The Week in Review

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 3, 20 January 1909, Page 1

The Week in Review

The commercial outlook all over the world seems to be distinctly brighter than it has been- for some time past. In South Africa there is a very marked revival of prosperity, and the sharemarket is quite active again. Many securities, for long considered practically valueless, have recently advanced by leaps and bounds, till some are now actually higher than they were before the great Baring failure. England also appears to be recovering from the acute depression of last year, and Government supporters are hopeful that they may yet avoid the threatened change in fiscal policy. Throughout the whole of Australasia projects of a good season are distinctly ■encouraging, and this, combined with better prices at Home, ought to remove entirely any financial stringency that may still exist. A record wheat harvest is anticipated in the South, and reports go to show that in Auckland the butter yield is better than it has ever been. In Australia the wheat promises well, and the rise in the price of wool and the general recovery throughout the Commonwealth from the effects of the great drought give every hope for the coming year. Mr. Taft’s election has caused renewed industrial activity in the United States, and even in Venezuela and the other turbulent republics of South America a more settled prosperity seems to be imminent. The New Tear has ophned well as far as the commercial world is concerned. We can only hope that it may close under circumstances equally auspicious.. New Zealanders are not the only people who like to have a growl at the Tailway authorities for the discomfort entailed by the overcrowded state of the trains at holiday times. It appears that in New South Wales, while the Railway Department has been congratulating itself on having put up a record as regards the number of passengers carried last Boxing Day. the passengers themselves are anything but inclined to share in the congratulations. Very little accommodation appears to have been provided for first-class passengers, and thousands of people wlro paid for first-class tickets, were compelled to travel in the already overcrowded second-class carriages. Not only so, but even in the inferior class they were not given a seat, but were compelled to stand the whole journey, and we are told that the platforms of the carriages were crowded to a dangerous extent. It the railway authorities sell a ticket entitling the holder to a seat in a first-class compartment, it seems only just and reasonable that they should carry out their contract and not lave the unfortunate pasenger, whose money they have taken, to battle for standing room wherever he can get it or else be left behind on the platform. The traffic at holiday times is naturally exceptional, but it is not unexpected, and adequate steps should be taken to meet it. Presidvnt Fallteres by his persistent refusal to sign the death-warrant has been held largely responsible for the enormous increase of crimes of violence in France, and especially in the streets of Paris. Murders and attempted murders had become of almost daily occurrence, and in Paris the , “Apache,” or gangs of hoodlums, had bcome more and mere daring from the knowledge that if caught they would never be executed. In a single day they committed no fewer than ten murders, all of them of a singularly brutal and ruthless nature. The French Chamber of Deputies decided last, year that drastic steps must be taken to put

an end to this new reign of terror, and they passed by a one-third majority a resolution in favour of enforcing the death penalty. As a result of this decision, the President has been compelled to abandon his former attitude, and

twenty-two convicted murderers were sentenced to be executed, * The crowd cheered as the victims were being led to the guillotine, and one of the condemned men just before his death admitted that ■lie had committed 250 crimes, and that the sentence was a just one. However repugnant the idea of capital punishment may l>e, there is no doubt that the dread of the death sentence acts as a most powerful deterrent to men who but for it would commit murder on the slightest provocation. The President’s ill-advised leniency had cost the lives of numerous innocent people, and he doubtless recognises by now that the sternest justice may in the end prove to be the most really merciful course to pursue. JX J* It is very much to be regretted that the miners at Broken Hill should have alienated so much of public sympathy from their cause by their many acts of violence and wanton destruction of property. For on the face of it the men appear to have had a good case. The Mine owners, in spite of the award given and agreed upon, decided to reduce the men’s wages on the ground that they could not pay tne rate awarded. The men construed this as a lock out, and in all probability public opinion would have been entirely with them had they- conducted themselves in a peaceful and lawabi ’ing manner. But the tactics they have pursued have received and merited almost universal condemnation. Much of the blame, however, fox’ these deeds of violence must be laid at the door of the irresponsible agitators, who have sought to rouse the passions of the men by inflammatory speeches. The arrest of Tom Mann and others shows that the authorities are "fully alive to the dangerous influence exerted by some of those who whilst professing sympathy with the working classes are in reality their most dangerous enemies. It is very much to be regretted that, in view of the recent rise in the price of wool, the results of the Auckland wool sales held on Wednesday last cannot be considered altogether satisfactory. Buyers made great complaints aboiit the bad classification, even going so far as to allege a certain amount of dishonest baling. This, they said, hail a bad effect upon the sales, and had caused a markeddistrust as well as a disinclination on the part of several buyers to make any bids. This was especially noticeable in purchases made for America, these purchases being on a very limited scale. On the other hand, many of the woolgrowers deny that the wool was badly packed or classified, and they lay the blame elsewhere fox' the poor prices realised. Not a few consider that thercare too many sales in Auckland, and they, urge that two would be sufficient, instead of three, as at present. They seem inclined to think that the buyers were trying to depress the market, and the lacxc of American bidding is attributed to the high duty of 5| per lb. on imported wool. However this may be, the fact remains that the sale was a distinct disappointment to the growers, and in their own interest they should make the fullest inquiries into tne causes, and endeavour to remedy any admitted defects.

There is one feature of the recent General Election that deserves more attention than seems to have been generally paid to it. This is the great increase in the number of members who are committed to a definite programme of national defence. Nineteen members are unconditionally pledged, and sixteen more have promised favourable support to the movement. It is not a party question, and both political parties are well represented. Indeed, there seems to be a very strong feeling throughout the Dominion in favour of some form of compulsory military training, though not ixx the form of conscription as it is understood on the Continent. At present it cannot be said that- we have anything adequate in the nature of a defence force. We have been spending fox- some years past nearly a-quarter of a million per annum on defence. and we have nothing to show fox* it except a volunteer force under 20,000 strong. We have 50,000 rifles, but it is estimated that our reserve supply of ammunition would, at the best, only last 10,000 men for a fortnight. There are not 30 pieces of really' effective fiekl artillery, and the commissariat transport and army medical departments are practically non-existent. J* In England there seems also to be a growing feeling that the voluntary system has not proved adequate to me demands that might be made upon it in the event of an invasion. The territorial a tiny lias not been a success, and Mr. Haldane, by his unwise cutting down of the regular forces, has ixot tended to reassure public opinion on the vital question of defence. Ixxrd Roberts, in November last, pointed out that it would be quite possible for 200,000 nxeu to be assembled at German ports without any fuss of public notification, and embarked before we could prevent their departure. He also referred to the fact that there were 80,000 Germans in England already, all of ...cm trained to military service, and these would co-operate with their countrymen in the event of hostilities being declared. He contended that the citizen army should consist of at least 1,00t.,000 men. Admiral Finnis has also expressed the opinion that an invasion of England would be quite possible. During the recent manoeuvres, when in command of tne attacking fleet, he had succeeded, under cover of a thick fog, in conveying a force, supposed to represent seventv thousand troops, to the Scottish coast He agreed with Lord Roberts that no matter how strong and powerful the naw might be, a sufficient and efficient command of the land was necessary to ensure peace and security’ at home. We have for so long enjoyed the blessings of peace that we are apt to imagine that these blessings will continue fox* ever, but tile situation is threatening both in Europe and in the East, and the best and surest guarantee of peace is to be found in being, thoroughly prepared for war. A weak country invites attack: that country alone eixix dwell secure which can exhibit on its shield the proud motto, “.Nemo uxe ixnpune lacessit. The recent conference of the Rrinritivo Methodist Church showed that this body has made great progress in its work (luring recent years. The denomination dates back to the .year 1811. when Hugh Bourne axxd William Clowes founded the Church. Bourne was a man Of considerable literary attainments, as well as a fluent linguist, whilst Clowes was mainly noted as a preacher. The main feature of their work was intense evangelical enthusiasm; powerful, fearless preaching of the gospel, and open-air work. The Church grew, and spread to America, Canada, Australasia, and Africa. The first minister in New Zealand Was the late Rev. R. Ward, a man who was both a saint and a hero. Pox* sonic time ho

worked in New Plymouth but in 1849 he came to Auckland, tire voyage, which was made by schooner, occupying seven days. There are now 75 churches and 89 other preaching places. The churches, schools, and parsonages are valued at £75,000. There are 39 ministers, and nearly 3000 members. There are 83 Sunday schools, with 613 teachers and 5500 scholars. The Church has done nn immense work amongst the poor, and has ever taken a foremost place in all matters affecting social and temperance reform. JX St -The annual report of the Panama Canal Commission, recently issued, shows that serious and unexpected difficulties have been encountered, and these have necessitated some change in plan as well as causing considerable delay. One of the most serious troubles was a large land slide, which is thus described in the report: —“On Octoner 4 the Cucaraeha slide, which and caused more or less inconvenience since the work was begun by the French in 1884, started to move toward the east edge of the canal at a rate, at first, of fourteen feet in twenty-four* hours, decreasing toward the dose of the month to about four feet in the same period of time. About 113,009 cubic yards of material moved so as to effectually stop the transporta tion of material through the ‘cut’ to the south, and necessitated the handling of all material over the single-track portion of the. Panama Railroad via Empire to the south. Work was prosecuted, without interruption, day and night, by steam shovels and improvised hydraulic means, and by the end of the month sufficient space was gained on the moving mass to permit the passage of dirt trains to the south over the old route. The tola! area of the slide was approximately 34,455 square yards, and it was* estimated that, about. 600,000 cubic yards were in motion.” The engineers, however, are hopeful that they will be able to pre vent such catastrophes in future, and that the canal will be finally completed before 1915. Its importance can hardly be over-estimated, and everyone will be glad to learn that there is every prospect of this gigantic project being carried to successful terminal ion. JX Tuikey has at last accepted Austria’s offex* of compensation for the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there is every indication that she Will also accept compensation from Bulgaria. .Servia Ims also considerably modified Ircx* formin' threatening attitude, so that there seems to be every prospect, of a pacific settle lifent of affairs in the Balkans. As re gArds Servia, we may assume that she has been influenced by the pressure exerted by Russia, and also by tne fact that Italian interest has been diverted from the Balkans owing to the recent, st upon dons earthquake in Sicily. Turkey is face to face with great financial difficulties, and a loan is said io be absolutely necessary. I ndex* these circumstances wax* would la* disastrous, and she is willing to make great concessions in order to escape, from further monetary embarrassments. At present it would seem ns if the main outcome of recent affairs would be the rise of a Bulgarian Empire that may yet Take a prominent part in the councils of Europe. The annual statement of the Napier Harbour Board shows that the port is making rapid progress, and goes far to justify the Chairman’s confidently expressed opinion that it will one day become the third port in the Dominion. Napier has gained considerably in trade by the action of the Government in taking over the MnnaWatu railway, and also by the subdivision of large estates, hundreds of people having made homesteads

on land that formerly pOHSOHKcu but a few occupants. Thu revenue of the Board, exclusive of rates, interest and Government grants, increased last year by the large sum of £6.303 12s. Bd., although the amount raised in 1007 had constituted a record. It is proposed to raise a loan oi £200,000 fur the completion ami equipment of the breakwater haihour, and it is estimated that the total amount of interest on tin; loan will be more than met by tne increase of revenue. In four years the revenue of the Board has nearly doubled, having increased from £20.000 to £30,000, and, with thr many improvements proposed, and those already being carried out, there seems little reason to doubt that the port will rapidly become one uf the most important in the colony. & In Auckland on Friday last an important meeting was held of the Auckland Browers ami Wine ami Spirit Merchants’ Association, and of the Licensed Victualler*’ Association. Air. A. M. Myers presided, and after a serious discussion had taken place for a. period of about five hours it was decided to abolish barmaids and private bars, making due allowance for present interests, and also to serw no youth under 20 years of age, and not to supply women unless boarders. There is very little doubt that these reforms will appeal to the large moderate section <>f the community, those who do not desire absolute prohibition, but who wish to see reform in the manner in which the trade is conducted. Tin* resolutions show that those ent rusted with the public sale of liquor are fully alive to their responsibilities, and it is probable that the permanence of their reforms will shortly be secured by direct legislation now that tin trade has itself adopted them.