The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1930. HEROIC MEASURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1930. HEROIC MEASURES.

The Federal Government of the Commomvenjth must at least be praised for taking heroic measures to stem the tide of tlie financial difficulties of Australia. That the condition was serious lias long been felt, hut it was hardly thought to he as desperato as the fittest action indicates. The step taken carries the battle of protection versus free trade to the limit. The Government is going to force consumption of tho home-made article beyond question. It is to ho hoped that in this policy, the possibility of the hornehmclo article soaring to a parity with the articles it may be necessary to import, will have been taken into account, and that the Government will have provided safeguards to circumvent such, a contingency. The imposition of a fifty per cent duty is one of those strokes of policy which rank as the British press comment, as astounding. The step could only have been taken with a. full inside knowledge of tho financial situation. It must be accepted that too much money was going out ol the country, and too little kept in the country to maintain employment. The tariff it is suggested touches only luxuries, 'but in the advancing conditions of life, and with the- higher standard of living, there will he a difficulty in drawing the line as to where luxuries begin. The tariff’ ' is likely t.> strike most people, for because of the improved conditions of life, most folk now enjoy luxuries which a few years ago were impossible. The action will have far-reaching; effects in many ways. For instance, in the check of imports, customs revenue will decline very substantially. To this there will be the alternative

of more employment in the production of the local article. There is just the question how long this can last, and also how far the local article can meet the demand without going up in price. Then in respect to shipping, with imports cut down, the great fleets of steamers trading to Australia will be affected, and one effect may be the increase in the outward freights upon Australian produce, , There are many possibilities of trading and financial dislocation, particularly if shipping is disorganised, as no doubt it will be il the 'new duty is to have the effect evidently Intended to cut down imports very substantially. The ramifications mean less work cn the water trouts and a marked decrease in general trading at all the large sea. ports. No douibt the possibilities of all these events happening have been explored, but it may be difficult to visualise the full degree of effect arising from the cause created. The situation calls for every sympathy with Australia in the present state of affairs, and it is to lie hoped tho present burden will soon be minimised. It is deplorable in the face of the generallv. critical state of the country financially, that the coal crisis should continue so uncertainly. The Labour Government has shown its desire to help the country through, and it is up to the Labour organisations to co-operate. If the new duties are intended to be of real .value, they are intended to call for more production to meet the increased demand which in the ordinary course should result. Labour’s attitude in . the process of recovery will be material, and strikes and other hold-ups must not he practiced. Australia has all the probabilities for greatness, and’'with seasonal conditions, and the unity of the producers at this juncture, a great deal can be accomplished. So far the Labour rule has been in."the direction of attempting many things, but if only jt can now get organised labour to pul its shoulder to the burden,, and work and produce with a desire to pull the country through, the great achievement would bo assured.