UNITED STATES AND "U.S."

Taihape Daily Times, 1 March 1919, Page 5

UNITED STATES AND "U.S."

Obviously the great competitors the world's trade and commerce now are the British Empire and the ; American republic and undoubtedly I America has a pretty good start. Her . war debt is only one-third of Great j BBritain's and her losses in men and material are immeasurably less, In spite of this she is not taking any chances. Both by purchase and construction for merchant fleet is vigorously growing tweny-four hours to the day. That Uncle Sam is after com- ' mercial supremacy not only for to-day and to-morrow but also "for keeps,," is rather significantly shown in Congress's recent alteration to the Constitution. America was indirect revenue from the liquor business £100,000,000 per annum, and yet decided that it was bad business! She evidently decided also that a nation with its commerce to sustain had no time to talk any more about the liquo business either. The trade offered the Treasury £100'.000,000 sterling for license for another year subject to the ordinary referendum polls, but Congress, directed by the most astute "big business" brains of the world. said:"Nothin" doing!" To save any further waste of time they wrote the answer in the Constitution. Keen | business men don't do this thing as a matter of sentiment; neither do they 'take a five-hundrcd-million dollar risk until abolutely convinced. If America, out after our trade and the other fellow's, too, an't afford inefficiency and waste—not even for £100,000,000 per annum—New Zealand certainly can't afford the risk at a paltry lone

'£1,000,000. New Zealand cuts it out on April 10th. Strike out the top line.