SANER TARIFFS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 273, 18 November 1930, Page 5

SANER TARIFFS.

WORLD'S NEED TO-DAY.

GREATER OUTPUT PER UNIT

AMERICAN EXPORTER'S VIEWS

Holding that saner tariff policies and greater output per individual, as opposed to wage reduction, would bring about a return to normal conditions, Mr. G. K. Howard, vice-president and general manager of General Motors export division, in an interview this morning, prior to his departure by the Niagara, predicted that the fight for lower tariffs would be one of the main issues of the next Presidential elections of the United States. , Mr. Howard, who has just completed a world's business tour, said tliat as a result of his observations he had arrived at the conclusion that it would be 1933 before the world returned to reasonably normal conditions. While depression existed, nothing could be gained by being unduly pessimistic, with a lot of dolelul talk that led nowhere, but at the same time it was essential that everybody— company, individual and Governmentshould recognise conditions as they were and so guide their conduct that remedial measures could be applied without unnecessary hardship.

"Less Talk!" "Less talk and more work is the theme that should be developed," said Mr. Howard. ' "If this is done, it will materially assist return to prosperity. There has been talk in' the electorate of wage reductions, but you cannot expect the worker with a family to vote for a reduction in his wages. The better policy is to 'sell' everybody, the executive as well as the worker, the idea of greater output per man—to give greater value for what he receives.

"Outside of the question of giving greater productivity per man," continued Mr. Howard, "the return to normal world conditions is dependent upon saner tariff policies. My own country is as much at fault as any other in this respect. High tariffs merely starve trade and make it difficult to give value. A well-conceived tariff policy, supported by each individual giving greater productivity for the money received, -would have the effect of putting the world back on its feet. It would take time, of course, for the individual to recognise the truth of the fact that he must give true value for what he receives, and also for the people generally to realise that high tariffs are very vicious, and prevent a return to normal conditions. I think the fight for "lower tariffs will be one of the main issues in the next Presidential elections."

Transport Co-ordination. Giving his impressions of New Zealand, Mr. Howard said he was very impressed with the country, both it 3 climate and its attractions. Concerning transport, he said, it appeared to him that there must be co-ordination of rail and road services for the best economic working of the country. There was room for the train, the passenger car and the bus, and the best of each should be selected for adaptation to the peculiar requirements of different localities.