THE OLD COUNTRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 23, 9 June 1909, Page 6

THE OLD COUNTRY.

The Navy. Viscount Esher, a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence, in a speech at Cailender, declared that Britain stood in a more perilous position to-day than during the last 100 years. She ought to build two ships to every one of the next strongest European Power. Mr. George Lambert, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, addressing his constituents at Bishop’s Nympton, Devonshire, declared that the Budget proposals were sufficient to provide for present and future naval needs. Referring to the Naval debates, he denied that Germany would have 17 Dreadnoughts ready in July, 1911. Only seven had yet been ordered, and therefore it was impossible to have 13 ready by April, 1911, and four more in July, for 27, Macartney none for 25, Laver 62, Whitty three for 59, O’Connor none cables on April 20. Parachutist in Peril. A parachutist named Bidmead made an ascent at Northampton last week in the presence of over a thousand holiday, makers. The balloon rose rapidly to a height of about 1000 feet, and the aeronaut then prepared to descend. Something went wrong with the ropes attaching the parachute to the balloon, and the spectators were horrified to see the parachute suddenly fall from the balloon and drop to the earth, while the aeronaut hung suspended below the balloon on the trapeze bar on which he had ascended. The unfortunate man was carried away by the light wind prevailing. Bidmead clung for ninety minutes to a wooden ring attached to the cording of the balloon, and was nearly exhausted, when the balloon gradually dropped, and he alighted safely. Mr. Asquith Ambushed. A number of suffragettes lay in wait for Mr Asquith after attending service in Clovelly Church, and proceeded to bombard him with questions concerning the attitude of the Government concerning the suffragette movement, Mr Asquith escaped from his interrogators, but subsequently he was again waylaid, though under police protection, while playing golf on private links. One of the suffragettes, in her excess of zeal for the cause, seized the Prime Minister by the arm. Breakers Ahead. The Scottish coal owners have decided to withdraw from the Conciliation Board and enforce their demands for a reduction in wages. They declare that they have no alternative, as the men rejected the proposal to appoint a neutral chairman. The Peacemaker. Mr. Andrew Carnegie is personally sounding the Powers as regards the reception likely to be accorded to his proposal that President Taft should summon a friendly international conference in 1910 to discuss the question of the limitation of armaments and the sub-

mission to arbitration of all questions arising at sea. The Powers are also being sounded as to an agreement that all private property be made immune on sea. Interviewed by a “Daily Mail” correspondent in Pans, Mr Carnegie declared that Europe was “Dreadnought mad.” All this was due, he said, to German and British rivalry.’’ General Hamilton Promoted, 1 General Sir lan Hamilton has been appointed Adjutant-General of the Forces and second military member of the Army Council, viee Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Douglas. In a remarkable farewell order, in relinquishing his southern district command, General Hamilton recalls his efforts to impart to the troops the pith of his experiences in Manchuria. He had endeavoured especially, he says, to influence the cavalry against the peace practice of unreal tactics, and to encourage the artillery to perfect themselves in the use of concealed positions. Whatever progress was to be made, he realised that the sympathy of all ranks was with the underlying aim, namely, preparedness and efficiency for war. Turning It Into Cash. King Leopold of Belgium is selling his collection of old masters, including a Rubens, for which he obtained £40,000 sterling. His object in disposing of the pictures is to prevent the property going to ths creditors of Princess Louise on his death. The sales are exciting great opposition in Belgium. King Leopold of Belgium, who is 74 years of age, will be succeeded by his nephew, Albert, Prince of Belgium. His three daughters will receive his personal estate; but apparently he intends to tie it up so that the long-suffering creditors of the Princess Louise can receive none of it. Wiping Out Slums. The Prince of Wales is the owner of large estates in South London, which are attached to the Duchy of Cornwall. These have been ’eased for many years, and have developed into slums. The leases are now falling in and His Royal Highness is removing the existing buildings and erecting upon the sites self-contained modern flats for working people. Entertaining the Pressmen. King Edward has invited the delgates to the Imperial Press Conference to witness the presentation of colours to the Territorial Forces at Windsor Castle on the 19th inst. The New Zealand delegates have unanimously decided to appoint Mr. G. Fenwick chairman and Mr. W. S. Douglas secretary. The King and Queen Alexandra attended the garden party given at Martborough House to the delegates by the Prince of Wales on Monday last. A review will be held at Spithead on the 12th. It will exclusively comprise warships always fully manned, always in home waters, always fully stored as for action, and always under war training, and anchored in seven lines, occupying 18 miles of sea room. The ships will inelude 24 battleships, 1C armoured cruisers, eight other cruisers, four scouts, 48 torpedo-boat destroyers, 35 submarines, and nine auxiliary vessels. The White Plague. Mr Jnlhn Burns (President of the Local Government Board) opened the Tuberculosis Exhibition at Whitechapel on Thursday. to-day. The exhibition is intended to illustrate the methods adopted for preventing the disease and minimising its effects where it exists. Mr Burns claimed that Britain led in the crusade against tuberculosis, remarking that the direct remedies were higher wages, less drink, les 8 betting, and more regular work. Open windows, he added, would stamp out consumption in a generation. A number of suffragettes were ejected for persistently interrupting Mr Burns, Encouraging. Mr. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, speaking before the

National Liberal Club, stated that the<4 were now 1300 fewer paupers in Londod than at the end of February, and 100 a fewer than in June 1908. This indicated that trade was reviving. - — Shipping Rings. The “Times” is inclined to support the minority report of the Shipping Ring Commission, which reported on May 28 and declares it is glad both that reports, '* in different degrees, favour watching carefully the operation and development of the conference system, and the necessity for being prepared for more stringent regulation should events demand it. Is . A majority report issued by the Royal Commission on Shipping Rings declared that rings afford steadier freight rates and a more regular service. The report recommended the formation of a Shippers’ Association, recognised by the Board of Trade, with a view to effecting a conciliatory settlement of disputes. The minority report declared that Rings werq unnecessary in the interests of British and colonial trade, and recommended that the Board of Trade shall issue regulations. \ Lord Roberts. * ' ; In a letter to Colonel Unsworth, of the 1 Salvation Army, Lord Roberts refers to Mr. Deakin’s suggestion that he should visit Australia. < “I would be delighted,” he declared, “to see the country and meet the many gallant fellows who fought under me irt South Africa. I recognise the value of the Australian example, of their readfa ness to accept universal military trains ing, because England has not yet been educated to this necessity.” “I must remain at Home, however, and continue my efforts in urging the adoption of the Australian example.” Narrow Escape. A fire which originated in the wffcg Used as living rooms by the assistants in a big drapery warehouse at Hammersmith caused damage to the extent of ’ £40,000. i A hundred woman assistants escaped half-dressed, while the 80 men were cgf off entirely from means of egress througH their own building, and were compelled to walk across a single narrow plank placed from an upstairs window of thq burning wing to the opposite 1 Gullible Australian, a Two “swell mobsmen” have been sentenced to 18 months’ and 12 months?’ hard labour respectively for obtaining £734 from Mr. Inglis, a West Australian, who was persuaded to back various horses for the Derby after the result was known. —. A Holbein Saved. Hana Holbein’s picture, Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan, was to have been sold by its recent purchaser, who bought ft on May 1, to an American art) collector for £75,000, when saved it for the nation. One anonymous donor contributed £40,000, and the Treasury added £lo,oo®. Handling Australian Meat. The principal underwriters insuring Australian produce have requested Mr, Coghlan (the New South Wales Agent> General) to make representations to the several State Governments of Australia regarding the unsatisfactory manner of handling frozen meat in Australia. The underwriters intimate that unless the Governments enforce better - handling they will be compelled to discontinue underwriting altogether, as far as Australian products are concerned, or raise the rates to such an extent as to make business impossible. They suggest comt pulsory inspection at the ship’s side, and insulated conveyances between the freezing works and the ship, as is done id New Zealand. Legislation by Exhaustion. The Ministerial Whip, on the reaßsembling of Parliament, issued a circular, inquiring whether the recipient was willing to attend the House until October. ” The "Times” protests against the attempt to arrange batches or relays tflt effect Ministerial purposes by the exhaustion of the Opposition, adding that circular In question Indicates a fine cons tempt for the rights of constituencies Which would be unrepresented and vow®.

Ims In the Commons for a considerable portion of the session. Wanted a Zeppelin. ' The chairman of the British Aerial League (Lord Montague of Beaulieu), (states that the League intends to urge J,he raising of a public subscription of StoO.OOO for the purchase of a Zeppelin >irship.