AMERICAN TARIFF POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 14

AMERICAN TARIFF POLICY.

Sir, —There is something exceedingly comical in the spectacle of protectionist countries protesting against the United States applying logically the protectionist panacea for foreign competition. What is the Hawley Tariff Bill if it is not a protectionist specific for "keeping the money in the country" (whatever that means), for "employing our own people instead of the foreigner, ' for enforcing the slogan ''buy only home-made goods," and making one's country "self-supporting" ? One would think that protectionist countries would welcome the Hawley Bill as an example and a guido for themselves and would go on from height to height until (he pinnacle of economic welfare was reached simultaneously with the hoisting of the yellow flag of prohibition of all imports. And then, by increasing the size of tho hrtme market and enabling commodities to be produced on a large scale we would see living and production costs reduced in every protected territory below what could bo achieved anywhere else. Ono could understand Britain protesting but certainly not Australia or New Zealand. These latter should welcome tho bill as a further proof of tho soundness of their settled policies and as an incentive for them to apply the policy logically and fully. Some people aro never satisfied. Logic.