The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1913. THE AMERICAN TARIFF BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 275, 12 April 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1913. THE AMERICAN TARIFF BILL.

According to a cablegram received yesterday, the free meat proposals in the American Tariff Bill are being as strongly, opposed by the packers as the remission of the duty on wool is by the sheep farmers. The matter is, one of more than passing interest in New Zealand, for, as the cable goes on to suggest, "tariff supporters urge that the Argentine Republic , and New Zealand will be able to supply the United States, thus reducing the price." But we may take it that Dr. Woodrow Wilson will not allow any intervention with his Bill a>t the hands of those interested in industries which reap superlative profits from a system of high protection. What he wants for the people of Americi, is the cheapest food and the cheapest clothing that it, is possible to supply them with. His Tariff Bill proposes to place upon the free list meat, flour, coal, raw wool, boots and shoes, and timber, as well as making substantial reductions where other necessaries of life arc concerned. The elimination of the duty on meat and wool would, as >ve said the other day, open up a wide market for New Zealand produce, if it can be shown that, with the -addition of freight charges, wo can ' compote successfully with the American farmer. We can even hope that there will be another outlet for our dairy produce, in the .event of the Bill becoming law. However, it is a far cry to that desirable end yet, and America, gigantic as she is in her social and industrial operations, is slow to move politically. As a cablegram received earlier in the week stated, business men are crowding into Washington to urge that "a twenty per cent, reduction in wages throughout the country will be inevitable if the programme is cf.rried out." This is the old alarmist cry of capitalism, but the people of the working classes are growing wearied of the call of "Wolf! wolf!" when there is 110 wolf. Dr. Woodrow Wilson will have ranged against him the whole of the giant monopolies of America, the forces of the trusts and their inexhaustible capital, and the organised opposition of the huge companies who are engaged in handling the produce of America. On the other hand he will have at his back the enormous power of the over-burdened consumers who have grown weary of paying exorbitant toll to wealth. The fight will be a fierce one and a long one. That it will he marked by all sorts of political devices, logrolling and chicanery is certain, but in the end the people, judiciously led by a strong and ardent reformer, should win. If they do, and in the not distant future the Tariff Bill, even in an amended form, should become law, it will be a very material assistance to our own Dominion in the exploitation of her produce.

ilom from a fear which has haunted their military and naval commanders-in-chief for more than Ave years. Already there are not wanting evidences in England that eastward the trend of conflict is taking its way (writes the London correspondent ol the Sydney Sun). It is not so long ago that each British Government thought it a cardinal point of policy that it should render every lighting seaport 011 the southern coast itiipr egnable. Millions upon millions were spent for this purpose, because France was regarded as a possible assailant in any European embroglio. The growth of the entente has cleared away this misconception, and except for maintenance charges, little money is to-day being spent in the south, but new naval bases are being multiplied and fortified 011 the east and north-east coasts. Although the tension with Germany may be relieved, there is no knowing what the future may bring forth. There is a hope in the hearts of politicians of all parties that the changes which are being made in the map of Europe may by their new and enormous demands lead to something in the nature of disarmament; at the very least, to an agreement that the cut-throat competition of laying down gigantic battleships shall cease. If it does, the Balkans war will not have been altogether useless. The recent declaration of the German Ambassador hail not been too cordially received in the ChitiTct'llcries of Italy or Austria. They are well aware that for a long time past sensible and educated Teutons have been asking themselves "why this bankruptcy rivalry with Britain?" and have by pressure of events and despoiling taxation come to think that the game is not worth the price which they are paying for it. There has been a distinct move spreading from the enlightened classes to the masses toward a better understanding of the British nation. Germany has really little in common with Italy, while neither Great Britain nor France have any considerable community of ideals or interests with Russia. Scratch the Russian to-day, and the Tartar will still be found. lie is at root an Asiatic, and closely allied to the Japanese, the Mongolians and the Chinese, and the wild tribes of Turkestan. At the best, the great bulk of the Russians are yellow stock, and racial affinity there cannot be between white and yellow. Who knows, therefore, that in our own lifetimes we will not see another and a truer re-grouping of the Great Powers of Europe? Britain and Germany working in unity could control the world, and Britain, Germany, France and Austria, joined in an honest alliance of goodwill, would go far to ushering in a universal peace.