CANADA'S TARIFF

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 11

CANADA'S TARIFF

AND AMERICAN MOTOR PLANTS.A POLITICAL ISSUE. Visiting Christchureh .at present, MlK. Blako Halladay, of Toronto,; Canada, was able, iu conversation with a "Press" reporter, tp; explain, the position regarding the motor tariff trouble in that Dominion. , "The position is in maiiyjivays a peculiar, one," said ,Mr Halladay. "It arises from;the political situation. About five years ago the Liberal Party went into power at the General- Electiou, with a majority of' one member. The Farmers' Party*, or Progressives,, representing tho Free Trade clement, supported tho_ Liberals,, whose policy is for a low tariff, and thus the Liberal Government was enabled to carry on." •. At the last election, ho continued, the Liberals, who had, ■in return for tho Progressives' support, kept the motor tariff on the same scale as beforo they assumed power, again icqiiired. the Progressives' assistance to ennlilo them to carry on. Opposition to tho Liberals' bid power had come froni the chief motor industry Osliawa, Torontoj arid Ford, aiid' the Progressives were now. demanding thnt tho prosent low. tariffs should, be -greatly.' reduced., . • the plants will -not ; clPse. down,''' Mr Halladay replied in atiswer t6 a question. ' "I see lio prospect, of the motor factories closing for . more ,than a short time at most. What'will really happen,'-will bo that more parts will- be imported from America- for assembly in' Caha'dian territory. Undoubtedly, however, it will, mean a curtailment of the number ; of 'employees' in' the -Canadian motor, industry,, arid- men •will be put.off from the plants."- ; Immigration Difficulty. Questioned regarding. Gonadals«immigration • policy, Mr . Halladay Baid that tho trouble was;that migrants wire' bding brought in from the older, countries to-populate the Dominion', 'but thero was a constant drift of young Cana-dian-born men. and women into. the United States. In. America, .a - wealthy country and, for many years hajdiy troubled .at all with- slumps,, employment was easier to obtain, and viery few Canadians \vho crossed the border during the periods of depression in their own country, over' returned. How ever, it was not against Great Britain's welfare for a certain number, of. British subjects to settle in the great English-speaking States. "One of the things which most, impresses me about, New Zealand," : Mr Halladay concluded, "is that, >pithor through accident,or fo/esight, so many of your people are on the land. Compared with Australia, the Uftited States, or even Canada, tlie proportion of people cn the land in New Zealand is very great."