The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1913. THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 273, 10 April 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1913. THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

With the advent of the Democratic President and a Democratic Parliament, the tariff wall that lias been erected and has done service in the United tSates for many years, will shortly be considerably lowered, if not entirely removed. The task the new Government have set themselves is no easy one, and it will not, be accomplished without tremendous opposition. Under the high protective tariff, the big corporations have waxed fat, and all the power and influence their huge financial resources give will be employed to thwart the intentions of the Government. Already the cry has gone up that if the Government's tariff programme is carried out there will be a drop of twenty per cent, in ' wages. Nothing, however, is said; about the corresponding increase in the spending power of money that will result -from- the sweep-) ing away of the big duties on' necessities such as meat, flour, butter and wool . If the price of necessities is brought down to a reasonable level, workers will be able to stand a decrease in wages. In no country in the world does the cost of living press on the' workers' so-sevcrely as in America. This l is because of the "'pull" that the trusts have enjoyed ever since the country was in a weak moment prevailed upon to go in for high protection. The workers of America were hoodwinked into supporting protection by promises of high wages, but it was not long before they, realised, as many people in New Zealand are realising, that even high wages can be purchased at too dear a price. But to remove the tariff was not so ea-sy -as to eree,t it,,,and"it was only a few months ago that they succeeded in Electing a president and Government pledged t'o carry out their will in-this

respect. It looks as- if President Wilson will carry out his programme. He is iiofc the sort of man to deviate from his duty or be affected by the power of the vested interests of the whole of the States, mighty as they are. The st-rug J gle' that is just starting is' not without interest to Xaw Zealand., At present the tariff ha* prevented our products from gaining any appreciable foothold m >the" Stiites'.' For instance, butter and cheese are liable to a duty of 3d per lb, whilst the duty varies from 5y 2 d to Is Cd per lb on wool. Duties on other products are" proportionately high.' The}' are practically prohibitive. With a free market, New Zealand will have asplendid chance. America's hundred millions of people consHimea lot-of food ,and 'rise, large quantities of wool. -At present our main, almost our sole, marl ket is Great Britain, with .a population y,ot : half that of America. London now 'fixes the prices for our produce. With the Ame-rican market open, this will no longer be the case. Increased competition will almost certainly cause increasf ci prices, from which the producers-hero will 7'eap the benefit. So that'we have, a vital interest in the big tariff battle or the United States.,'i.And it is safe to say that its success will not be hailed by the workers there with more satisfaction than it will be by the producers of Xew Zealand. . .