TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8277, 2 November 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The South African Reciprocity Treaty Bill which passed through Parliament in the last hours of the session in a measure which ban many objectionable features, says the Hawke's Kby Herald. The colony has endeavoured to fo9ter a trade withfaouth Afriaa for some years, and its measures bave been curiously ill-adapted to the purpose. When it first took the matter in band, at least iwo of the colonial ship ping lines were experimenting without subsidy in the trade. The Government stept in by offering a subsidy to another and a foreign line which did not run a direct service, and the local lines withdrew. Our trade cannot be said to be very satisfactory since the termination of the war. Now the Tyser line is onoe more, without any subsidy, entering the field. And it is to be hoped that the present measure will assist tbsir views. The proposals to be submitted by Sir Joseph Ward at the approaching Ooloßial Conference—or Imperial Conference as it is coming to be generally termed—will not excite any particular discussion in this colony, beoause'there will be exceedingy little difference of opinion concerning them. When they were laid before the bouse, the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition were found to be in most cordial agreement, as we sincerely hope they and their successors will invariably be found gupon all truly national questions. Sir Jossph Ward, as our New Zealand delegate, has the strengthening knowledge that he will not speak at the Imperial Council lade for any party, but with tne support and concurrence of the entire community. If theimperial Council can be made permaneot ; if preferential trade can be brought towards a uniform basis; if the praotioe of the law can be made uniform throughout the British States; if an Imperial migration soheme cau be arranged, and if universal penny post can bftestablished; the Empire will bo made stronger and every pai*t of it advantaged.

It is nn interesting indication of the underlying instinct of the people of the United Kingdom that a Oehring Strait Tunnel should be practically contemplated while a Channel Tunnel is apparently as far off as ever. For it has long since been recognised as quite within the possibilties of engineering to "drive" under the straits of Dover, and' quite within the probabilities of railway promoting that suoh a "drive" between two highly oivilised and densly populated countries would pay handsomely. Yet England is still cut from the Continent by the silver saa that "serves it in the office of a wall, or as a meat defensive to a house," nor does anybody really suppose that any Parliament would authorise its ion netting. Behring Strait, on the other hand, is in the most desolate part of the world, presents many mere difficulties to tunnelling engine* o, and must always be a more risky investment for capitalists. Yet its tunnelling is quite possible, for if any sufficiently strong company undertakes the work, both the Interested Guvernments would certainly afford every encouragement. It is evident that the Straits of Dover ate generally considered, in England, as a substitute for the militarism of the Continent, and that the sea-arm will be maintained untunnelled aa such a substitute as long as its effectiveness is trusted in.

It cannot be reasonably supposed that there is the slightest immediate probability of war between Japan und the United Stat«s, however strained their relations may become over poaching by Japanese in Alaska and the exclusion of Japanese children from the San Francisco schools. In the first place Japan has not yet reoovored from the flnauoial strain of the Manohurian campaign; and in the second place, even Japan must be well aware that there is n radical difference between Amerfca and Russia, although sbo is not kindred enough to realise just where the difference is. War between tbe United States and Japan is for •'he time being inconceivable for the simple reason that in any case ii would completely ruin Japanese credit and would inevitably result in the crushing de-

feat of the Mikado—as the shrewd ntatesmen of Jacan cannot possibly doubt. For what would the position bd if war broke oat? Granted that the Japanese navy ooulri out gun and out; manoeuvre the American Pacific Squadron, and thus seoure command of the Pacific: how long oould they hold it? Warships oan be bought, and navies created us by magic, provided sufficient money is available and the big b-nnties which would be promptly offered by the Washington Government would rally to the Stan and Stripes a host of English speaking e>-navyuien, whose tongue would be English and whose nationality might be anything. Jc would be only a question of time for the Unilwd States (o sweep the Faoiflo and for the navHl strength of Japan, so hardly built up, to be broken to pieces. Continentally, America is obviously unconquerable by any force whioh any Asiatic Power oould at the present, time put into the field.