CURRENT TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 94, 29 July 1910, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

CABLE NEWS. The wavs of the fable man are past understanding. TTe evidently- 'believes we are standing in awed attitudes on the chores of Wakanuaka achin<r to hear how the Kaiser's boil is setting on, and whether Mr. Tnft'<; sprained anlcle will affect tlie price of Clricasro beef. He also believs that we. a people who have to work hard for a living, are anxious to read the fact that ian American heiress has had a h<>ao of wedding presents, or Mar. Sir Oorce Reid 'has dined with somebodv or other, or that Mr. Llovd-j George plaved golf at Cannes. Every now and then the American cable person is absolutely inspired. (Be makes murder, romances every day for a week, rin,gs in a storv of the nonagenarian widow J who married the ei£rhteen-vear-old bov' \ for his golden hair, or the fact that Mr. Roosevelt's daughter i= learning crochet, Perusal of the world's Press when it reaches Nfew Zealand shows us tlmt tilings have Seen happeiiiiin- in the world that we knew notninar of—and the things that happen in New Zealand are <rp.nerally to be found at the foot of the back

page occupying half an inch of space. The reason why so many feeble apologies for "news" are sent from Britain to the colonies is not'because there is not plenty of news at Home, but (because the cable person believes we are in the ''first standard" of intelligence. New Zeaianders probably know what their countrymen do not desire to read, and so some day New Zealand may be considered important enough to have a trained colonial in the (heart of the Empire to select the material for the cable columns of Kew Zealand papers.

RESTLESS COLONIALS. Australasian people are restless. They do not "settle down" to the same extent as other folk. They love travel, change of scene, change of occupation, and sensation. Their passion ior travel, and the fact that both Australia and New Zealand have great coastlines, have necessitated the birth of great steamship companies. The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand is one of the country's prized institutions, for it began almost as soon'as definite settlement, and has expanded with the expansion of industry, population, and trade. The HuddartParker Company lately "lunched" a number of folk on board the Zealandia at Sydney, and it was at this luncheon Unit it was shown that the Union Steamship Company was in advance of requirements. This does not exactly explain the situation, because, although there is not on any sea route in the world a company 'whose ships cater so splendidly for the people, it is remembered that the company is run as a business concern and not as a philanthropic institution. The chief point of interest about the Red Funnel people is that they have taught New Zeaianders and Australians how to travel. There is no enterprise too difficult for the Union Steamship Company, because by its former magnificent enterprises it has entirely captured the confidence of the people and made it an almost impossible matter for rivals to enter into competition. Travelled men aver that no line of '. steamers running from point to point of the Empire are •o well equipped, so splendidly managed, or, in proportion, better patronised, and when it was considered that less than half a century ago the great concern started with a modest "hooker" or two, it is easy to acknowledge that the Union Steamship Company has by its enterprise and thoroughness "gone i 1'""'" iii greater proportion than even the country to which it is such a credit.

DISARMAMENT. It is difficult to understand Germany—or, perhaps, it is more difficult to understand what the cable man means'. We learn, for instance, that Kaiser William ! of Germany long ago .persuaded his uncle, 1 the late King Edward, that Germany's immense and menacing navy was merelv j being enlarged to protect her commerce. i and not for aggression against a relate" | nation. That is to say, that iii ordej to protect, say, a million pounds' wortli of commerce,. the Germans spend, say, ( I two millions. We do not know whether extracts from German papers are token : seriously in New Zealand, or whether : the threat of the "Neueste Naehrichten" will cause Imperial fright, but this extract is delicious in its vainglory. It is, however, to be remembered that it is not an official statement. Officials do not give, their .hand away so palpably: "The British 13-inch guns*do not frighten us. We will probably meet them with 14-inch guns, and twice as long lived as those of the British."' The paper talks war. but I the State talks peace. Another paper, the "Vossiscne Zcitung," says that there is likelv tc -? s> mutual limitation of armaments whin the German Navy Act is executed, but that a general confer- ' ence was a necessary preliminary. The latest expert theories are to the effect that weight of armament will not decide future battles, but that strategy and men will be the real factors of success. It only remains to be said that if limitation of armaments is not decided on and war comes, the Germans are new to the art of se'a fighting; that they have never shown any genius in the management of, ships on the high seas; that their marksmanship is infinitely inferior to that of the British Navy; and that its navy is not half the size. When we learn, however, that if Britain is tlhe first to suggest limitation of armaments, Germany will follow, it is a foregone conclusion that the enormous, and wasteful expenditure of good gold will continue, and that the ironmongery of both countries will continue to grow; out of all proportion to the needs of commerce or the safety of the peoples.