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Evening Star, Issue 17328, 16 April 1920, Page 4

The burdens of war have compelled

Austraiia's nana! Aims.

Australia to put her fiscal house in order. A new tariff, with

several noteworthy features, ] las been brought into operation with more acceptance than hostility. Its aim ]? , excellent, and the political faith behind ,t is almost beautiful in its optimism. .Unlike all previous tariff reiorm, which in other days was the sport of as well as a goad to'sturdv freetraders, the Commonwealth's rew tariff is to afford a high measure of protection to new industries to encourage others that are desirable to diversify the existing ones, and to increase the revenue; but all without oppressive taxation of bread and cheese and the first necessaries of life. It is •something of a. dream; of course, but it is at least fine and encouraging. The arguments in favor of "the new tariff are, however, cogent and substantial. War abroad and industrial war at home (though little i s said about the economic havoc of industrial strife) have thrust, an immense financial load upon a little over five million easygoing people who occupy a huge continent, and would rather keep it" empty than abandon a policy of* increased population by careful selection. Before the war Australia's national debt was £336,781,121 ; to-day it is £746,357.G0fi. In other words, the debt per head of the population has increased since 1914 from £6B to £l4l, while the interest charge per capita lias been raised from '£2 9s to £6. That is the Commonwealth's burden In the rough; it is really worse if considered in detail. It certainly calls for political as well as for national enterprise, energy, and economy, though the last-mentioned essential is rather out of popular favor. The mood for sacrifice has passed in prosperous communities. The Federal authorities at least realise the immense, responsibilities of Australia, and have devised a. tariff which is reconstructive in its aims and revenue-producing in its oppration.

The new schedule may be termed a generous measure of fiscal patriotism. Its chief objective is the encouragement of trade and a -spirit of reciprocity end commercial unity within the British Empire. It also acts upon many of the sharpest and most menacing lessons of the war—the bitter lessons of very dangerous dependence upon "external sources of supply," which so easily in time of stress and necessity become centres of shameless exploitation. It is not necessary to detail the elaborate scope of the new schedule. An outline of its form will give a perfectly clear understanding of its purposes and aims. It is a three-column tariff, providing for a British preferential rate, an intermediate rate, and a general rate. The rate of preference now given to the United Kingdom represents 10 per. cent, on no fewer than 367 items as against 10 items in the 190811 tariff and 124 in the 1914 schedule, and a preference of per cent, on 24 items as against two previously, 15 per cent, on 136 items, as against none before, and 20 per cent, on 32 items as compared with no previous preference. These represent substantial concessions to Home industries and graders, All are given, without; a guid

pro quo,.although it is naturally hoped in Australia that-the British Parliament will in the near future increase the • thin measure of preference they gave la & t year to the British Dominions. Such preference to Britain is really the policy of Protection applied to the Old Country. It is a big step forward to Preference within the Empire, and should be everywhere encouraged by imitation. • The object of the intermediate rate is to encourage practical reciprocity' between the British! Dominions. Hitherto the principle only has, with one or two exceptions, been established. There are reservations, however, to the practice of the encouraging system. The Australian Minister of Customs is empowered to arrange reciprocal fiscal agreements with other Dominions, but all such agreements must be subject to the ratification of ■ the Federal Parliament. Why this caution? It suggests a spirit of bargaining.

Perhaps one of the most interesting, as it is one of the most important, provisions in the tariff is* quite a new departure for Australasia. This is a provision for a deferred duty, which will become operative at a future date. Its aim is to attract enterprise, on the understanding that new ventures will be given a measure of protection until initial difficulties and dangers have been overcome. It holds much promise, but it is handicapped by the fact that no Parliament can bind a succeeding Parliament. The element of risk is substantial. Many substantial British firms have evinced a desire to establish industries in Australia, and the Commonwealth needs them all. But Australia should not hesitate to buttress the confidence of such enterprising firms. Assistance is akin to casting bread upon the waters; it will return after many days. Provision is also made in the schedule for protection against dumping, which is extremely difficult to combat effectively. The Australian experiment will be worthy of close study by New Zealand.

The Australian tariff as a whole holds many interesting features for the New Zealand authorities, who must very soon undertake a thorough revision of the Dominion's fiscal system, which has not been overhauled for years. It may not be practicable to have an adequate Tariff Bill this year; but the Government should at least prepare a scheme, making full use of the legislative experiments adopted by neighboring countries. A new tariff, with generous provisions for the encouragement of increased production and industrial enterprise, is badly needed for the Dominion.

The Hospital Board have received the Minister's consent to purchase a complete boiler-house plant for the Hospital. The tender of Messrs J. Chambers and Sor.. amounting to £6,235, was recently accepted for the installation of the plant. Our Cromwell correspondent wires : Settlers throughout the whole district are unusually' anxious regarding the prospect of winter feed for stock,_as with the long spell of dry weather the country is bare of feed, and rain now would not relieve the position. Dry weather, with occasional hard frost 3, still continues, and if this is followed by a hard winter stock is certain to suffer. A six-roomed residence, the property of Mr Ernest Sanders, and occupied by a t-enant, was destroyed by firs yesterday afternoon (wires our. Cromwell correspondent). The fire had a big hold when the brigade were summoned, and the structure with its contents was almost completely demolished. Since Mr A. Ghiaroni (Dunedin) reached London by the Eemuera (says the London correspondent oi the Christehurch '•Tress'), he has had a busy time with prominent artists, inspecting "work likely to' appeal to New Zealanders. As a result he has made a collection of between 300 and 4-90 good modern watercolors,' oils, and pastels, as well as a selection of very fine original • etchings, the work of the father-in-law of Mr J. S. Aumonier, himself a very well-known London artist. Tn the pictures selected New Zealand visitors to the exhibition will recognise the names of many of the artists. For instance, there is work by Mr Hely Smith (some of whose .work is in the Canterbury Art Gallery), and Mr Yeend King. Mr F. J. Kell. who is the master of an important art school at Sydenham, will he represented by some very good water-color canvasses, his specialty being French figure subjects. An artist of the original impressionist school, Mr A. Camrthers Gould. R.8.A., will have representation. Mr Chiaroni has selected a huge canvas by De Brianski. Other artists from whom selection of their work has been made include W. Luker, jun. (son of the famons painter), Mr Henry H. Bulman, Mr Albert Kinsley, and Miss Grace Joel. Mr Chiaroni, who is leaving for Italy in a few weeks' time, is going first to Bristol to see Mr G. E. Butler, the Wellington artist. Then until October his "headquarters will be at Lake Como. Three or four years will probably elapse before Mr Chiaroni returns to Dunedin, and while he is living in Italy his daughteris to continue her art studios. The_ pictures already chosen will be sent oiit to New Zealand at an early date. *

A very fine collection of paintings is advertised to be sold by auction at Messrs J. Samson and Co.'s rooms, Dowling street. are mostly by the well-known artist, J. Douglas Perrctt, who now resides in Auckland, and is on a visit to Dunedifi. There are also some very fine examples in watercolor and oil by artists of very high reputation. Catalogues are in preparation. For the convenience of the public the pictures will be on view from 7.50 to-night. The Health authorities have temporarily closed Christ's College owing to an outbreak of mild influenza amongst the boarders (reporte a Christ church P.A. message).- The school is closed only so far ns day boys are concerned. P>oardcrs not suffering from influenza are still doing school work. " The Postal authorities have been advised that an English mail reached Auckland on Wednesday e'/ening by the eteamer Op aw a, the southern port-ion of which'was despatched by the Main Trunk train yesterday—s6 bags from London, four from Edinburgh, seven from Glasgow, and five • from Liverpool. This mail should connect with the Wahine from Wellington to- ■ night, and arrive here afterI noon. The R-.M.S. Moana, which is duo I at Wellington on Monday night from San j Francisco and island ports, has 2,848 bags i and hampers of English and American i mail matter on board for New Zealand ; and five baga for Australia. The ; portion should §t>me to hand next Wednesday _ night. The R.M.S. Niagara, 1 1 which is due at Auckland on Tuesday ' j morning next, from Vancouver, has- 264 : j bags of English and Canadian mail matter . [ for New Zealand and 684 bags for Aus- , I tralia.

The motor hearse is soon to make its first appearance in Dnnedin, the la;t of the four Sew Zealand-centres to adopt the innovation. A3 is the case with the local ambulance car, the chassis is the commercial type of Dodge manufacture, in this case somewhat lengthened. The new vehicle has been turned out by Messrs Cossens and Blade to the order of thy firm of Hugh Oourley. The following notice appears in the New Zealand ' Gazette' over the signature of the' Prime Minister : —" I hereby notify for public information that, as Anzac Day this year falls on a Sunday, it is especially fitting, in remembrance of the notable deeds of the Australians and our o\vcl New Zealand soldiers on that memorable and historic occasion, that special services of public worship be held by all religious denominations, and I therefore suggest to all ministers of religion and all congregations to hold such services at sucli hours the forenoon or afternoon as are found convenient."

] Mr Paulin's forecast: Strong N.E. to N.W. winds, and fine. A recommendation will come before the next meeting of the Hospital Board that J a department be instituted for the treatI ment of orthopceiic cases, and that Dr I J. R. White be appointed honorary eurf gevn in charge. It will also ba recomi mended that a department be instituted for the treatment of esses requiring special facial and jaw surgery. The old Spread Eagle Hotel at Rugby (England), immortalised, in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays,' is to disappear. The iToperty has been bought 1 by Lord Leverhulme, who will use the ground floor for one of his fish shops. The roo:r>s to bo built above will be let out in flats. Already the work of reconstruction has begun. The following annual grants are recommended for payment by the Hospital Committee of the board:—£2so to the St. I John Ambulance Association, £<%od to { the University Dental School, and £650 to I the pathological and bacteriological departmente ot the University.

Mr J. Roberta, secretary of tho New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, announced yesterday at Wellington that as a result of the ballot taken by the waterside workers throughout New--Zealand the now agreement arrived at by the conference with the employers had been accepted. Tho voting figures are not being released for publication.

Instructions have now been given to the Hospital Board's architect to prepare plans for a cottage hospital at Roxburgh. The plans of the Owaka Hospital are now to be forwarcbd to the Minister for his consent.

Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money. — [Advt.] New Zealanders on service found that there is no brandy like Cognac brandy, and no Cognac brandy like Marten's.:—[Advt.] Annual harvest thanksgiving services will be held at Kaikorai Presbyterian Church on Sunday, when it is anticipated there will again be a bountiful supply of gifts, which will go to help the orphanages and the aged. In the afternoon -there will be a united -conference of Sunday school and workers and a teaching demonstration by the Sunday School Union. At 6.30 the Rev. W. R. Hutchison will give a special address suitable to the occasion. The most popular Hotel m Dunedin is the City Hotel. High-class accommodation, liquors par excellence; in fact, everything is of the best.—[Advt:] Blended correctly, ajjed correctly—Watson's No. 10 Whisky, cftan, soft, mellow.— [Advt.] Mr Victor E. Galway, 3lus.Bac., will give the second organ recital cf the 1920 series in First Church en Monday next, at 8 p.m. The proeramme includes tho famous ' Fantasia anS Fugue in G ifinor' (Bach), 'Preludio 'R-oinantico' (Ravanello), 'Overture to the Occasional Oratorio' (Handel), and 'Pomp and Circumstance March' (Elgar). The soloist will be Mr J. Leech, who will be heard in items from ' The Messiah' and ' Glory to 'Thee' (Gounod). See our display of New Beads; finest selection of fashionable colors and designs showing iu Dunidiu to-day. Prices from 5s 6d to 15s. Rusbatch, jewellers, 118 George street.—[Advt.] Princo of Wales's Visit: Get your Flags now 'from Todd's White House, George street.—[Advt.] The Peninsula Ferry Company advertise in this evening's issue their winter timetable, which comes into operation to-mor-row. Concert (arranged by the R.S.A. Musical Committee) will be given in the North-east Valley to-morrow night. Proceeds arc to oe applied to the N.E.V. fallen soldiers' memorial arch. Glee clubs should be formed at once in air city and country vilkujos to practise singing appreciation sonjrs of No Rubbing Laundry Help, '"Golden Rule" Soap, and "Keep Smiling" Boot Polish.—{Advt.]