TARIFF CHANGES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19168, 26 November 1927, Page 15

TARIFF CHANGES.

COMMONWEALTH BILL. INCREASED BRITISH PREFERENCE. (AbSTBALUJf AND K.Z CABLE ASSOCTATIOK.) CANBERRA, November 25. The Minister for Customs, the Hon. H. E. Pratten, introducing the new tariffs, said alterations in tariff items and subitems numbered 135. Of these 24 dealt with reductions in duty, in many cases on popular and revenue-producing items. The number of duties which were increased in both British and foreign schedules was 23. The number of foreign duties in which increases were made without increasing the corresponding British rate was 26. Ten alterations were proposed for rectification of anomalies. In addition there were 53 alterations giving increased preferences to the United Kingdom. The total proposed alterations in that direction increased British preference. It was estimated that these would be of an ultimate value to British trade of nearly £1,500,000, and' would increase the total preference given to the United Kingdom to more than £10,000,000 annually. Once the tariff was in effective operation there would be no net increase in revenue, nor any further tax upon the community as a whole. Further help given to Australian factories by the alterations would capture £3,000,000 worth of the present British trade and £3,000,000 worth of foreign trade. Britain, by virtue of increased preference, should also be able to capture half of the remaining foreign trade iu the items affected, so that the net gain to Empire trade expected to be brought about by tlio proposals was approximately £11,000,000 sterling, of which Australia's share would be £6,000,000 and Britian's share nearly £5,000,000. This estimate was based on the fact that foreign trade in the items in question now totalled £18,000,000 annually. REBATES GRANTED. (AUSTRALIAN AND- N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION.) CANBERRA, November 25. In the House of Representatives, replying to .". question as to the comparative values of a preferential policy to British and Australian industries, the Minister for Customs said that during the five years ended June, 1926, tariff rebates totalling £36,470,000 were granted on goods imported from Britain. The latest British figures available were for 1925, and these showed that in that year British rebates on Australian goods amounted to £471,441.