December 31, 1898.]
(1
}
RADE REPORTI
ง
BLACK'S ad-
The success of Gene not ex
ministration, following interval
CHINA OVERLAND disgusted with the climate and conditions "not afford to pay for what they want. In the community: The functions of in Formosa. Under the present conditions" comparison with, this barrier of absolute offier, both administrative and social, he the island is not likely to prove of value to | “ poverty, tariffs are the Mikado's Empire; rather will it become" abatacle. By all means, then let our will carry away with
and insignificant fulfilled with tact and ability, and he 8 source of weakness to Japan: It is time"
h him the regard and enterprising rivals make a profit if they hearty good wishes of the colony at large. the Japanese people took up the matter and " can by selling shoddy goods on long Without interfering unduly with the routine' tried to nduce the Government to apply a "credit to Philippine islanders and other work of the various departments General1 rational policy to the administration of this semi-savages. The more they prosper in BLACK showed himself capable of taking ad new possession. Money must be spent if "this or any other trade, the better cus independent view of all questions of policy the resources of the island are to be opened "tomers they will become for solid English brought before him, and his judgment was up, and tact, conciliation, and persuasion
"" wares.
always exercised for the advantage of the ' used in dealing with the Chinese. First This view attracts attention by its public. Perhaps at the present moment many and foremost a determined effort should be novelty, and it has some element of truth people may be inclined to qualify this state-- made to subjugate the rebels in the bill in it, but it would be unfortunate if it led to ment, inasmuch as it was under General” districts, and to give complete protection to any under-estimation of the importance o. BLACK's administration that building in the peaceable and loyal population. These developing trade with backward countries, Glenealy was authorised, but in justice to Hir. should be encouraged to abandon the queue, The latter are poor, in the majority of casest Excellenoy it should be pointed out that the and the use of the Japanese language on, account of their defective organisation papers in the case would come before him should be encouraged in the schools. By rather than on account of any natural merely as a matter of routine and thats treating all those who embraced Japanese disadvantages. China, for instance, enjoys unless his attention was specially called” costume and customs with indulgence the natural advantages as great as those of to the case he could hardly be expected to Chinese settlers would soon be weaned froin India, or nearly so, but whereas in 1896, take the initiative in opposing the erection" the ties which bound them to China, more according to the figures given in the of buildings duly approved by the Director! those of sentiment and trade with Fukien last edition of the "Statesman's Year of Public Works on privately owned ground. than anything else. The true policy of Book," the exports from the United The unfortunate failure to preserve Glenealy Japan is so to educate and train up the Kingdom in India amounted to over is due rather to the vice of our system of rising race in Formosa as to lead to their thirty millions sterling China took only government than to any individual failure i gradual assimilation to the Japanese people, £6,717,353 worth of goods from the same and this can best be done by kindness and source, to which must be added, however, of the head of the administration. As a to safeguard the public interest on the part liberality, so that they may become a source another £1,822,037 worth sent to Hongkong, set-off to the loss of Glenenly the public is of strength aud not of weakness to the most of which would ultimately find their indebted to General BLACK for the pre- Empire. To accomplish this, however, the way to China. Is there any reason why servation in perpetuity of the Causeway means of communication must be made China should not be as good a customer for Bay Recreation Ground and for the further good and rapid, so that the country may be merchandise from the United Kingdom as opening up of the Hill District by the con- opened up and its resources developed, to India? None, except the obstacles to the struction of Black's Link, the idea in each the end that the necessarily increased ex- extension of trade in the shape of the case being of His Excellency's own origina- penditure may be provided for. Que import-squeeze system, the defective communication. ant factor in this policy will be the more tions of the country, and its general generous treatment of foreign merchants. lack of development. The potentialities They have done much in the past to develop of the China trade therefore make it
a very long, the trade of the island, and, if encouraged, well worth our while to cultivate it with administrations
upon the equally successful of General CAMERON. will continue this good work, a work the assiduity. The Philippine Islands, too, will and Goueral BARKER, is calculated to Japanese show no great desire to take up. offer under their new ownership a splendid again suggest the idea that has on some Ever since the acquisition by Japan of the field for British trade and enterprise, and former occasions been mooted, namely, Beautiful Island we have watched its pro-
that even as things stand they do not merit the the government of the colony might with, gress with sympathetic and undiminished sneer directed at them by the Graphic writer. safety be entrusted permanently to the officer interest, as an experiment in colonisation We cannot profess to hail the extension of commanding the troops, especially if the by the most intelligent and adaptive of all Russian influence in North China with the change were accompanied by a liberal mea- Eastern races, and so far have been disap-sane cordiality as that with which we wel- sure of municipal self-government. It pointed to see results so meagre compared come the establishment of American rule in must not be forgotten, however, that if th- with what were confidently expected at the the Philippines, but we believe nevertheless administration of the government were pere time of its acquisition.
that the opening up of Manchuria mauently handed over to the officer for under Russian influence will contribute time being in command of the garrison to rather than detrict from the value would have to reckon not only AND
of British trade in that region, and is General individually but also on that acount to be approved rather than larger measure than is now the case with condemned. It would be undignified as
the War Office, and unfortunately mer well as opposed to our own interest to cautile and local interests weigh but enter upon "a policy of pinpricks" with little with that department. regard to Russia in North-eastern Asin such the opposition offered by General Cole Moreover, as that with which France has so irritated England in Africa and elsewhere. The Road suggests that a military Governor, to the making of Kennedy Siberian Railway on its completion will even without direct instructions to that effect stand out as one of the great achieve from the War Office, might be inclined ments of civilisation and will constitute to allow fanciful military considerations to an important artery for the world's obstruct public improvements. The change trade. Provided differential tariffs in from a civil to a military Governor is there- Manchuria are guarded against, Eng-fore not one to be hastily approved of land can well afford to refrain from recommended, though the colony's attempting to baulk Russia in carrying her perience of military. Acting Governors has enterprise to its full fruition by securing
so far not been unfavourable. The com- free access to an unfrozen seaboard.
munity will certainly entertain, pleasant recollections of General BLACK, His Excellency should hereafter elect to exercise his gift of oratory in the House of Commons he would no doubt speedily achieve personal distinction in that (Daily Press, 24th December.) assembly and would certainly be able to H.E. Major-General BLACK leaves for render good service to his country, especi as much on British goods as free-trade home to-day on the termination of his com- ally in regard to its interests in the Far, "China. Even Russia is a far better cus-mand of the troops on
East. the Hongkong tomer us both absolutely and re-station. For the larger portion of the pre- latively than China The explanation is sent year His Excellency discharged the "simple. The best manufacturers in the duties of Acting Governor in addition to world cannot sell to people who are so those of the General Officer Commanding poor that they either want nothing or can- and was thus brought into close touch with
TRADE WITH CIVILISED
UNCIVILISED COUNTRIES.
(Daily Press, 30th December). In an editorial note suggested by a scheme advanced in the Westminster Gazette for promoting the development of British trade upon the Continent the Daily Graphic says: "Whether this particular scheme is “feasible need not here be discussed. Its "immediate importance lies in its recogni- “tion of the fact that it is with the older " countries of the world that the most valuable portion of our trade is done, and “that we hold this trade solely by the ex- "cellence of our wares. Tariffs, it is in- "teresting to note in passing, have far less “effect on the direction of our trade than "the popular mind imagines. Turkey, for example, is a practically free-trade country, yet in proportion to her popula- ❝tion she spends on British goods less than
E-
"
quarter of the money spent by protec tionist Germany. The United States, again, with its almost savagely protec tionist tariff, spends nearly thirty times
2.
GENERAL BLACK'S DeparturE AND MILITARY GOVErnor- SHIPS.
BORNE
i
ごュ
the
a much
ex.
A notification appears in the Gazette repealing notification No. 405 of 17th September last and thereunder. The regulations in question refer the regulations of the 16th September publishe
to the taxation of wharves