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

4 TACT anything ~ metaphOrfcaily - 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-
ciple, II does not lie In the mouth OF
i 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 being
collected has never been passed into
i law. A bill for an act TO impose these
duties was introduced into the Com
monwealth Parliament in December
! last, and though Il has never been
even fully debated or considered, a
| joint resolution or 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.
I this present Parliament. the govern
I nrent, theoretically at least, will be
liable to importers for all duties col.
Iected under IL.
But everyone exrerfs higher du-i
ties after the war, IL not before: and
preferential duties highly preieren-
tfal duties-in favor Of Great Britain
as against all neutral countries, with
possibly some preference in favor OF
tie allied countries: while there are
x.,h<, 1vs.ak f,.,,is To-, ya,,tfs,e t.,y
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 q 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 protect
tive duties, still Australia, with
her bare i've million of population.
and her great stretches OF only par-l
TALLY occupied lands, Is still essen
italy a country OF primary produc-
TONS Thefefofe for many years to |
come, not only her best but practically
her only road to prosperity Hes
through the development Of her natu- /
raj resources or agriculture and min
ing; and that manufacturing VIII come |
as q natural result of the increase Of /
population and variety OF primary
production. As illustrating this rec
ognition Of the practical value both OF
reas6nabiehess In tariffs and of agri-
culture and commerce az the immedi-
ate means of Australian prosperity. i
one Of the leading papers in Sydney
not very long 40 II an editorial com
menting On 4 proposal IN parliament
Tor ia appropriation to maintain q
representative ID eastern America to
foster trade with Australia, said:
New South Wales already maintains
4 trade commissioner IN San Francis
co to increase the trade between there
and Australia and then the air lis
thick with proposals. for prohibitiVe
duties to drive away al the trade bel
Is able TO secure.
Increase Not Unreasonable
so while think We may expect an
Of duties on American goods
Imported into Australia after the war.
II not before, / have q feeling that
there will be no unreasonable Increase
In this respecI.
AS fof the war, Australia has sent |
4 fine body 0f troops to the front. III
30 not need to say anything about |
Iheif iithtin qualities. a good many
lave returned broken. manned and
crippled. That h 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
innate enough to come back at the end II
Df the war sound IN mind and body.
The repatriation Of these In q 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 n
evolved, there Is every reason to be- |
iere that efficient measures viii be /
developed Ii
About Labor Conditions II
about labor conditions you can I
lear an kinds Of opinions, from the
lOgmafic certainty that labor gov i
.rnment and labor legislation have ir-
'etrievabiy ruined the country, to the
'Qually positive assurance that labor /
egislation has only begun, and that
ZACH step will add to the betterment /
i the country as d place to live and {
arm ones living in All can say Is
hat the country is prosperous, and i
he general scale of comfort high; and (
whether II has destroyed the conf. 4
|ofiee OF capital In the stability OF Z
BUSINESS or not, Australia has had no 6
roubie whatever in borrowing all the 4
money II has needed 10 meet It's war :
nd other expenditures. and all kinds
I productive industry is making
teady progress. ~
fleets Of Coal Strike Ia
was in Sydney during the coal s
trike. and saw the best hotels go
aek to the era Of candles and kero- d
enc lamps. But the strike was set I
led long before the industry had been 5
cry greatly dfeorUan izad, and f0I :