TARIFF ISSUE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18659, 7 April 1926, Page 9

TARIFF ISSUE.

AND SEARCH FOR OIL. MR BRUCE'S TROUBLES. (fctou our owx coaatsro»BßKT.) SYDNEY, April 1. Tho first session of the present Federal Parliament concluded at the end of last week, and in the ten weeks that members had met, somo important legislation had been enacted. With the large majority given it by the electors in November, the composito BrucePage Ministry did some effective work. By far tho most important legislation was tho Crimes Act, dealing principally with tho prevention of transport services and other strikes. But also of prime importance was the Tariff schedule, which has still to be considered by the Senate. This tho Minister for Trade and Customs (Mr Pratten) piloted through, with much ability. Freetraders did most of the talking, but the Minister had a solid backing of protectionists when the votes were needed. Labour voted almost solidly for increases in protective duties, but the Country party solidity suffered. . The most bitter opponents of the schedule were a little group of Country party free-traders who fought every point to tho last ditch. On one item feeling was aroused. This was the duty on agricultural machinery. Mr P. G. Stewart, the stormy petrol of the House of Bepresentatives, as well as of the Country party, moved an amendment that tho duty should be removed, and that a bounty to local manufacturers should be substituted. That amendment was defeated by 37 votes to 12, the latter including four Nationalists, seven Country party members, and one Labourite. But the only Country party Minister to support the Government was Mr Atkinson, the other three Oounry party members of the Ministry sidestepping their vote.. That action is known to have annoyed Mr Bruce, and Nationalists are believed to bo determined to ask why the three O.P. Ministers "deBerted." Oil.

Oil has played a prominent, part in tho session. A Bill was carried through to law providing for the appro-priation-of £66,000 for the purpose of assisting, State Governments, companies, and persons engaged"in the search for oil in Australia in carrying out borv ing operations and in making ; geolo? gical surveys in areas where it is considered that there is reasonable prospect of ■ obtaining oil. Then at the last moment of the session a Bill "was introduced and carried through all stages to give effect to the Publio Ac- 1 counts Committee's endorsement of a proposal to increase the capital of the Commonwealth Oil Refineries by £IOO.000 to £860,000. The (&mmbnweal«j Government owns one more share in this company than the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and its object is to prevent the exploitation of the Australian market by foreign oil companies by the esablishment of oil refineries within the Commonwealth. The refineries were established to be ready for crude oil when it is found in this-country,, but. meanwhile the Anglo-Persian Oil Company w providing tbem with cruck oil. The. inoreesed capital is to enable the 0.0. R. to meet foreign competition, especially by f providing the most modern distribution methods. .The Prime Minister, in moving tne> second reading of this Bill, made a comprehensive survey of the position of the petrol market, and severely criticised an American company for its endeavours to exploit, the Australian user of petrol, especially statements made by the company in newspaper advertisements inferring that most of it* capital was Australian, whereas Mr Bruoewaa able to prove that the only shares Australians held were employees', and that over 90 per cent, of the capital was held by a New York company. The Bill passed through' without, opposition. It was in the dying hours of the session that Mr Walter Harks, a Sydney member, caused a sensation by giving details of an American plot to frustrate the finding of. oil in Australia. He produced affidavits by two directors of the Lander Oil Company—two reputable Sydney men-Hthat. an American expert recommen3ed to the company had deliberately obstructed two promising bores of the company in Queensland. These affidavits stated that the expert had admitted forging telegrams to suit his own purposes, had endeavoured to disgruntle the drillers on the field, in order to have his own cronies appointed in their position, and that the hares had been choked just when St was expected to strike oil. The allegations were endorsed later by a Queensland Minister.