Notes and Comments.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 148, 4 January 1902, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

All Americans can sing the praises of

their own favoured an American land ip the very loudon austral- est key, bat it is not ians. often they do likewise of another country. However, Colonel Bell, for some time Consul-General of Australia, delivered an address to the London Chamber of Commerce which may well tickle the vanity of Australians, incidentally of New Zealanders. The centre of the commercial world, Colonel Bell told the astonished magnates' of Loudon, was shifting towards Australia, whose external trade with her four and a half millions of people was far ahead of Russia with her 120 millions ; it was four times that of Japan with her forty millions, and twice that of China with her 400 millions. Colonel Bel! declared that Australia’s export trado would be greater if it were not for English stupidity. While herds of cattle perished on her plains, tbs British navy was fed on American beef, and British soldiers in South Afiiea consume American dour instead cp Australian. There ia no patriotism in commerce. The Australian, as recent events have proved, is thoroughly loyal, but suppose he met an Englishman and a German, he would probably drink with the Englishman, and trade with ihe Gorman, for the trading offer of the latter in most cases would be the better. Every man will buy in the cheapest market despite other considerations. Colonel Bell was much struck with the fairness of British policy and said ; “ Whenever the British flag floats, there is justice. America knows this, and follows England, forcing her goods on English cole lies, because in so doing, she gains protection for her commerce. Americadoes nob want any land belonging to England, for if she gets it she will have to pay taxes for it, and that she prefers to see ’ other people doing. The speaker declared that the great problem to be solved was that of cheap production with high wages, and this he believed invention, improvements and science would do if labour did a little less talking and a little more thinking. If Colonel Bell's keen shrewd and plain spoken speech were taken to heart by England and all her colonies great good would come out of it.