PROBLEMS OF TO-DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19846, 21 May 1927, Page 7

PROBLEMS OF TO-DAY

GENEVA DISCUSSIONS Customs Protection and Over Immigration RUSSIANS’ REMARKABLE DEMAND [By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received May 20, 8 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) GENEVA, May 20. At a meeting of the Tariff Levels Committee the Italian delegate made a declaration to the effect that certain countries had been obliged to resort to customs protection in order to provide employment. The statement continued that the remedy was a reduction of immigration restriction. Italian migration in 1913 was 800,000, and it had recently fallen to 300,000. Italy was endeavouring to solve the population problem, but she had never followed an exaggerated protectionist policy. If Italy could export her surplus labour, she could increase her export of goods, and partly reduce her import tariff. Finally, it would be imperative to study all causes leading to customs policy in over-populated countries.

If the conference sought to appreciate the real economic . position, such countries would find that the only practical remedies were a reduction of duties and the eliminatitm and reduction of immigration restrictions. The Russian delegation is pressing M. Tbeunis to include among the final resolutions of the Economic Conference a motion affirming that the Soviet and capitalistic regimes are incompatible.

Although the demand is regarded by the other delegations as merely intended for home consumption, the Russians declare they will leave the Conference if M. Theunis docs not agree to submit.