Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-10


fact anything y metaphorically - ex.
cept sackcloth and ashes.
Duties Likely to Go Much Higher
Il do not think there is any doub:
that the Australian tariffs will be
made very much higher. And. on prin-
cipIe. 1t does not lie in the mouth OF
us Americans to object to this, since
We have had some high tariffs our.
selves. In point Of fact, duties very
much higher. on many things than
those in force before the war are
actually being collected now. and have
been for two years. although the
schedule under which they are beins
collected has never been passed into
law A bill for an act to impose these
duties was introduced into the Com
monwealth Parliament I'm December
last, and though it has never been
even fully debated or considered. a
joint resolution Of the two houses OF
Parliament directing the collection or
duties under the provisions and
schedules OF the bill was passed, CIV
ing authority for their collection.
However, unless the bill is passed by
this present Parliament. the govern
nent, theoretically at least. will be
liable to importers for all duties col
lected under II.
But everyone experts higher du-
ties after the war, il not before: and
preferential dutics--highly preteren-
tial duties-in favor Of Great Britain
as against all neutral countries, with
possibly some preference in favor OF
tie allied countries; while there are
some who expect punitive duties, l'er-
haps absolute prohibition, for the
productions Of the countries that are
now enemy countries
Many Temperate Proposals
''on the other hand there are not
wanting indications of large body
OF sentiment and opinion that may
greatly temper these extreme pro
posals. One can find plenty Of men,
usually men of affairs, even in these
times when feeling runs high, who In
sist very frankly and. forcibly that
while undoubtedly much can be done
in the way Of promoting some kinds
Of manufactures by imposing protec-
tive duties, still Australia, with
her bare five million of population,
and her great stretches of only par
TALLY occupied lands, is still essen
italy country OF primary produc-
lions. Therefore for many years to
come. not only her best but practically
her only road to prosperity lies
through the development OF her natu.
raj resources of agriculture and min
ing; and that manufacturing viii come
as q natural result Of the increase Of
population and variety of primary
AS illustrating this rec
ignition OF the practical value both OF
reasohabieness In tariffs and Of agri-
culture and commerce as the immedi.
ates means sot Australian prosperity,
one of the leading papers In sydney
not very long ago IN an editorial COM
on proposal IN parliament
Tor an appropriation to maintain a
representative IN eastern America to-
foster trade with Australia, said:
New South Wales already maintains
i trade commissioner in San Francis
co to increase the trade between there
and Australia. and then. the air is
thick with proposals for prohibitive
dnties to drive away all the trade he
Is able to secure.
Increase Not Unreasonable
so while / think we may expect an
Increase Of duties on American goods
Imported into Australia after the war,
II not before, I have feeling that
there wiz be no unreasonable increase
In this respect.
AS for the war, Australia has sent
j fine body OF troops to the front.
10 not need to say anything about
hen fighting qualities. A good many
have returned broken, MANNED and
crippled That is the tragedy of war.
Australia Is fully committed to the
policy Of taking care of her returned
soldiers, not only those who come
back disabled, but those who are fort.
mate enough to come back at the end
81 the war sound In mind and body.
rhe repatriation OF these in way to
be most helpful to them, and most
beneficial to the state Is receiving q
great deal Of attention. While no
sufficient scheme has yet been
evolved, there is every reason to be-
ieye that efficient measures will be
developed. , u
About Labor Conditions
About labor conditions you can
lear all kinds OF opinions. from the
logmatic certainty that labor gov
.rnment and labor legislation have IT.
'etrieyably ruined the country, to the |
.qually positive assurance that labor |
egisiation has only begun, and that
ZACH step will add to the fbetterment |
II the country as q place to live and
arm ones living In. All can say is
hat the country is prosperous, and
he general scale of comfort high: and |
whether 1t has destroyed the conf
lence Of capital in the stability OF
'usiness or not, Australia has had no /
rouble whatever In borrowing all the |
money it has needed to meet its war
nd other expenditures, and all kinds |
/ productive industry is making /
teady progress. II
Effects Of Coal Strike j. |
Il was in Sydney during the coal
trike, and saw the best hotels go |
'ack to the era of candles and kero-
enc lamps. But the strike was set
led long before the industry had been |
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