Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1920, Page 2

Arnoros " of matters America, our cousins are to clioos,. their President .next month. The presidential elections are events of tremendous importance in the United States, and the present contest is no exception. Indeed the world at large will take deeper interest in the present election than any which, has gone before, because America’s attitude towards the peace treaty and the League of Nations will he determined—which is something which affects the world very intimately. For some time now the stage has been set for the battle royal and it is in progress on well defined lines. Only faint echoes i>( the fight are wafted this way, but

the battle rages most persistently. An American correspondent writing from New York shortly after the candidates had been selected went on to say : “Great Britain will naturally be mostly interested in the type of man that is likely to bo elected as President, the policies lie is likely to follow in the treatment of foreign nations, and bis attitude towards foreign and domestic trade and how they will bear on the commercial and political relations of the two countries. Had it not been for the prejudice that exists, I will hot say wisdom, against a President serving a third term, it is more than likely that President Wilson would have been re nominated by the Democratic party. It may be said at the outset that England lias nothing to fear from either of the candidates. They may both be described as ,( safe and sane.” Neither of

them is likely to do anything radical that would upset the friendly relations

of the United States and Great Bri-

tain. They are not likely to run imuck on the Irish question, nor is it likely

that they would he a party to “twisting the lion’s tail.” Warren G.® Harding, the Republican nominee is of the old school and inclined to be conservative and also, perhaps, reactionary. Possibly ho has the best chance of winning the election. He is more or ' tied up to the protective doctrine, although it would seem that it would (lie hard to enact high tariff legislation with America occupying such a prominent position as she does at the' present time, as an exporter. James M. Cox, Governor of Ohio, who is the Democratic candidate, if of a progressive tendency hut not to the point of Radicalism. Of course, he is opposed to a high tariff, and believes in the Democratic doctrine of a tariff for I revenue only. As far as platforms are concerned, they, must not be taken too seriously. Politicians mean more for home consumption and a hid i for votes, so the reference to Ireland | must not he regarded with too much; I concern. Politics are a great' game on this side of the pond. Assuming that the writer is not unduly biassed towards Sir Harding, it would appear that‘whoever is elected, all will be well . between Britain and America. At the same time, Governor Cox is' outspoken for the League of Nations which should give the world what it. is hungering for—peace and prosperity. Stilt we must not, as the correspondent advises, take the American politics too seriously.

Issued as a White Paper, the report of j the Committee by the Board of Trade to j investigate the question of increasing the question of increasing the flax sup- ■ plies in the Britsh Empire contains , much interesting information. The j question of substitutes for flax is dealt , with, and with regard to ramie it appears that a secret process of degumming, formerly used in Germany, and which is* necessary to prepare it for spinning, has been successfully transferred to England, and ramie yarns iof very good quality are now being proj duced in Yorkshire. The Committee J are of opinion that ramie can he used' j for the manufacture of underclothing, ! a.s it has been in Germany, and there are almost unlimited supplies of raw material to draw upon, at. prices ranging from £l2O to £l5O per ton. With, reference to Italian hemp, it is pointed out that the finest qualities have never been reached in this country, having before the war been taken by Germany. The chief drawback in connection with the use of this hemp is that it requires to he softened to he successfully used, but the exact effect of the softening process does not appear to have been determined in his country. The substitution of hemp for flax in the manu-> facture of rope and other heavy articles does not, however, appear to present any difficulties. In regard to the cultivation of the nettle, for fibre, it is contended that the difficulties would probably be as great as those attendant upon the cultivation of flax. Although in many instances substitutes for flax ! can be employed with good results, none of these substitutes can satisfactorily replace flax in the manufacture of fine linens, damasks, and similar articles, aiid the Committee state that from the point of view of the linen trade and of the users of linen it is best to leave the problem presented by flax substitutes to those who use them. The Committee consider that the extension of. the cultivation of flax is the means by which the difficulties now confronting manufacturers and users of linen may be overcome. The Department of Commerce in this Dominion should put : forward the possibilities of flax-growing , if a stable market could be assured for the product. The West Coast could play no mean part in such a useful service to the Empire.