GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 2 September 1914, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

Lobby rumor is insistent that, in response to the wish of the majority' of members and publie feeling throughout the country, the Parliamentary elections are likely to be postponed until ~ next March. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday most of the cases on the list were either postponed till the 15th. inst. or confessed. Judgment for plaintiff waa given m the .following undefended cases:— A.8.0. Boot Co. (Mr. Hutchen) v. W. 0. Ellis, £1 16s sd, costs Ss j 'Lister (Mr. Johnstone) v. Sidney Fincham, £2 7s 5d costs Us. An Italian military correspondent has written to a London journal calling attention to the remarkable prophecy which General Nogi made in his hear-, lug wuien the Japanese forces were before Port Arthur. The great Japanese general said that -the world would see two great wars as terrible in every way as the one then being waged. The first war would have all Europe as a battle- [ ground, and it would result in France defeating Germany on land while Britain would .crush the Teuten nation at «a. The second war would see Japan and the United States contend for the mastery of the Pacific, and General Nogi predicted that Japan would be victorious.

. There is a general impression that the majority of the force compare not too favorably with those, sons of New Zealand who went to South Africa (says the Lyttelton Times). It is considered that they are too young in somo cases, and lack solidity constitutionally. However that may be, there can be only one opinion as to their discipline and training. Imperial men on the stafl'm camp say that the South African contingents cannot compare with this present force as far as discipline and general war training are concerned. Physically, also, they are regarded as excellent. They cannot hbpe, of course, to be the equal of the English "Tommy," said one officer. "They haven't had the training that makes for the English soldier's wonderful steadiness inkier fire. But they are disciplined and more intelligent than Tommy Atkins, and you will find that they will do good work wherever they go." Addressing the Chamber of Commerce at Christchuich, Mr. Beddoe, Canadian Commissioner, told how Canada had beaten Germany. "Germany once demanded British preference from Canada," he said, in great disdain. "Canada! One-third of the whole British Empire and eighteen timies the size of Germany! Tin's Kaiser had the temerity to say, 'We demand 33 1-3 per cent, preference!' What did Sir Wilfrid Laurier say? "No; we won't give it to you; this is a famiry matter.' Germany said, 'All right, we will impose on your goods a surtax.' Sir Wilfrid Laurier said, 'Very well; the moment you impose a surtax on us, we will impose a surtax on you. They imposed a surtax; we did the same, and it ran for eight years; and, strange to say, while the surtaxwas in force German sales to Canada fell off, and Canadian sales to Germany increased." (Laughter), Mr. Beddoe went on to say that influential German millionaires and commercial men had come to Canada to discuss the matter. Canada declined to deal with anybody but the German Government, holding that as the Germans had first imposed the surtax, they must first take it off. And so it was taken off at last. In a letter to the editor of the Dominion, Mr. J. H. Beale, of Waipirc ay, says: "The patriotic feeling so i ble to-day prevents the' sale to a lar<: extent of German goo<Js, but this is ily for a space, and when normal condL ms again reign we will patronise our enemies as of old. Sir, it can be said as a fact that year in and year out we, who claim the protection of the British fleet, by our patronage of foreign-made goods contribute largely to the upkeep of the German navy. To think we help to build a fleet that will be used against us is unbearable; but we make Germany prosperous. An 'All for Britain' League is wanted; an organisation started to enroll men and women in the devotion of their country, and every member solemnly pledged to buy British-made articles when practicable. We think enough of our Empire, surely, to do this; the sacrifice is so small, and the end attained so worthy that it behoves us one and all to buy every time British goods. Sports Protection League—Why not?"

It is easy to believe that the reports of the 'Slav discontent in Austrian territory has some basis in fact. Counting Bohemians, Slovakians and Moravians, there are fully eight fhillions of Northern Slavs in lAustro-Hungary. There are between four ami five million Poles in parts of Galioia and Silesia, and there are four million Ruthenians, virtually Little Russians, in Galieia and North HungaTiy. There are actually more Slavs in the dual monarchy than there are Hungarians. It would be straining the truth to say tihat all these Slavs are Russophils, and until itow, at any rate, the Poles were for the most part hostile to Russia. The promise of a free Poland may, and doubtless will, affect their attitude, particularly in view, of the fact that they detest Germany more than they do Russia. Throughout Hungary, too, there has always been a pronounced feeling' against the firmans.