AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1920, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

PftlOE CUTTING. WASHINGTON, Sept. 30. The First Federal Reserve Board says that price cutting has now taken such a hold on the wholesalers that substantial benefits to the consumers will be felt at an early date. —''There is a great wave of reduction in demands by the public as to both price and quality. An increased efficiency in labour is ' noted by the board, along with greater production. It is Btated that factory operations generally in America are approaching to normal. The board finds that business conditions are so definitely on the road to a stability of as great and confirmed a nature as the disturbed conditions permit.

AMERICAN CENSUS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ; WASHINGTON, Oct, 1

The census bureau has issued statement that United States was not growing as rapidly as was expected. The population increase between 1910 and 1920 was only fifteen per cent, as compared with twenty per cent for the previous decade count. At Sept. 20th it had reached 90,596,742. The retardation was more marked in the country districts and small cities. • ■: ' ' V DE VALERA’S VIEWS. (■Received This Day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 De Valera interviewed, replying to sw-Earl Grey’s proposals, says Ireland has Already drawn up her own form of Government. With regard to correct ; procedure and unanimity, it is unparalleled. The first step which Earl Grey V'* proposed is a continuation of the reV gtriction of Irish rights. The real problem to be solved is the Irisli-British problem. The only solution is a treaty peace on the basis of a guarantee of Irish independence, and if need be, guarantee of British security. The British insist on claiming the right to circumscribe the legitimate liberties of the Irish people and to deprive them of their independence, which sovereign states are entitled to. So far from being in anyway covetous of the British Empire, that Empire and all it stands for is abhorrent.’ Grey tries to trick and confuse American minds by likening the problem to the contest between the North and South States, but there is no honest basis for such an analogy. The difference among the Irish themselves would be settled sax months after the British army left. The problem is not difficult and intricate, if given a real honest desire by British statesmen and people for a permanent settlement, on the basis of right.