ISSUES IN CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17362, 8 January 1920, Page 9

ISSUES IN CANADA.

TARIFF CONTROVERSY. NEW GROUPING OF PARTIES. PROSPERITY OF DOMINION. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] VANCOUVER, Dec. 9. , : During the two years of unionism, even under the stress of war and the unrest : of reconstruction, progressive recognition , has been given by legislation in Canada to < the rights of Labour, the demand for more complete prohibition and the extension of ; Government-ownership. There has even been a, recognition of political independ- ■ ence in Parliament, where in the Union party freedom of thought and action has been unhampered by party discipline, and the exercise of such freedom has not . meant political isolation ae formerly, , Labour has won for itself a place in the councils of the nation, and has become a political factor in the electorate. Industry, labour, and agriculture have prospered. Canada has become a nation, not only in her own estimation, but by the world's recognition. The after-war turmoil has liglitly touched the Dominion, and at present the most stable conditions in labour and industry in the world are within Canadian borders, according to writers on national conditions. They believe that this ha. been obtained by recog. nition of rights, and firm denial of impossible demands. Such recognition and denial, they assert, could only be enforced by unionism, and partyism would have failed through the very essence of partyism. Between Ontario and the West lies the

ariff issue which threatens to destroy 1 inity. On all other questions there is 1 inaniroity in thought and action. In j omparison with other issues tho tariff is egarded as of minor importance, but by igitation, prejudice, and selfishness it had >een magnified until it tin.ulcus to create , lisunion. Income taxation, land taxation, ennfisca- ' ion of wealth, it is recognised cannot r)lace under present conditions revenue ariff taxation. Income taxation is I imited by the impositions in this form ay rival countries: land taxation would ml realise sufficient, nor would it be reived with approval ly those now making the demand for its e iforcement; confiscation of wealth is an attractive cry, and to & great degree as iff practicable as attractive. »No matter what party obtain, power, 50 per cent, of Canada's revenue must be secured by tariff taxation, and the issue is: Shall taxation continue to embody the protect vc principle and to what extent ? Ontario is represented as being ready for a compromise, and they are asking whether the West will refuse this compromise, and ally itself with the reactionaries, or force Ontario into such an alliance ? The West is handicapped- in seeking new allies on this issue, for no matter what party platform* may contain, Quebec is wedded to protection, and oven more protection than is demanded in Ontario. Group politics will prevail in the next Parliament. If the progressive groups can compromise on the tariff, then progress will be maintained, but if not, power will pass to the non-progressives, while labourites, farmers, and the other progressives will fail to obtain their end. 'i Western farmers are being advised not to take the political upheav.-l in Ontario too seriously, in Cn'-.io is protectionist. even among the majority of farmers. The fruitgrower, market gardener, and i llier intensive farmers, are by climatic conditions forced to be protection^.' Industry did not show its strength in the Ontario provincial election?.' It was not attacked. Free trade advocacy is expected to defeat its advocates in all but a half-dozen Ontario constituencies. Labour is a more permanent and effective political force than farmers' organisations, it is said. Canadian labour is cited as protectionist, but no individual class can win control in Federal politics in Canada, for a class may have strong representation, but that representation must be allied with some either faction to control. In any combination there must bo compromise, and the great outstanding question being asked nowadays is : Who will the prairie farmer compromise with? Economically Ontario, Quebec, the maritime provinces, ana British Columbia are allied, and 'he prairie provinces stand alone. On other issues Ontario, the prairie 'provinces, and British Columbia are in complete agreement. Canada was tho result of a compromise, and her success has been due to the success of her statesmen making reasonable compromise on vital issues. So it will be in the next Parliament. Groups, wh'le preserving identity, will hay* to ally themselves to continue government, but the big issue still remains as to what allies the western farmers will choose. ——