FRANCE AND MADAGASCAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 152, 5 June 1883, Page 2

FRANCE AND MADAGASCAR.

i Man* of our readers will doubtlesVhave^ wondered what special y«lue the island;, of Madagascar should hare m- th^eyeß bf France, that shoold justify the recent hostilities by that empire. From recent Home papers we w learn J ihai' France appears to have obtained full information as to Madagascar, and before proceeding to extremities' has ascertained* that egression is likely to pay m that favoured island. Itr is true, that she; may have-to fight foi supremacy ; that : tbe Malagasy 8 mean resistance, and that every inch^f fcerrijtpjr^;wi.fl haye.to befwon with cold steel. What matter ? | ihe game is worth the candle; Acco^dr ing to the n\ost recent accounts Madagaficar is likely icprote a rioh acquisition, so rich, indeed, that it may be [doubted whether other EuropeanPowers will allow France to monppoliee it and eiJcdhim evoiyohe'" else. So tar the island is almost und^Teloped. V It da essentially a cattle-raising country, with , abpndant gr^sSf.and never affected, bj? droughts. Those who know calculate that enterprising exporters could put their meat on the English market' cheaper than Australia could, and Madagascar is moreover a fortnight nearer. J'his coiapetition might soon. \ btiug abou|i a ghange m the Australian' meat trade, and .the ; oha4ds nj>| be exactly good news to our Oolooi* 1

cousins, but it would probably stimulate the exportation, and m this way really benefit tne originators of the refrigerating process. Besides this, the soil of Madagascar is remarkably fertile and very favourable to the growtji of crops, spices, coffee, and more especially of sugar. There is abundant labour on the spot, though not of the highest class, but nothing is really needed but intelligent enterprise and the introduction of oapital. If France pushes her agfession to tho extremity of annexation she will gain a great Colonial acquisition, ".„ . .