ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 8

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

___, Onr Special Correspondent.) (JTOO v • ' LONDON. January. 13. A HEW COLONLVL CLUB. Colonial Chib closed its doors for of sunport, but in its place there * aDC mo into existence a new organisa- ** "Sued the United Empire Club, Xl °\ Strangely enough, seems to have nmTintoa prosperous existence at a A The new club has taken the pre- *°- it 84 Piccadilly, which was' the of the short-lived South African h °T Xo Mult <*n be fcnul(l with thfi £rfta of the Club, and the fact that ■I has no main entrance from Piccadilly. "£fo» entered from Clarges-strccl, is a i "back searceJy worth mentioning. «L club rooms are fairly spacious and rrr comfortably furnished, and a tine Wacross the Green Park is obtainable Tom the smoking dining, and billiard ooins- Indeed, the only fault one can fi d with the habitat, of the new institution is that there are no bedrooms and ally one small dressing room. Arrangements, however, are. I understand, being ■nade for sleeping country and colonial members in the near vicinity of the clubihouse.

The United Empire Chib is rcallv the offspring of the Tariff Reform league. | and its "objects ujv to "aid the leaders j u f the United lmpprial party in their endeavours to consolidate our Empire, to make it self-sufficing as to food sup ijlv, and to strengthen the bonds between the Mother Country and her various colonies and dependencies." But no political bar is to be put up to keep out free-fooders. Rosebcryites. or other ' brands of political faith; the club will Ik open to all respectable. mcmbpr> of society who care to pay » town snbscriptiou of seven guineae and to all reputable colonist* who are willing to p;iy a couple of guineas for the privileares of membership. At present the only colonial element in the Executive Committee is Colonel Aylmei , Bsiynes. ;i Canadian, but an times goes on it is proposed to :idd thereto representative colonists from all parts. The new chib already boasts over 1000 members. .LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. Tlie League of the Empire carrier on a laudable work in trying to spread a knowledge of Greater Britain amongst the people of this country. I wonder the League does not shrink'at the colossal nature of its task. .Only those who have mixed with tbe stay-at-home population of the Motherland can realise the depths of ignorance in which their shadowy impressions of the colonies lie buried. Nothing >hort of a great war. it would seem, can teach them oven the rudiments of colonial history and geography, or make them foci an interest in anything that happens over the verge of their extremely limited horizon. I speak, of course, with reference to the population as a whole, and freely admit that ono meets -with welcome ami refreshing exceptions. But Lord Mpath puts the case very mildly indeed when he observes that the persons -who know all about our colonies are. in somewhat of a minority." However, this is a wellworn theme, and I do not wish fo labour it. The reference to the League of the Empire was prompted by the action of that body in organising a series of Sunday afternoon lantern lectures on Britain and her colonies and dependencies. The idea is "to inspire personal knd active interest, in the Empire as r. Thole and to promote educational and friendly intercommunication between its differait part-;." As Lord Meath pointed out in his speech at last Sunday's lecture, greater knowledge paves the way for increased friendship. Ignorance breeds prejudice. prejudice dislike, dislike hatred, and hatred bloodshed; while knowledge tends tn make men broad-minded, and to lead them to better acquaintance, to friendship, love and peace.

Tie lecture given last Sunday was the first, of the series. Mr Allerdale Grainger, Agent-General for South Australia, was the lecturer, and his pictures and remarks dealt with the history and characteristic features of the colony presents in London. Vocal and instrumental music was given by South Australian artists, AUSTRALIAN BLUEJACKETS. A naval correspondent on the Australian Station, writing to Reuters Agency, lias some interesting comments on the newly-recruited colonial bluejackets. Contrary to expectations the men are very anieuiible to discipline, and several of them have, already been made able seamen. '"Taking tho recruits on the average," he continues, display far greater aptitude than the Imperial service, ordinary seamen. The great drawback to the scheme is the inCTease of pay for colonial seamen, which not unnaturally causes friction between we Imperials and colonials. One ease wcurred in the Cliallenger recently, in vriueh a West Australian Teeruit and an ■imperial seaman fought for four hours «n the subject, and eventually had to J* separated. A way out of the difficulty would be to deposit the extra W with a bank, as. indeed, is done at Present, and let it accumulate till the jnan's time expires, when it would serve W a measure as a pension. Under the existing system the men can at any time ol) «un a blank cheque from tho paymaster's office, and draw out the whole w their extra pay. Tf it were generally understood that the- extra p.iy was pension money all friction would probably cease. EMPIRE DAY SERVICES.

Wd Meath, who has identified himt! 80 Prominently with the celebration ■i -brnpn-e Day, ? ' expresses the hope that « their sermons on tho Sunday before **7 24 the clergy will strike the key "jte of moral responsibility attaching to of the Kmphe. In a letter T " tu e deans throughout tho country r* dM «tli says-.—-it is interesting to *«w that the first cathedra) to respond sM fPPeal has boon that which is Jtuated in the furthest eastern portion tile dominions of the King. The '\\ r Waia I HI - - N >«' Zealand, writes: SmL> , l obserVfi Day and the caih j a l e a ? re at deuionslration in our • X tbi »k 1 told you that the K'V have hild the" pleasure of Riding here . n N jP lhn most MiiSr in thfi Bfitbh Empire, and, ST Cntl y' tLo cathedral in which all ■wtttv. Se T?l l(:es to be observed throughJou a pire eommenee. I will Rend well aft aper Wi^h the account ' all h^]n " I trisf +f the servie cs have been held. , -, many other cathedrals and Bean of follow the example of the great' id la P u, and it would give mc of tlip^? lll '® to kpai ' that you approved "apresq 'c and had ta^en ste P s to s*ak5 *ak L° a Sllnda y. May 21, the higher the en^ n " ected with Empire Day 5 on and minds of your T^ 1 «»8«»8i1aons ."■

'•THE LIGHT OP THE WORLD." Mr Holman Hunt's new version of his famous picture, "The Light of the World, which, in conformity with the artist s express desire, is to be exhibited free throughout the colonies by the Rt. Hon. Chas. Booth, will at the end of its tour bo offered as a gift to the British people, and will no doubt find a permanent home at the National Gallery. Apropos the picture's coming travels, the Colonial Secretary has addressed a letter to Mr Booth, in the course of which llr Lyttelton, -after expressing the great, pleasure Mr Booth's intention gives him, says:—"l understand that you propose to exhibit the picture freely in the central cities of the colouies if space in public, rooms is given by the authorities, or. if you have, to hire rooms, to charge only so much for entrance as will meet the expense of such hiring, and that in any ease you do not intend to derive any profit" from the exhibition of the picture. . . . Your proposal seems to vie to be eminently patriotic, and I feel the. greatest sympathy with your desire to add to the. ties which bind together the various popu- | lations of the sclf-governinsr States of ; the Empire that lofty bond of unron which consists in a common admiration for great and elevating works of national and religious art. I trust that the voyage of the "Light of the World" will be in every sense successful, and that you will (hid. si* ] do not doubt, that "the local authorities will be most willing J ,o do everything which can facilitate your laudable intentions." TRADE LICENSE TAXES. At a meeting of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers on Monday, a communication was submitted from the Colonial Office respecting trade license taxes on limited liability companies and on commercial travellers in certain British' colonies. The chairman explained that their object in. -writing to the Colonial Secretary was to get as ..-•iich information as they could on the subject, in addition to any promises regarding redress on Ihe. matters complained of. In the reply it was stated that *.*, a result of representations made by several Chambers of Commerce the New Zealand Government had announced their intention of preparing « bill with a view to removing the disability nf limited liability companies doing business with that colony, but the Governments of tho Cape of flood Hope and Natal were unwilling to take any action in that direction. As regarded licenses, they had bad no reply, and be was afraid that the whole reply to their remonstrance was contained'in tho clause of tho Colonia-1 Office letter, which stated that those were all questions in which the Secretary of Stare did not interfere in the rasp of a colony under a respousible Government. JOTTINGS. Ten per cent., a reserve of a million and forty thousand pounds, and bright prospects for the future are the dominant notes of the report of the Union Bank of Australia which has been issued to the proprietors, together with an invitation to attend the half-yearly meeting of shareholders next Monday. During the half-year ended on August 31st last the baud made a net profit of £131,134 (inclusive of £2G,304 brought forward) after making ample provision for debts doubtful and bad. From this the directors have made the foilowinj* appropriations—namely, 1£4.000 as a contribution inaidof the bank's guaranj tec aud provident funds; £10,000 in rej ''hrefcion of the bank premises account 'in tbe colonies, and £15,000 as an addition fo the» hank'n reserve fund, which is thereby increased from £1,f>20,000 to £1,040.000. From the balance remaining the directors have re?olvcd upon a dividend at the rat" of 10 por cent, per annum, pcjunl to £I*B/ per share, which -will absorb i: 75,000 ami leave £-27,134 to bo earI ried forward.

In .Australia the directors arc advised all is well with the weather, a handsome wool crop is antieirnitpd. ianfj 'fillings genermHy '"Joo-king lrp." . On the whole it is good to be a Union Bank shareholder.

I am informed Ihat very considerable progress has V»een made with the arrangements for the delivery of lantern lectures on "The Projrrcs- 1 of British Industries. ,: organised by Mr I>en H. Morgan, throughout British colonies and foreign markets. The first industry to receive attention under this scheme, is that of engineering, in connection with which such eminent authorities as Sir William Preee.c. Colonel R. E. Crompton. Mr .lames Swinburne, Professor Kipper, Mr W. 11. Maxwell, will explain in detail the advancement that has been ma<lo in recent years. The Colonial (rovernruent:-; have greatly facilitated the work of organising , the lentur-ps, and have arranged i<>r them, to be read before Chambers of Comraerw, Engineering find Scientific Institutions, Technical Schools. Colleges, etc. Equally encouraging pro- ; trross has been made in foreign industrial centres, where lectures are welcomed as- a means of educating students and manufacturers. In the course of the next few months readings will take plftCo ..'I over the globe—throughout the- wholn of the British Colonic?, in the Government Technical Schools of Russia and Austria, before the great j Educational Institutions of CharlottenInirg;. before, institutions in France, Itu.lv, and Sweden, and most of the Universities and Trade Societies in the United States. Secretaries of Trade and Educational Institutions of the British Colonies arc specially invited to make applications for copies of these lecture.', and sets of lantern views which will be sent them free of charge by the hon. organiser, Mr Ben it. Morgan, Orchard House, Westminster, S..W. Mr. Brnest Dobbir, of Dunedin mid Christrhurch. who has been in Cornwall fw the past few months, contributes a eulogistic article on New Zealand "to the'"St. Austell Guardian" of January 13. Ho urges English workmen to" leave this country and try their luck in a newer, freer land —New Zealand: "but," ho adds, "I have come to the conclusion that people cnnnot make enough money in England to get out of it.' . His opinion of the. Motherland, as compared with his •own ideal conntrv." is "a poor one." Comparing the co'nclitious of labour here and in New Zealand. Mr. Dobbie says: "If ever a man carried a 'white man's burden.' that man js certainly the Cornish tin and clay worker. When I first visited this i country this idea struck, mc vei-y forJeibly. coining from a country where one man is "as good as another and better,' arid where he gets equal pay for equal work. I was not a bit surprised to 'hear that thousands of Cornishmen were 1 abroad, and it made mc utter the remark that a Cornisbrnan abroad is a better man that he is at home. The tin and clsy worker here is only 'worth 2/9 and 3/"a day, and in New Zealand i unskilled labour can bring at least 7/ jor 8/, and the rat* of living is wellniffibt equivalent. Why tins great difliejence? The reason is very apparent.

This country is in the hands of the capitalist, whereas 011 the other side the reins air held by the working man. Well might New Zealand be called 'the working man's paradise! . The tradesmen here work anywhere between nine and twelve hours a day for a miserable pittance."

Mr. W. E. Sorrell has been lecturing at Crouch End this week on a rscent ''tramp across New Zealand, ,, illustrated with some excellent lantern slides. He described Mr. Seddon as '"'an extremely affable man. who always remembered that he was once a fanner, and delighted in chatting with his friends of olden times." Mr. Seddon was a miner, not a farmer, but, that is a detail. In concluding Mr. Sorrell stated (I quote from the local journal) that for scenery, lovely forests and lake?, beautiful rivers, "and such like things," there was no better place than New Zealand, '"which, as the classics, put it knocked Xorway and Switzerland into a cocked hat.' . Loud and prolonged applause.