The Empire Route to China.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3366, 21 November 1889, Page 2

The Empire Route to China.

In the still, small hours ol a aimmer morning tho Houso of CommMfe had agreed, without a division, to the7resolutiou " That tho contract with tho Canadian Pacific liailway Company, dated July 15, 1881), for (he conveyance of Her Majesty's mails, troops, and stores between Halifax or Quebec and Hong Kong, and for the hire and purchr.so of vessels as cruisers or transports, be approved." Thus was completed a long-sustained effort; thu6 crowned a long struggle to win the favor of the public and Parliament to a work of tho greatest utißy to the Empire, Wo have frequently risked the attention of all to ao importaul a matter, and numorous have been the indications of continuous activity amongst the patriotic promoters ot tho movement. Chambers of Commorco and other mercantile and political associations have passed resolutions, deputations hove interviewed .Ministers, and there have been letters and articles in tho newspapas; but, on a wholo, with this as with other new movements, the real work was done by a few earnest men, although tho results will necessarily tc of widespread value to (ho Empire, bir George liaden-Powell was among the first to take the matter persistently in hand, and in some letters to the 'limes in 1887 he called special attention to the manifold advantages of such a route, now rendered possible for the iirst time by tho opening of the Canadian l'acifofehmv. Those advantages be condensed iSPfttter to Lord Salisbmy in August, ml, to which he obtained no less than 201 signatures ol Members 01 the Houso of Commons. In thai letter it was stated:-

" Wc arc convinced that great advantages will follow i! theso new routes are served by British steamers of high speed, and fultillini; Admiralty requirements.' .■Several of our largest Colonics will bo material,)- benefitted; (lie growth and predominance of British trade in the I'aciric will lie promoted; fresh openings will be afforded for Uritish trado lo China and Japan, and the defences of Hie Empire will be most materially strengthened, by thus enabling our possessions in the India and China seas lo be reiuforccd in tiino of war by men and stores and ships, even if both the Suez and Cape routes were closed, ..." , Many still living remember well the straggles of the iiionccrs of the overland route to India; the rcdicnlc which assailed them; the abuse which (hoy oncountcrcd, 'i'ho opening of that route has been one of successes of the century, The Suez roulo has, however, without doubt, shifted eastwards the" mctaewitre "of European commcrce, althought the movement has been somewhat checked by the very rapid growth of Transatlmtic countries, Now, however, the new Canadian vouto to.Man and China promises still further to fcunteract the influence of the Sue? route,'and thus to restore Great Britain t j her place nsthe centre of commercial influence. But of the future uses of the ncKjouto there is no need lo prophesy, tlie present advantages are. so (rPouj. It is sufficient to remember ths.. the scheme includes a now Atlantic service ol hkh speed, and new Pacific services both to China and Australia, The new facilities Ihus affordod for commerce and traffic must confer enormous advantages on all British communities situated on the Pacific, stimulate the interchange of goods, and promote profitable interco'irse, That Canada should have set up (trough her midst one great highway of the jimpiro will have the welcome ellect of aiding her in her great task of developing her fertile interior. But, while the advantages in time of peace are so great, it is, perhaps, in view of war that this new route will benclit the whole Hinpire. Swift lines of armed steamers, established on seas where hostile fleets and cruisers are necessarily few and far between, and hostile ports nonexistent, will be able, in war time, to maintain the mail and commercial communications of the Empire, at little cost and to the immeasurable advantage of the Empire's trade. These speedy steamers, able to show both heels and tedi to ihe adversary, in keeping open TOnmunica tions, will relieve the nation in all ils scattered domiciles of some of the greatest risks and dangers of war. Then, too, the route, where it traverses laud, is all within British territory, and as Sir k Georgo Baden. Powell has pointed out, "it enables us to send men and munition! of war, which are contraband, and even torpedo boats, from Hie Atlantic to Vancouver, ready for distribute there as occasion niuv demand." This new overland service lo China will [prove an incalculable advantage to tho Empire at large, and confer on the Mother Country advantages likes those conferred by the cd,l overland route to India. «thor Country and Colonies, and Canada, havo every cause for gratitude to al! those who have worked so jealously and so successfully to opsn np tho Emmm : wato to China.—Mail. '