Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28

few answer the call. Hence the out
CRY Of the farmers who want the gov
eminent to do something for them
Some suggest q subsidy, others high
tariffs, but neither Is possible. The
treasury cannot afford to spend money
on subSidizing the farmers. while tariffs
under the present circumstances would
only increase the cost of living, which
the industrial population finds already
too high.
Palliative Measures Answer.
English industry, as far as the world
markets are concerned, is going through
a very serious crisis What Is the
remedy2" asked many economists and
politicians. For the time being moth
ing but palliative measures" is the
general answer. But palliative meas
ures and "hoomlets" in some specific
industry cannot help much.
The manufacturers of small cars are
experiencing Just such Q boom at pres
ent, when the ambition of the poorly
paid clerk is to possess a motor car OF
a motor cycle. In order to pay S. to So
a week installment, the clerks give ur
shows, go without new clothes and
eat less But soon the requirements
of these people viii be satisfied. The
market Is already almost saturated
The motor car industry, unless it findS
market abroad, will suffer the same
slump as other industries
1t Is frankly admitted the agricultural
and industrial situation cannot be solved
without sweeping reforms. The produc-
tive power Of the country must be read
JCsted on an entirely new basis Fac
tories are producing more than they can
sell; consequently production must be
limited to what this country and her
dominions can actually consume and
only small surplus manufactured for
foreign trade. There are certain prod
ucts which still can be purchased only
in England; the production Of such
goods should be encouraged.
Once this readiustment of produc-
ton is made, 1t is urged that England
should abandon at least temporarily, her
free trade policy and, following the ex-
ample of the rest of the world, adopt a
stringent protectionist policy, whereby
everything including food and raw ma :
terials, would pay duty There are
many critics of this policy within the
parties suggesting 1t.
Heavy Tax on Luxuries.
At present it is true that food is
imported free of duty, but the govern
ment is taxing heavily so-called Mxuries
like tobacco, coffee, tea and home pro-
duced spirits, which are consumed by
poor and rich alike; yet there are no
loud protests against these taxes. Ex-
perts who have studied the high tariffs
in America state that in spite Of the
heavy import duties the burden of high
tariffs on American citizens does not
amount to more than 4 cents q head,
while in free-trading England the citi-
ZenS pay something like l3i2 cents per
capita, although food still Is duty free.
Taxes on all food products would
bring larger income to the treasury.
which would be able to spread them
equally over all the imported articles
and thus reduce some OF the taxes on
tobacco, tea and beers. which are COM
sumed In large quantities by every work.
ing man in England On the other hand,
nrotectionist policy, it is stated, would
benefit British industry enormously.
At present, the dominions can send
ell their raw materials and food prod
ucts TO England without paying duty.
Most Of the English manufactured prod
ucts however, cannot enter the domin-
Ions duty-free.