U.S.A. DECLARES WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 24

U.S.A. DECLARES WAR.

The boycott of New, Zealand in connection with "talkies" is-but an opening shot in the war. America has planned well and induced Australians and New Zealanders to invest their capital in the promotion of American motor cars, typewriters, adding machines, gramophones and numerous other articles of necessity and luxury. The., American manufacturers, have encouraged in every possible' way the investment of capital in buildings, stocks and plants. Slqwly but surely they have introduced American accounting and sales plans, home office systems, in preparation for. the' day when the agency would be cancelled and the U.S.A. manager and executive staff come and take control. To-day, a number of Australian and New Zealand.business men are sadder but wiser,, and realise that they have given tho best years of their lives to promoting a business for some American to come and take control. Mr. Rutledge, New Zealand manager for Fox Films, states: "The question of the film deadlock, is now being handled by Sir Victor Wilson, who has como over with the object of going thoroughly into the new taxation. Until* Sir Victor tells our Government what they must do, "and permits the New Zealand managers to open their mouths, nothing can bo given out." He further states that tho action of tho Government in placing such a high impost on the returns of the film exchange is most unpopular and unwarranted. He will find it is not quite so unpopular as ho thinks, not nearly so as the high impost placed on New Zealand butter. Ho would also discover that if he wished to start a business in America he would find another unpopular law in force over there —a quota law against Britishers. I have the greatest regard and respect for many Americans. In that great and glorious country are many high grade Anglo-Saxons, men who would scorn to attempt to dictate terms to overseas Governments, men whose business transactions arc beyond doubt, whose word is their" bond. Unfortunately, little or nothing is known about them outside the U.S.A. Occasionally one of the high grade type, such as the ex-President, Woodrow Wilson, Walter Page, makes an excursion into world affairs, only_. to be repudiated on his return. It is clear that the Government will not heed either the threat or any statement made by Sir Victor Wilson. It may be that there is some justification for the objection raised, but there is a constitutional method of doing things. America has openly stated her intention of breaking up Empire trade. On more than one occasion Americans have said that Australia was about ready to cut adrift from the Empire and link up with America. To-day, the Dominion is suffering because of the financial, banking and other business control by Australia. "It is about time special taxation supervision and control of British and American. and Australian controlled agencies in the Dominion was brought about. This Dominion is paying away thousands of pounds annually in extra costs of Australian controlled Dominion agencies. 7EALANDIER.