Evening star., 1931-06-20
AUSTRALIAN M. P. FINDS DOLE,
US. TARIFF GREATEST EVILS
Advocates Spiritual Element
lin Life of the
People.
Herbert II. Smith Will OBJ
serve Prohibition in
Country.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

After a 14-month survey of world
markets, carrying him to the industrial
centers of four continents, Herbert H
Smith, member Of the Legislative Coun-
Gil of the Victorian State Parliament OF
Australia. has formed the opinion that
the United States tariff laws have been
a factor in creating ill-feeling toward
this country, q sentiment existing prac-
tically throughout the world; that the
British dole system has brought about q
deplorable situation in England, and
that world rest will never be attained
until the nations change their present
materialistic policies and bring back a
spiritual element into the life OF the
people.
M Smith, who arrived at THE Dodge
Hotel this week, has come to Washing
ton to confer with economic leaders be-
fore returning to Melbourne, where he
hopes to arrive in time for the anttci-
pated elections in August.
Finds People Alarmed.
"T left Melbourne year ago IN
March," the Australian said. II visited
Africa and practically every country In
Europe. Wherever / went found the
people alarmed and upset over the new
tariff laws of the United States. The
nations cannot understand why the
American people. who had the greatest
export business in the world; who each
wear were increasing their sales abroad,
and with the majority Of commodities
had few II any competitors, should have
closed their own country as market
to their best buyers in other countries.
"The American high tariff has
brought about an unfortunate ill-feeling
toward the United States, and the re-
action has been steadily increasing
determination on the part OF other
countries to buy less and less from this
country,
weeks ago, I found practically the en-
tire nation eating black bread in prefer
ence to eating white bread made from
American wheat. France and England
are increasing imports from South
America, and Canada is importing GER
tain commodities all the way from Aus
tralia rather than buy In the United
States, which, by its prohibitive tariff,
has cut itself of as q market for foreign
goods"
country was in a depressed condition at
the present moment, with debated
and an aggravated unemployment situa-
ton.
Betterment Seen.
II think II the combination Of Aus
tralia's thinking men, which is now be-
ing formed in. opposition to the present
Labor government, meets with success
in the next elections 1t will do . great
deal to restore confidence and bring q
return of prosperity to Australia" de-
clared Mr.. Smith.
Whereas Australia's resources are
among the richest in the world, Mr.
Smith explained that the cost Of pro-
duction was so high that many Of the
richest mineral deposits remained un-
touched
"Australia's greatest trouble he said
'is her lack Of rural development. In
a country of more than 100000 square
miles there Is a population Of less than
1000, 900, most Of which lives concen-
trated In large cities"
In Mr.. Smiths opinion the pinnacle
of depression has not been reached
either in the United States or in his
own country.
"The prices of commodities have
fallen" he explained, but the standard