GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVII, 24 October 1903, Page 21

GENERAL CABLES.

RHODES SCHOLARS. Six Rhodes scholars have been elected in South Africa and five in Germany. No others will enter upon residence at Oxford until October, 1904.

THE STEEL TRUST. Messrs Harland and Wolff, the great firm of shipbuilders of Belfast, who use 150,000 tons of steel and iron annually, have, signed a contract to draw all they require from the Steel Trust. THE BALKAN RISING. Reuter’s Monastir correspondent states: “If undisciplined Turkish soldiers have committed irregularities, Bulgarian bands have committed more. I have seen the ruins of 250 Turkish homes burnt by insurgents.” UNWELCOME. The “Daily Mail” states that a'fresh New Zealand loan will not be welcomed. Everybody will soon be regretting the extension of the trustee provisions, which have given an extra inducement to extravagance. NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL. Lord Northeote, speaking at Exeterdeclared that he and his wife would do all in their power to maintain the harmonious relations existing between Australia and the Mother Country, and to Tender justice to all those dwelling under the Southern CrossPACIFIC CABLE. At Mr Chamberlain’s instance it is intended to hold a London conference of the partners in the Pacific Cable to discuss terminal charges and the desirability of a second Pacific cable, as well as that of a British cable between Canada and England. The duplicating of the Pacific cable is held to be necessary both for trade and defensive reasons. SOUTH AFRICA. Iwo uncompromising Afrikander bondsmen have been elected to the Natal Parliament by the annexed Dutch district. Louis Botha, in a subtly malicious speech to the Dutch electors, dwelt on the necessity for maintaining the Afrikander race intaet as well as their language, traditions and breed. He contemptuously referred to the opposition that a small people offered to the mightiest nation in the world. CZAR’S VISIT TO ROME. The newspaper “Novosti” declared that the Czar’s visit to Italy was postponed owing to the extreme offensiveness of the hostile preparations of the Italian Socialists. Italy is bitterly displeased with the “Novosti’s” statement. The Ministerial newspaper “Tribuna” ridicules the absurd fears of the Russian detectives, and declares that the Czas was excessively nervous, and not particularly friendly to Italy, though on good terms with the King. .. 4 ’ DOWIETSM. Dowie’s followers, after breakfasting at Madison Square, proceeded to a cheap boardinghouse, while Dowie and

his wife put up at a fashionable hotel. Dowie informed the police that liis wife had lost a diamond brooch worth £3OO. It is supposed to have been stolen during the morning crush. Dottie expects to raise five million dollars in three weeks in New York. This sum will be used to establish Zion eities on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. A BIG HAUL. A large quantity of jewellery, which Lad been on view preparatory to an auction sale on the premises of Messrs Knight, Frank and Rutley, auctioneers, Conduit-street, London, has been stolen. The thieves concealed themselves on the premises until the rooms were closed. They then opened the safes with duplicate keys and obtained £ 10,000 worth, including pearl necklaces, diamond brooches, diamond and pearl tiaras. ecclesiastical: plate, watches, and rings set with gems. The robbers escaped by means of a skylight to the roof, thence reaching the street. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. It is officially stated that Lord Lansdowne and AL Cambon, the French Ambassador in London, signed on October 14 an agreement having a duration of five years whereby questions of a judicial character or relating to the interpretation of existing treaties should, if found incapable of diplomatic settlement, be referred to The Hague Arbitration Tribunal. The arrangement is restricted to questions not involving the. vital interests, independence and honour of the contracting parties, nor the interests of a third Power. The newspapers welcome even the limited French and British Arbitration Treaty as a great step, and comment on the happy coincidence of its signature with King Emmanuel's visit to Paris. The Parisian newspapers applaud the arbitration agreement as the first step towards the adjustment, of all difficulties with Great Britain. AN AMERICAN OPINION. Mr Alstong Dayton, member for the second district of West Virginia in the House of Representatives, after studying naval affairs in Europe, said tliat be was convinced that Germany was aiming at the creation of a navy equal to that of any other Power, with a view to securing for herself colonies capable of absorbing population without. denationalisation. He did not believe that Germany would permit Monroeism to stand in the way of that policy. America ought immediately to build five 16,000 ton battleships. The United States is sending an agent to South America- to study the military conditions there, believing that the next conflict will be fought there in order to maintain the Monroe Doctrine. The authorities have become alarmed on hearing that certain European Powers, especially Germany, are collecting similar information. THE FAR EAST. The "Daily Mail’s” Kobe correspondent says it is reported that Russia offered to • surrender her claims in Corea, but insisted on the retention of Manchuria. Japan declined these terms. The ‘’Times* ” Pekin correspondent reports that on the occasion of a British military ball on October 13 an attempt was made to explode a magazine containing explosives and ammunition for the defence of the Legation. The breechblock and sights of a 4.7 inch gun were simultaneously stolen, but have since been recovered in a native city. The wires were laid to connect with the battery, but for some reason were not connected, otherwise the consequences would have been disastrous. Four Japanese officers who have been buying arms and ammunition from Krupp's factory at Essen have been recalled. The Japanese workmen at the Port Arthur Docks have been discharged by the Russian authorities. The, exodus

front other parts of Manchuria eont inues. There is no excitement in Japan. The people are apparently confident in the policy of the Government, and its ability to carry it through. PREFERENTIAL TR A DE. In the Dominion House of Commons Mr Fielding, Minister for Finance, denied having pledged the Ministry to support Mr Chamberlain's policy on condition that Canada was not asked to contribute to Imperial defence. Mr Chamberlain is progressing satisfactorily, and it is expected that he will shortly be in a condition to resume iiis campaign. Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, in a Cobden Club pamphlet dealing with the. balance of trade, contends that the difference between imports and exports is a sure proof of the growth of wealth, and that the excess of imports is payment by the rest of the world of interest on British capital invested with it to the extent of eight hundred and fifty thousand millions. Mr. Chamberlain, in a letter dealing with the proposed duty on manufactures, says it may vary from an average of 10 per cent, according to the amount of labour involved. Thus, if boots and shoes are taxed, the tax on leather, which is partly manufactured, will be much less. If his proposals are adopted an expert committee will be appointed to collect evidence as regards all manufactures before fixing the tariffs, and will consider the special circumstances of each trade, and the part played in its success by the different articles used in its production. This is the scientific spirit wherein the Germans work, and it is desirable to imitate it. Mr. Winston Churchill, in a letter to the Anti-Food Tax League, of Newcastle, says Mr. Chamberlain is a tremendous power by himself, and there is too much reason to fear that. Mr. Balfour is secretly aiding and abetting him. The propose ! numerous taxes on most articles of food may, by a turn of the screw, be considerably raised with the ultimate object of transferring to the shoulders of labour a great proportion of the prodigal increase in the cost of government. He adds: "Air. Chamberlain admitted in the House of Commons that the worker will pay three-fourths of all such indirect taxes.” Mr Winstone Churchill's letter stated that, his father, in 1890, relinquished his ideas as to the advantages of preference. The “Globe” in reply publishes an interview with Lord Randolph .Churchill in 1892, and a letter approving the report of an interview, which, however, in deference to his wishes was not published. The interview declared that it was urgent that the Home Government should consider commercial union with the colonies by a system of differential duties. The Hon. A. Lyttelton, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in the course of a speech, said that he hoped to keep his predecessor’s great, example constantly before him, and< maintain* the. great traditions of colonial policy. Sir 11. Campbell-Bannerman, addressing a great Liberal meeting at Bolton, said no attempt, had been made to prove the reekloss and monstrous slander on the Motherland and the colonies that the Empire was on the verge of dissolution, and would fall to pieces unless the fiscal policy was altered, an assertion which touched the depth of political profligacy. Liberals were believers in free trade because it was good for the country, and gave the freest play to individual initiative and energy, and the largest liberty to the producer and consumer. Air. Balfour's attitude implied that he knew the Empire was disintegrating, and that trade was being visibly ruined, and that lie knew the specific cure, but that if he proclaimed the cure when the time was unripe lie would be ejected from power, therefore he was prepared to let the Empir perish, in order to save himself and the Government. Retaliation never lowered tariff's. Under it they rose higher. The Government claimed that weapon for the purpose of bluff, and we knew what the bluffer cost in the case of South Africa. Lord Gosclien. speaking at the Passmore Edward's Hal), declared that Great Britain was dependent for fourfifths of her food on the over-sea supply of wheat, wliieli was much cheaper in England than in France and Germany, because wo enjoyed Free Trade, while they were Protectionist. We ought, he •aid, to keep the food channels free.

Would the colonies, he asked, be satisfied with a 2/ duty? Perhaps If such ft fax were imposed they would ask for more- and then friction would arise.