AFFECTING NEW ZEALAND.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 304, 5 September 1929, Page 1

AFFECTING NEW ZEALAND.

AMERICAN TARIFF. Proposed Changes. i Interesting opinions on the Smoot- ! Hawley Tariff Bill, which has al- . ready passed the American Congress and which penalises New Zealand products, are contained in the latest issue of the Christian Science Monitor. This journal secured the editorial opinions of the leading newspapers of U.S.A. on a Bill which has drawn protests from 38 nations and which prompted M. Briand, the French Prime Minister, to suggest a United States of Europe for retaliatory purposes. President Hoover, referring to the Bill, said his investigators had reported that 90 per cent, of the American press was in revolt against the measure. Supporters of the huge increase, in the tariff denied that this was so and said the outcry was almost wholly of foreign origin. With the object of definitely settling the question the Monitor telegraphed the leading papers for their views, and the replies received confirmed Mr. Hoover’s estimate. Selected items from some of the leading replies are given below, some of the statements and arguments being very familiar to New Zealanders. The selection of newspapers is most representative, including Republican, Democratic, industrial and agricultural opinion. Extracts are:— i

I Minneapolis Tribune (Republican). J —The Bill is completely unsatisfactory to agriculture. The country has I gone as far as it is prudent to go I in the direction of tariff-raising, and J the time has come for an about-face. ( The Atlanta Constitution (DemoI cratic).—lts principal purpose is to I produce fat upon the bones of big i business . . . for campaign funds. At the same time the tariff must not be a generator of a Noah’s flood of cheap foreign goods. Detroit News (Independent). —lt is chiefly a political bid to the farmers which cannot be of general help to them. Under cover of more farm protection a series of new extortions, chiefly the new sugar schedule, have been put through the House. The Chattanooga News (Democratic). —The Hawley tariff Bill will add to the cost of living for the average citizen without in any way compensating him for the increased price of necessities he must buy. It hits not. only at friendly nations but at our own consumers.

Los Angeles Times (Independent Republican). The Times favours a tariff which will adequately protect American industry, including agriculture, but recognises that there is a danger of setting rates so high that they will injure the consumer. Chicago Daily News (Independent). —The guiding motto of Congress should be : “No evidence of 'necessity ; no change.” Even Senator Smoot admitted there was little real sentiment in the country for increased duties on manufactured goods.

Cleveland Plain Dealer (Independent Democratic). —The worst and most indefensible tariff proposal ever offered for serious consideration of Congress. Kansas City Star (Independent).— Under the guise of agricultural relief the Hawley tariff is really a Bill for the benefit of manufacturing interests. It would impose on the farmer increased costs far in excess of the benefits to him.