SANER TARIFFS NECESSARY

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1930, Page 9

SANER TARIFFS NECESSARY

GREATER OUTPUT PER UNIT. AMERICAN EXPORTER’S VIEWS. Holding that saner tariff policies and cn-eater output per individual, as opposed to wage reduction, would bring about a return fy) normal conditions, Mr, G. K. Howard, vice-president and general 1 manager of General Motors export (division, in an interview prior to his departure from Auckland by the Niagara, predicted that the fight for lower tariffs would be one of the mam issues of the next Presidential elections of the United States. Mr. Howard, who has just completed a world’s business tout; said that as a result of his observations he had arrived at the conclusion that 'it would be 1933 before the world returned to reasonably normal conditions.' While depression existed, nothing could. be gained by beino- unduly pessimistic, with a lot of dolejul talk that led nowhere but at the same time it was. essential that everybody—company, individual and Government —should recognise con i tions as they were and so guide their conduct that remedial measures could be applied without unnecessary hardSh “ Less talk and more work is the theme that "should be developed, said Mr. Howard. “If this is done, it will materially assist return to prosperity. There has been talk in the electorate of wage reductions, but you cannot expect the worker with a family to vote for a reduction in his wages. lhe better policy is to 'sell’ everybody, the executive as well as the worker, tl/S idea of greater output per man—to give greater value for what he receives.. “Outside of the question of giving greater productivity per man, continued Mr. Howard, “the return to normal world conditions is dependent upon saner tariff policies. My own country is as much at fault as any other in this respect. High tariffs merely starve trade and make it difficult to give value. A. well-conceived tariff policy, suppoited ‘bv each individual giving greater productivity for the money received, would have the effect of putting tlie world back on its feet. It would take time, of course, for the individual to recognise the truth of the fact that he must o-ive true value for what he receives,"and also for the people generally to realise that high tariffs are very vicious, and prevent a return to normal conditions. I think the fight for lower tariffs will be one of the main issues in the next Presidential elections. Giving his impressions of New Zealand, Mr. Howard said he "'as very impressed with the country, both its climate and its attractions. Concerning transport, he said, it appeared o im that there mifst lie co-ordination of iau and road services for the best economic working of the country. There was room for the train, the passenger car and the bus. and the best of each should be selected for adaptation to the peculiar requirements of different localities.