AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Rkuteiis Teleotiam*.] 7.5 PER PREFERENCE CLAUSE. INCREASING CANADA’S ANXIETY. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) OTTAWA, Den. 11. Australia appears also to he considering a preferential tariff revision resembling the New Zealand seventy-five per cent, of Home Labour provision, and thus increasing Canada’s anxiety. Official opinion here is included to believe that such an increase will considerably modify, if not cancel, the advantages of the recently concluded trade agreement. Meanwhile the Canadian Government has proposed a compromise at fifty per cent to Australia, and N.Z. Mr Massey has just cabled saving the proposal will have the Government's most earnest consideration, but preferred to consult the Australian Government before giving a. definite reply. ILR.A. NAVAL IMPROVEMENTS. WASHINGTON. Dee. 11. The Senate to-day passed the New Navy Bill, providing for the expenditure of one hundred and eleven million dollars for eight new cruisers, and the reconditioning of six battleships. The Bill provides for the conversion of six capital ships i lito oil burners and the construction of several gun boats in addition to cruisers, with other improvements, including the provision of new boilers in many instances where the old ones are found to he defective, and other modernising improvements, which Mr Wilbur declares, necessary to bring the United States to the agreed five-five-three ratio with Britain and JuSAMUEL CIOMPERS DEAD. (JUcel»ed tnis (lav at. 9.25 n.m \ NEW YORK, December 12. A telegram from Klpaso, Texas, says Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labour has died from a cold, being in an overworked condition, while returning from the Pan-American Labour Congress.