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Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1921, Page 2

Fhom tiimt to time there are teports (It a crisis in Culm. Tile trouble is ■mainly monetary. From late mail news some particulars are gleam d which make the cablegrams on the subject clearer. Sugar, tobacco and eltier Cuban merchandise have a general vogue, and a correspondent supplies somu general details which! will he ol public interest. The situation in buna at the present time, from a ‘iiiaticiid point of view, is grave, ii not helpmate. It is worse than it was (lining the moratoria. Unless a radical change is made in conditions, next whiter "ill see many people there oil the verge of starvation. Prices are i online down, and unemployment, of which there was hardly any during t!"' win is on the increase. Wages are consequently falling. Numerous failures in business are happening. It may be said with truth that the feeling up.-um-t the United States is growing very hitter, and frequently demands are heard for the denouncing of the reciprocity treaty with this country and the throwing open of folia to ether nations on equal terms, instead of ban. dicapping them by giving preferential rates to the United States. A report has gone around that sugar refiners in America are discriminating against Cuban sugar. As a matter of plot, th:s is not true, hut it lias led to a demand to boycott American goods. When all is said and dione it is realised that Culm cannot do without the Unit, cd States. The failures that are occurring in the island are good in a way—they arc clearing the atmosphere and leaving only the sound and solvent merchants. In a word, Cuba is going through a process of a house clcining. When this is done, and done thoroughly, even if suffering must lie endured for a time, with financial assistance and a reformation of \lie hanking system. she will he able to resume her prosperity, but it will never be aL the false price to which sugar was boo? to! by speculators and those in a hurry to get rich. Sugar lias reached three and four cents for raws wholesale, and it will not l«> likely to go murk, if any higher. The ultimate happening will probably be the fiscal iilterveni ion of the United States, who will he likely to advance her n loan under, certain guarantees in order to put her on her leet again. This is being seriously discussed in Washington at the present time. There are dark eloiuls just now, but they are going to clear away before long, and the sunshine will s .n< Iv roiippuir.