CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 228, 14 February 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

GERMAN SHIPBUILDING. "I do not think Germany will over be ■a greater .-shipbuilding nation than England." So said Mr. M. Boger, one of the directors of the German-Australian Steamship Line, during a visit to Australia. Mr. (Soger added: "We in Germany are mainly trying to meet the demands ol" trade. The demand for ships is increasing every year, and we are merely trying to keep'pace with it, England is entirely ahead of our tonnage. end I think will always remain at the head of the shipbuilding nations. There is no ambition on our part to equal or exeel Great Britain in this respeet. Our main desire is to meet business as it comes along, and Ave are not anxious to be as big or bigger than others." Asked if there had been any phenomenal increase in the number of shipbuilding yards in 'Germany. Mr. Boger replied": "On the contrary, some shipbuilding yards there have been wound up on account of ;l scarcity of orders." THE ITPPEft HOUSE. Commenting upon the rumor that the Government proposes shortly to make a number of appointments to the Legislative Council, the Otago Daily Times remarks:—The strongest argument against the strong! benini.' of the numbers and personnel of the Legislative Council just now is dial, the mandate for the reconstruction of (hat. Chamber has gone forth and that the inevitable effect of appointing fresh members to it must be In postpone the date when the constitutional reform can be fully accomplished. For this reason, the question of making fresh appointments might well In reserved bv the Government for consideration until after it has seen (he manner in which the Council deals with ils proposals this year. If ils policy measures are unceremoniously rejected by the Council, there may be no alternative to the appointment of new members

to that House. lint iL is not necessarily to be assumed that the Council will not pass these measures, including even that which means the political extinction of many of its number.

K.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. Taranaki folk will not have to go to Wellington, or Auckland to view the great battleship 11.M.5. New Zealand. It lias been arranged that after visiting Auckland the vessel will voyage round the North Cape and call at Moturoa, afterwards proceeding to Nelson, thence to the West €'o3Bl. It is the intention to look in at several of the sounds, the most remarkable visit, surely, since (he days of Cook. Oamaru and Timaru will be included in the ports visited on the return to Wellington by the East Coast; and the circumnavigation of the two islands will be completed before the New Zealand leaves again for Europe. She will, in short, be shown practically wherever there is anyone to look at her. and the sojourn in New Zealand waters will occupy about three months. The homeward route has not yet been stated, but in accordance with a recent pronouncement of the Kirst Lord it will probably be by way of South America, where the British flag badly needs showing again in some strength. The German Von der Taim has ploughed many seas, notably in South America and the West Indies, where nothing British better than a second-class cruiser has been seen; so the New Zealand will in all probability make up for this by calling at the Indies and possibly going to Canada. The vessel is now on her way to South Africa, and will come on to Hobart and thence to Auckland. She will be the largest war vessel that has ever ploughed the southern seas.