March 28, 1903.]
rate than the Chinese, so that there is actually a tendency for the former to encroach on businesses formerly confined to natives. There is no doubt that much of "this is to be attributed to the natural revulsion after the affair of 1900; still it is satisfactory to be able to show that the first and most marked result of the almost heroic effort of the Chinese Government to get rid of what it was pleased to look on as the foreign incubus has been actually to strengthen the permanent foreign hold on the Empire, and afford new openings to western enterprise.
THE NEW SANITARY BOARD.
(Daily Press, 11th March.)
We are informed that Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., and Mr. E. A. HEWETT have been approached and have consented to be nominated for election to the Sanitary Board, We also understand that Mr. A. SHELTON HOUPEE will be nominated. There are only two seats to be filled on the Board, and already it seems there are three, probably four, gentlemen prepared to come forward for election. Mr. POLLOCK would certainly prove a very desirable acquisition to the Board and his election in the event of a contest would, we believe, be assured. On the other hand, though Mr. HEWETT, who represents tlie important interest of the P. & C. Company in the Colony, and was formerly Chairman of the Municipal Council at Shanghai, is in many respects well qualified to occupy a seat on the Board, there is a strong feeling that the important land interests of the Colony sould be represented, and in this connection no better candidate could be selected than Mr. SHELTON HOOPER, whose long residence and intimate knowledge of local conditions mark him out as a peculiarly suitable candidate. The election takes place at the City Hall on the 25th inst.
SOUTH AFRICA AND CHINESE LABOUR.
(Daily Press, 17th March.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
return home.
42
*C
"
4~203 EFT -
suggestion put forward above, "the rest of | naval · battle-which is a possible if not Empire" would desire to make some inevitable occurrence in the future-France enquiry into the title of these gentlemen to is in a manifestly unfavourable position. speak on behalf and in the name of the colonists of South Africa.
For the chances of victory (be recently | which Lord Harris meets objections to
The way in very truly remarked) are all on the side of Chinese immigration which are raised in "gest number of ironclads, aulas cach unit "the Power that can send into action the lar- other colonies is by suggesting that the" may cost from 30 to 40 million franes, the immigrants should be engaged for a parti-" cular class of work ocly, and that if unable
determining factor in victory is the longer purse." M. PELLETAN recognises that or unwilling to do that" (and anyhow at the France cannot rival England, which has a end of their term of contract), they should naval budget two and a half timės bigger These regulations may than France. Until recently France has appear simple enough on paper, but we been the second naval power in the world, doubt whether they would be found quite but now she sees rivals on every hand so simple in practice. While moving the seeking to outstrip ber. "If Gerranny and adoption of a report which proposed a the United States enter the field,,” plain- Chairman of the South African Gold Trust continue the struggle? dividend and bonus of 50 per cent.. the tively asks M. PELLETAN, “how can France raised the objection to white, labur that it and the United States are
Both Germany
cost of living at Johnnesburg, and if white in spite of the excessive proportion of was expensive at the moment owing to the field "especially Germany-and France entering the
mines could not be worked at a profit. If armaments, is evidently determined not to men were employed, he said, the low grade her revenue which is now devoted to white labour could be atilis dit still give up the struggle yet. She has now, remains an open question whether the white in fact, no fewer than 150 ships of war kind when there is coloured labour in the constructed. Of these vessels 49 have still man would condescend to do work of that in course of construction or orilered to be immediate neighbourhood. At the present to be commenced, while 51 will be continued, time however there is an inadequate supply and 60 completed this year." Of the 150 of coloured labour and the matter is con sidered by the mineowners to be of such consideration, 8 are ironclads, 16 armour- new sips either under construction or urgent inportance that there should be no plated cruisers, 1 protected cruiser, 29 hesitation in obtaining labour. elsewhere in torpedo-buat destroyers, 51 torpedo-boats, the world.
au 45 submarines. Germany's present naval programme is not so large, but the Kaiser's ambition is to increase it very considerably Last month His Majesty presented to the Reichstag a table prepared by himself of the relative strength of the German and English Navies. The telegrams do not mention whether the document was accompanied by any message to the Reich. stag, but the tabular statement, the despatch mentions, is to be framed and place in a glass casc in the principal lobby. Obviously the idea is to induce legislators
THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.
The
(Daily Press, 14th March.) The heavy increase in the Naval Estimates, REUTER tells us to-day, is the universal topic of discussion.
disposition displayed is acquiescence in the inevitable, combined with forebodings concerning the "instab lity of an armed
pence which "necessitates such sacrifices.”. This year Great Britain's Naval Estimates amount to
to
recognise the necessity for the Germany is ever to obtain that authority on still greater expansion of her navy if
The mine owners of South Africa do not ¦ of Great Britain upon her navy has mor the waters to which her leading statesmen
no less than £35,800.000, showing an in- crease of nearly thr e aud a quarter millions sterling as compared with those of last year. Within the last ten years the expenditure than doubled. The Army Estimates this year amount to 34 millions sterling s compared with the net estimate of 20 millions submitted to Parliament iu 1899, before the outbreak of the war in South Africa. This steadily increasing expenditure on armaments is common to all naval and military countries, and so also is the cry that the burden is becoming overwhelming, It was a g nerul recognition of this fact that led to the summoning by the Tsir of the famous Pence Conference at the Hague, but in so far as its object was to effect a general reduction of armaments it sigually failed; and the burden' every year presses with increasing weight upon the suffering taxpayer. It was only a few weeks ago that
take kindly to the opposition which has been raised to importing Chinese into the Rand. No doubt the labour question is one of enormous importance, not merely to the Transvaul and to those interested in the mines, but to the whole of South Africa. The Imperial factor, however, which after all, is trustee for the interests of South Africa, objects to the labour employed being Chinese. It is curious to note that while Australia and other British colonies are shutting their doors against the Chinese labourer, the mine-owners of South Africa are eager to welcome him. At a meeting of the South African Gold Trust held in London last month the Chairman (Lord HAREIS) referred to this question, and to the fact that it is contended that Chinese the question was raised in the labour in the Rand is impossible, that French Chamber of Deputies by Barou Eugland would not stand it, that the other D'ESTOURNELLES DE CONSTANT, who is British colonies will not stand it and that reported to have said that armed peace South Africa, if she wants it, must go asbsorb 54 per cent of the resources of without it. Lord HARRIS deprecated this France and is driving her into a colonial style of argument as it seemed to him that policy. It compelled France, he said, to if the immediate supply of labour was in
increase her navy to defend her colonies the minds of the colonists of South Africa arguinst Great Britain and Germany, so important that they were prepared to acept Asiatic (including Chinese) labour, it is a matter for then to settle and for them, rather than the rest of the Empire, to approve. Imperial sentiment seldom contests the claim of a self-governing colony to exercise such authority, but "the rest of the Empire" has a peculiar claim of interest itself in affairs in South Africa, and certainly before acquiescing in the
and he declared that no successful policy, financial, social or colonial, is possible under the burden of armed peace. But France, as the speaker readily conceded, is not solely to blame in the mutter, any more than is England, since she can hardly reduce her military strength in the face of an armed Europe. M. PELLETAN, the French Minister of Marine, is constantly preaching the fact that in anticipation of the great
!
aspire. The table is as follows: --
Gt. Britain Battleships
35 Armoured cruisers ... 12 Protected cruisers 66
IN RESERVE,
Battleships Armenred oruisers Protected cruisers ́... 43
Battleships
Germany
8
2
12
7
TOTALS OF EACH ULAS8.
42
12
Armoured cruisers Protected cruisers
14
2
109
17
VESSELS BUILDING, Battleship
12 Armoured cruisers 20. Protec'ed cruise.s. 8
***
S
No other nation in the world is likely to have a superior navy to that of Great. Britain for very many years to come.
We "are bound to maintain a certain supre.
14
64
macy and to watch the naval expenditure "and the naval programmes of foreign "countries," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently; "and no Government "would long retain the confidence of the country who did not make up their minds “that at any cost we should maintain the strongth and efficiency of the navy so that "it may be in a condition to meet any "combination that is likely ever to be brought against us." In this matter thien it is clear that the determining factor, to use - the words of M. PELLETAN, is "the longer purse," and it therefore appears that the struggle is to go on until the taxpaying power of the people can stand it no longer. Meanwhile they grumble and pay,