CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 227, 13 February 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE LOST LEADER. Mr. J. C. Davies writes:—"The sad end of the noble Captain Scott brings to memory the time when he visited New Plymouth after his first attempt to reach the South Pole. He was then entertained at a banquet at the Criterion Hotel, and in replying to the toast of hi* health, gave us a most interesting account of his trip. The gallant man was the picture of health and strength, and it seems straifge that a blizzard should have knocked him over at last. His bad luck in finding that another had been at: the pole before him and the terrible misfortunes on his return wore enough to break even a bigger heart than his. Haere ra o tama mo to toa ata: Moku ti tai po.

KEY TO THE NAVAL PROBLEM. According to a report issued in December last by the Canadian Conservation Commission, Canada has a national possession which places in her hands and in the bands of the Empire the key to the European naval problem. The Dominion produces to-day something like 00 per cent, of the world's supply of nickel, the remaining 10 per cent, being supplied from' New Caledonia. Nickel enters very largely into rhe construction of modern armor plate. In fact, It may be said that since Schneider produced the first nickel-steel armor plate in ISBD. providing a protective material of a hardness and toughness never before attained, nickel has been an indispensable metal to the builders of battleships. Consequently, if Canada were to prohibit the export of nickel the construction of armor plate capable of effectively resisting modern naval guns would have to cease , throughout Europe, and the vexed question of naval supremacy would no longer be vexed so far as Britain is concerned. France might obtain nearly all the nickel she requires for her own use, but nowadays the French Navy is not regarded as a serious menace to Britain's command of the high seas. ■NATIONAL DEFENCE. New Zealand newspapers do not appear to have been much disturbed by, the announcement made in the Australian press a f j w days ago that as the result of a conference in Melbourne, in which the Hon. James Allen participated, it has been decided that New Zealand is to have a fleet; that the fleet is to consist of "two third-class cruisers of the Sydney type, three destroyers of the Parramatta type, and two submarines"; and that "Colonel Allen goes to England fully satisfied that New Zealand must have her own warships .and that they should work in co-ordination with the Australian fleet." A Melbourne telegram in the Sydney papers announced that there is no doubt that "the Admiralty will recommend the establishment 'of this local fleet and that New Zealand will accept the advice." These statements were made with all the assurance of inspiration, and were published With evidences of editorial satisfaction' by the local press. It would seem, therefore, that New Zealand is being committed, without the precaution of preliminary consultation, to a very elaborate programme. The Ministry has taken neither Parliament nor the country into its confidence in regard to this essentially national question, and although both the Prime Minister and Mr. Allen were invoked before the bitter's departure for England to give some indication as to their policy, they were dumb. Now two other important items of information are' vouchsafed to us. One is that an expeditionary force is sooner or later to bo organised, and the other that General Godley projects a. visit, presumably officially and on full pay, to Great Britain. Another.arrangement which will vitally affect the whole programme is .the projected visit of New Zealand's battleship to this Dominion. —Pierce C. Freetb, in Wellington Times.