreign ships ought to be treated in British ports the same as British. The suggestion to give British shipowners the entire coast, colonial and intercolonial trade was infinitely better than a direct subsidy. He advocated the appointment of a Minister for shipping. He feared the navy wouli be insufficient to protect commerce in war time. MR. SEDDON IN LONDON. The Cape liner Saxon, with Mr. Seddon, Captain Seddon, Colonel Porter and part of the New Zealand Contingent, arrived on June 15th at Southampton. The Sheriff, the Mayor of Southampton, Lord Onslow (Under-Secre-tary of State for the Colonies) and the Duke of Connaught’s aide-de-camp met the party and gave them a cordial welcome. Mr. Seddon, on being interviewed, saM the peace terms secured the great essentials, namely, unconditional recognition of sovereignty and the abandonment of independence. He was gratified with his South African tour. He visited the camps of the New Zealanders, saw the wounded in hospital and those injured in the Machavie railway accident. Lord Kitchener and General lan Hamilton had warmly eulogised New Zealand, declaring she had left her mark on South Africa. Mr. Seddon considered South Africa was a great country,and had many possibilities if the peace conditions were wisely interpreted. Mr. Reeves, Agent-General, and many New Zealanders met Air. Seddon’s party at the Waterloo station, and' drove in the Royal carriages to the Hotel Cecil. Large crowds warmly cheered them. Mr. Seddon spends the week end at Lord Onslow’s seat. Mr. Seddon, in the course of an interview’ on his arrival in London, said he favoured a triennial conference of Imperial statesmen. He was optimistic regarding the outcome of the trade discussions. He disclaimed any intention of dictating the terms of preferential trade. Whatever the result, it would not damp colonial patriotism. Regardless of sentiment and as a mere matter of safety, statesmen ought to make the Empire •self-sustaining, giving contracts wherever possible to the colonies. The more, they strengthened them

materially the better able would they be to assist the Motherland. Mr Seddon, interviewed, said he expected a difference of opinion on the question of Imperial defence. Personally he Would like to ate a strong Imperial reserve created in t*e colonies and trained and equipped on the lines of the Imperial army, ready to serve anywhere in case of emergency. If the Motherland and the colonies agreed the returning troops would form an excellent nucleus. A small annual bonus should be paid to the men to drill sufficient to maintain the service. He declared that Maori volunteers, when drilled, would be sure to exhibit in the field the chivalrous qualities of their ancestors.

He considered the hospitals and refugee camps in South Africa were excellent, and the allegations against the authorities were grossly unjust.