New Zealand had a most prosperous year, its Imperialism was illustrated in many directions, its efforts to promote steamship communication between Canada and Australia via Auckland were vigorous and the effect of its 10 per-cent. preference on Canadian products showed a slow but steady increase in trade. Between 1905 and 1909 the imports from Canada had, according to New Zealand figures, increased from £74,085 to £139,151 and the exports from £42,709 to £77,286. During the same period the total imports increased from £12,828,857 to £15,674,719 and the total exports from £15,655,947 to £19,661,996. The population on Dec. 31, 1909, was 1,042,997 and its Saving Bank deposits totalled £9,611,000. The Forest area of the Islands was estimated at 17,074,000 acres and in the State nurseries and plantations there were over 47,000,000 trees. The Ward Government in July was able to announce a surplus of $2,161,580 with a total revenue of $46,191,305. The net earnings of the Railways under Government control had not shown much expansion in late years, being £812,000 in 1907 and £814,000 in 1909, but on Aug. 31, 1910, the figures were £1,000,000. In August, 1910, a deputation, representative of most of the industrial interests of the Dominion, asked Sir Joseph Ward, the Premier, for more Railway facilities but he deprecated any present addition to public borrowings. Immigration was greatly aided by the Government and its special Settlement Finance Act enabled settlers without means to not only obtain land by the aid of a State guarantee but also advances from the Government for special needs. During the year, 2,270,184 acres of Crown Lands were leased to 2,336 settlers.

In May Lord Plunkett was succeeded as Governor by Lord Islington-known to Canadians as Sir John Dickson-Poynder. During the year New Zealand's Dreadnaught contribution to the British Navy in the Pacific was constructed at Glasgow and given the name of Zealandia. Lord Kitchener's visit and inspection and report upon military conditions was of much service and his advice was closely followed. Speaking, on May 5, at Wellington the Premier promised legislation, which was afterwards put through, to increase the age for compulsory training to twenty-five years and the peace establishment to 20,000 trained men, between the ages of 19 and 25, in addition to 38,250 junior and senior cadets between 12 and 18, and 10,000 recruits between the ages of 18 and 19. He would ask Parliament to authorize Lord Kitchener's recommendations for harbour defences, estimated the annual cost of internal defence at £400,000, and said the country could well afford it.

On May 16th it was announced that Mr. W. A. Beddoe, a Canadian journalist, had been appointed Canadian Trade Commissioner to New Zealand and later in the year he reported that competition was keen in trade matters and that the establishment of a subsidized line of steamers from New Zealand to San Francisco

4

via Rarotonga and Tahiti, the first sailing of which was fixed for October 22 from Auckland, would introduce an element of competition not heretofore present. New Zealand was most anxious to have this Service arranged to Victoria and Vancouver instead of to San Francisco, but numerous difficulties developed. There was also the difference with the Australian Government as to the Line from Sydney to Vancouver stopping at Auckland in connection with its mail contract. Eventually, both the Canadian and New Zealand Governments subsidized the New Zealand Shipping Company and arrangements were made for the operation of five steamers having Montreal as the Canadian summer port and St. John as the winter port.

It may be added here that early in the year a Memorial to the late New Zealand Premier, Richard Seddon, was unveiled at St. Paul's Cathedral by the Duke of Argyll; that the New Zealand Government contributed £11,000 toward the Scott Antarctic Expedition; that Fruit-growing developed during the year as a profitable trade with Great Britain; that in the Woman franchise matter practically all women in New Zealand over 21 years of age registered, while from 70 to 80 per cent. cast their ballots; that the local Labour Party adopted on July 20 a wide platform of the most advanced Socialism in all matters of Industry, land taxation and acquisition, finance, and electoral reform-including a State Bank, the immediate nationalization of monopolies, State collieries and mines, State factories, the Referendum, a Legislative minimum wage, a six-day week for labour, pensions for widows and orphans.

South African
Affairs and

The Union of South Africa, which was formally inaugurated in 1910 amidst appropriate Imperial and Canadian national celebrations, evoked considerable interest in Opinion Canada. The year commenced with the retirement of the Earl of Selborne from the posts of High Commissioner in South Africa and Governor of Orange River and the Transvaal, which he had filled with such tact and statesmanship, and the assumption of the new position of Governor-General by Lord Gladstone of Lanark. In a Johannesburg farewell banquet to Lord Selborne, on Apl. 9, he was described by the Hon. J. C. Smuts as the Father of South African Union. At a similar banquet in Pretoria on the 16th he told his audience that "the independence and existence of South Africans as free men depend on the Royal Navy." As a result of the coming Union General Lord Methuen also retired from the Governorship of Natal but remained as Commander of the Forces. Sir W. Hely-Hutchinson retired from the Governorship of Cape Colony. The first question with which Lord Gladstone had to deal was the choice of a Prime Minister for the new Union. A coalition of parties and selection of the best men available was proposed by Dr. L. S. Jameson, Leader of the British Party, and opposed by Mr. J. X. Merriman, Premier of

Cape Colony-the former on Feb. 11 quoting Sir John Macdonald's Canadian policy in 1867. General Botha, Premier of the Transvaal, did not express himself clearly on the point and for months the chances of these three men for the Premiership were frequently and warmly discussed with public opinion inclining to the last named.

On May 21st, Lord Gladstone arrived at Capetown and, in response to his welcome by the City, said: "I shall devote my best efforts, without stint, to the service of South Africa. May 31 will be a day of high hopes and ennobling memories, a day of peace. The Union is hallowed by the sufferings and sacrifices of the past. May it be an occasion for sinking once and for ever all that is unhappy in racial and other controversies. Nevertheless, in order to secure the highest national efficiency, it will be your object to blend, and not to obliterate, those racial aptitudes and capacities which give brilliancy and strength to the composition of the national character. For the noble consummation of union all parties must be accorded equal credit and honour. I am confident that the difficulties and differences ahead will be controlled and made profitable by a constant and abundant spirit of conciliation and forbearance." On the 22nd it was announced that General Botha had been called upon to form a Cabinet; that there would be no coalition and that the Elections would take place in September; that H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught would open the new Union Parliament. The new Government was sworn in at Pretoria on May 31st-the official birthday of the new Union-as follows:

Treasurer and Minister for Mines. Hon. H. C. Hull...

Transvaal. .Cape Colony. .Transvaal.

Minister for Lands and Irrigation. Rt. Hon. Abram Fischer...Free State. Minister for Public Works, Posts

and Telegraphs

Hon. D. P. deVilliers Graaf. Cape Colony. Minister for Trade and Commerce. Rt. Hon. F. R. Moor..... .Natal. Minister for Justice.... Hon. J. B. M. Hertzog.....Free State. Minister without Portfolio.. .... Hon. C. O'Grady-Gubbins... Natal.

Mr. Merriman was invited to join the Cabinet but declined to do so. Sir Richard Solomon, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., was appointed the first High Commissioner for South Africa in London; Sir Thomas Price became Chairman of the Board of Railways and Harbours; Right Hon. Sir J. H. de Villiers-created by the King Lord de Villiers of Wynberg-was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Africa; the Hon. Dr. Ramsbottom was chosen Administrator of the Orange Free State, Hon. J. F. B. Rissik of

UNVEILING OF THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO CANADIANS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA BY LIEUT-GENERAL SIR JOHN D. P. FRENCH, G.C.B., G.C.V.o., TORONTO, ON MAY 24, 1910.