WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 8

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Wool and America. The Supreme Court of the United States, has delivered a judgment of some interest to Australian and Maoriland . woolgrowers. It has reversed a decision of the Court of Customs Appeals which would have permitted the duty-free entry of Australian, M.L., and South American wool. In 1922 a tariff of 15h per lb was imposed on wool on a clean scoured basis, to foster American sheep-growing. With the extra cost on imported wool, the manufacturing demand has been largely switched on to silk and artificial-silk goods. Of wool, only 43,000 bales were taken from Sydney in 1926-27 as against 68,000 in the previous year, and from Brisbane 2407 bales as against 14,144 bales. If the Court of Customs decision had been upheld by the Supreme Court, there would have been a golden harvest awaiting growers, and the United States, with its prosperity and vast population, would have occupied a much higher place on our buying list than it does to-day—sixth, with Germany, Japan and even tiny Belgium far ahead of it. In the circumstances either we must pay for our huge American imports in gold, the stock of which is rapidly diminishing—or leave off buying them.—" Sydney Bulletin." The Heavy Hand in Samoa. One can appreciate the difficulties of the Government in Samoa, and yet feel distinctly uneasy about the latest developments in that mandated territory. The Hon W. Nosworthy, Minister of External Affairs, has visited Samoa, and spoken to the disaffected in good round parade ground style. As Minister of External Affairs, Mr Nosworthy is responsible for Samoa, but it is a pity that a Minister more tactful was not given the task of dealing with a difficult and delicate situation. Mr Nosworthy takes a line hardly distinguishable from that which regards all opposition as sedition. At Apia he condemned the action of certain persons in organising a sports meeting in opposition to the official King’s Birthday celebrations, and was prepared "to take drastic action ” to stop this sort of thing. The Minister told a member of the deputation, who happens to be an elected member of the Legislative Council, that " if further agitation took place the Citizens’ Committee would be held responsible,” but “ he would give it a reasonable and fair time in which to undo the trouble." After he had threatened the committee in this unmistakable fashion, Mr Nosworthy was informed by the Prime Minister that the Samoan immigration order had been amended to enable the administration of Samoa, as directed by the Governor-General (which means directed by Ministers), " to order any person to leave Samoa if the Administrator was satisfied that that person was disaffected, disloyal, or likely to be a source of danger to the peace, order, and good government of the territory." No power could be wider. The European population elects three members of the Legislative Council, and these members have opposed the Administration in certain directions. Under this order they could all be deported for no greater an offence than is committed daily by members of Parliament and journalists in New Zealand. This is not the way to govern Samoa.—“ Auckland Star." X X X Tourist Policy. It has been said in the South Iriand that visitors are not encouraged to Cook Strait, and that the undoubted attractions of the South are glossed over by the Department. It is probably not deliberate, but people are not dissuaded from making a hurried trip to the easily accessible resorts of the North Island, and then leaving again from one of the main ports of departure, Auckland or Wellington. They might be convinced that the Dominion is worth a more leisured inspection, and persuaded that until the Southern mountains and cold lakes have been visited its variety of attractions cannot be appreciated. This is not done, because there is too much iethargy, too much adherence to routine in the Department. It needs younger men, more initiative, and more aggressiveness in pressing the claims of New Zealand on tourist visitors. Nature has done wonders for the country, but those lavish gifts are not turned to the best advantage. Tne Dominion might become the playground and health resort of half the world if the work of making it so were attacked with resolution, especially if its attractions were pressed more upon the a:tention of the countries nearos*. nt hand.—" New Zealand Herald," Auckland. ________________