FEDERAL TARIFF BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 155, 26 March 1920, Page 7

FEDERAL TARIFF BILL

® —, —. INSURING AUSTRALIA -AGAINST COM- : MERCIAL BLEEDING i INCREASED PREFERENCE TO : i BRITAIN ' | Br TeleEraph—Press Association—OoovrleM j Melbourne, Marcli 25. ; ' In the House of Representatives, Mr. ! 'Massey Greene (Minister for Trade and Customs) introduced the Tariff Bill. He . j ■said the outstanding lesson of the war ; left;no option but to adopt such a policy > as would insure Australia against -the j commercial bleeding to .which it -was i subjected. Explaining the -Bill, he .said i it -provided for substantially increased j preference to Britain, and permitted tho . reciprocal .tariff relationships with-other ! parts of the Empire which would be ! grunted by tho United Kingdom, and a • preferential rate either in whole or in \ part. The Bill prohibited reciprocal re- I lationships with .any Dominions where | the economic conditions .are lower than : prevail in Australia, and -also provided : for the extension of an .-intermediate j tariff to :any country with which .reciprocal trade relationships may bofor-' i ranged, and protected new; industries by j providing an additional -duty to prevent 1 'dumping. There were ninety-five new ! duties. In ,all these cases, in the last j tariff, importations from the United | Kingdom were .'free. Provision was also j made 'for deferred duty, .which would j become operative, at .some future date, ! with the object of giving an opportunity I for establishing industries in Australia, ! by the timo tho deferred duty operated. '] It this was not done, -the Minister was . i empowered to postpone .the imposition ! of the. deferred duty. The new duties •! would come into operation to-day. -Press ! Assn. ' . i provision mTreciprocity j INCREASED IMPOSTS ON' DUMPED | ■GOODS.. j (Eec. .March .25, 10-p.m.') , ! Melbourne, March i). | The.new tariff applies to fresh impor- j tations, -also,to -goods in bond. Merchants j during the past few months have been J -clearing their stocks in anticipation of i higher duties. .The new principles in- } elude the provision of an intermediate scale, distinct from the duties levied on i British and other goods, which is to come j :into force in tho event, of Australia mak- j ing.ireciprocal arrangements with other i (countries-for the-granting-of concessions j in duties .in return for other concessions. j There will lie also a deferred scale oper- j ating on a date coincident with the establishment of certain new industries in , Australia, and a .provision for increased ' I imposts on .goods dumped or carried by j specially subsidised vessels at ballast j rates. _ .Regarding preferential increases ! affecting Britain and Dominions-willing to '-reciprocate, the tariff provides for i preference, .up to 25 per cent., with a i ' number'o'f items int 15 to .20 per cent. In- j creases are .proposed on soap, potted j meats, pickles, -confectionery, sauces' and ! similar . goods, where local competition I exists to keep -prices down. The excise . ! duty-on industrial . denatured spirits has j been remitted. Considerably, increased \) protection lias been given on coal tar j products and chomicals. There is an,all- J round increase of :2| per .cent, on ma- : I .chine'ry, and sto 10 per cent, on -boots, i The excise duty on tobacco, cigars, :and , I cigarettes is unaltered. Kerosene is .nd-' ! mitted- free. * The beer duty has been j raised threepence a gallon, and'spirits j .by ..two to three shillings ;a .gallon from i ,the : United Kingdom, and four shillings j from other countries. Sugar duty is un- j altered. Press comments on tho tariff suggKst j that it will undoubtedly increase the ;al- j ready high cost of living, :as unfortunately it contains no provision for protection of the consumer.—Press Assn. !