PEACE AND PROSPERITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19967, 8 December 1926, Page 9

PEACE AND PROSPERITY

®©NDIfK)NS IN AMERICA. WH M im PRESIDENT. PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT. (ffress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 7. (Received Dec. 7, at 5.5 p.m.) The President’s annual message to Congress counselled the Legislature not to grant any farm relief that would put the Government into the business of the production, marketing, or price-fixing of farm products. It also opposed any permanent tax reduction, but favoured a a refund next year. Mr Coolidge again stressed the need of economy, and warned the country against extravagant new ventures. He unrolled a panorama of the Government’s vast business, and emphasised the general peace and prosperity of the country, the absence of major diplomatic troubles, and the desire of America to continue her policy of non-aggressiyc armaments. The recommendations for the coming year included a limitation of expenditures to those that were most urgent, and the necessity for a discussion of agriculture eo as to evolve a plan to meet the farmers’ needs. The President also recommended the placing of the merchant marine under a single responsible head; an endeavour to induce Americans to ship in United States bottoms; the creation of a board to deal with radio problems; the development of the Philippines economically, but not to return them until the natives politically and economically were fitted to assume control; the continuation of the policy of having the army and navy on a peace force footing, and the paying of special attention to cruisers, submarines, and aviation. Mr Coolidge also urged the rapid discharge of war debt obligations and the avoidance of competitive armaments. The President advocated the careful and speedy enactment of supplementary legislation for enforcing prohibition, declaring that “the persons who dissent from prohibition have access to orderly methods of seeking a change in the national constitution, but all should obey the law.” The President urged the promotion of and good-will between America and all other peoples.” Regarding the general condition of the country, he said it was impossible to characterise it as other than one of general peace and prosperity. “In some quarters our diplomacy ia vexed with difficult, and as yet. unsolved, problems,” he said, “but nowhere are we met with armed conflict. If some occupations and areas are not flourishing in none does there remain any acute chronic depression. What the country requires is not so much new policies as a steady continuation of those which are already being crowned with abundant success.” —A. and N.Z. Cable.