AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1922, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

LsritAl.lAN AND N.Z. CAUL* ASSOCIAIK'N CANADA’S OFFER. r OTTAWA, May 25. in his Budget speech, Mr Feilding s a led Canada had offered. Australia preferential rates in return for a preference similar to that given by Australia id Britain. No reply had been received. ; e offer of Canada’s preference to Bris i goods would he increased in some respeqts. Regarding reciprocity with mud States, Canada would await developments at Washington. Heavy inremes in duties on cigars and tobacco cere announced, but all other duties ere to be reduced.

WAY TO COLONISE. OTTAWA, May 24. The Quebec Government have announced an interesting new colonisation scheme. An agent will he sent to endeavour to persuade French-Cana-dians, of whom there are several mililions living in the New England States and the United State* to return to their native province, and take up farms. The Government is clearing 15 acres on each plot of ground given to iT settler, and is to build a house and a barn free of charge. U.S.A. SHIPPING. WASHINGTON, May 24. The Departments of Navy, Commerce the Post Office, and the Shipping Board lave decided to make a joint recommendation to Congress to renew the mail carrying contract, with the Oceanic Steamship Company (as cabled on May 20m) in order, to enable the concern to continue the Australian Pacific service, ft is pointed out that irreparable damage would result if the American passenger carrying line to Australia ceased to operate.- - v -._—

NEW YORK, May 24

Various Americans interested in the Australian trade are. writing to the newspapers and pointing out that the Oceanic Shipping Company would not need a mail subsidy if the Jones Shipping Act did not exist. They declare that other nations retaliate for the hindrances enforced by the Act, thus malting it impossible for American car riers to find freight and passengers resulting in the need of artificial aid.

They state that the Jones Act is being paid for by the American taxpayers.

POISON GAS FOR WAR. WASHINGTON, May 24. Despite the Washington Conference’s prohibition of noxious gases in warfare the United States War Departments-'* lias received information that a number of Governments, including France

and England, are continuing their experiments in the preparation of poisonous chemicals for war purposes. The War Department points outsat no country can afford to give up research and development work in detet-

mining the uses of gas and the protections against it in the event of war with nations nor -parties to the agreement choosing to ijse it. The gas discussion has brought up a recent American development,'a powerful high explosive shell, generating 40

per cent of phosgene. The question is raised whether this shell would be barred, because of its deadly gas genera-t-ion. ™