Review of Revietts, 1J7/0G. 



History of the Month. 



One subject of interest to both coun- 

 Reciprocal tries is that of reciprocal trade, 

 Traile. which seems likely to eventuate to 



some degree. We should, as inti- 

 mated last month, like to see Free Trade between 

 Australia and New Zealand. Labour conditions are 

 very stringent in both countries, but Mr. Seddon, in 

 the course of a conversation I had with him, thinks 

 that no matter how desirable it might be, it would 

 be impassible while cheap Chinese labour is used for 

 furniture making in Australia. But as far as natural 

 products are concerned, he sees no difficulty. Our 

 seasons do not coincide, and natural products might 

 be mutually exchanged. Mr. Seddon unequivocally 

 expresses his willingness to receive such things as 

 sugar, grapes, etc., expressing his belief in a free 

 breakfast table. Now if even this can be attained, 

 it will be something, and is worth the getting. There 

 ought to be no trade restrictions between us. anv 

 more than between the Australian States, but this is 

 a step in the right direction. The thing to be feared 

 is that the Federal Government will be shy of launch- 

 ing such a proposal before Parliament, or that if 

 anything be done, it may be simply the raising of 

 duties against other places. But between prac- 

 tically one people, with one destiny, separated onlv 

 by a narrow strip of sea, joined by thousands of 

 bonds of blood-relationship^ there ought to be no 

 trade restrictions whatever. 



Nothing is more patent to New 

 More Zealanders living in Australia than 



Press News. the lack of news of the former coun- 

 try. The amount is so small that it 

 is paltr\-. Mr. Seddon proposes to alter this. He 

 has arranged to have New Zealand news collated by 

 an impartial person and sent to Australian news- 

 papers. This ought to help to bring the two coun- 

 tries closer together. Moreover, the opening of New 

 Zealand offices in the most central part of Collins- 

 street in Melbourne, and the appointment of an 

 agent (Mr. H. J. Manson) will do much to keep the 

 colony before the people. It ought to pay New Zea- 

 land, even as a financial transaction, twenty times 

 over. 



But not the least important thing 



A that Mr. Seddon has done is to loan 



rriendly Loan. Mr. Tregear, the Secretary for 



Labour in New Zealand, to Mr. Bent 

 to help him in the organisation of a Department 

 of Labour. That is brotherly on Mr. Seddon's part, 

 and it shows wisdom on Mr. Bent's part that he is 

 willing to be taught. He says he wll go upon the 

 lines that New Zealand has done, and not only help 

 to bring work and men together for private owners, 

 but also utilise their ser\'ires in the clearing and 

 improving of lands prior to selection. For the pur- 

 pose he will allot ;^2oo,ooo. Clearlv Mr. Seddon's 

 visit has been productive of vast good. If it would 



always have the same effect in precipitating political 

 elements that seemed as though they were going to 

 remain perpetually in a state of solution, it would 

 pay the States to get him over every year to show 

 .Australians how to do things. Personally, I am hop- 

 ing that in some way or other his visit may induce 

 the Governments to go ahead faster with the resump- 

 tion of estates near the great centres of population 

 such as Melbourne and Sydney. " Look at your vast 

 ujipeopled areas right along your main railway 

 lines," he said, at our conversation, " close to your 

 markets, and hardly a hoof to be seen. Why — " 

 A significant gesture was the most expressive way 

 of finishing the sentence. Truly it is colossal folly. 

 All the land adjacent to our main rail systems only 

 very partially used, and people anxious to settle, 

 but forced into back unroaded districts, far from 

 railways and markets. 



It was fortunate that the deputation 

 The from the Presbyterian Church wait- 



New nebrides. ed upon Mr Deakin at a time when 



Mr. Seddon could also be present. 

 The opinion of the two Prime Ministers must go a. 

 long way towards influencing whatever settlement is 

 arrived at. They both are emphatic in the opinion 

 that the best thing to be done is to exchange the 

 New Hebrides with some other British possession, 

 say the Mauritius. No doubt that would be the most 

 desirable thing. French interests might be bought 

 out, and the transaction concluded on a very liberal 

 basis, and it is quite possible that a British pos- 

 session nearer to France than the New Hebrides 

 would suit the latter countrv- better. But that is a 

 matter of negotiation, and in the meantime some- 

 thing should he done, and done at once, in the 

 interests of the natives, the residents, and, indeed, 

 the Powers, who can not aff'ord to take the risk of 

 endless bickerings arising out of the present un- 

 satisfactory condition of things. A constitution, 

 binding upon all, administered impartially by repre- 

 sentatives of both nations, ought to be quite pos- 

 sible. There is no doubt that this will be accepted 

 as an instalment at any rate, irrespective of what 

 friendly intercourse and arrangement may bring forth 

 in the future. It would have saved a lot of negotia- 

 tion if Australasia had been represented on the Con- 

 ference. 



Confidential -"^ month or two ago we hinted at 

 Communications the unwise course the Colonial Office 

 and tlie_ had on occasions taken in forward- 

 Colonial Office. ;j,g confidential communications to 

 Slate Premiers and Colonial Prime Ministers. The 

 niatter was discussed by Mr. Seddon when in Mel- 

 bourne. He pointed out the false position in which 

 heads of authority were sometimes placed. It is 

 easy to imagine it. Of course it is rea.sonable to 

 suppose that on rare occasions there might be rea- 



