THE NEW TARIFF

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 11

THE NEW TARIFF

AUSTRALIAN POLICY

PROHIBITIONS TO GO

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

' ■ SYDNEY; 28th January. It is certain now that the tariff policy instituted by the Labour Government will not.be allowed to continue. A new policy is now being evolved by the Minister of Customs (Mr. Gullett), and the most interesting feature of it will be therempval of a_ very large number, if not all, of the'prohibitions 'imposed by. the Scullin Government, under what was termed its emergency fiscal policy. Since the development of the economic crisis caused by the depression, the reduction of imports over the whole range of goods brought into, Australia has been 50 per cent. The present Govr ernment objects to the prohibitions on the. ground thai, they are calculated to breed' monopoly, and that they ,are the embodiment of _a vicious economic,principle. ,:.:■ When; the special emergency tariff was introduced ■by ■ the : Scullin Government it: was stated that it was purely of a temporary character, and not part of the settled fiscal policy of the nation. The new Government appears to imagine that the need for prohibitions has- gone. *.',:'■.■ . ■.■ . New tariff proposals will bo tabled in the House of immediately after it. meets next month". The principal features of these may be stated as. follows:— , '

(1) Many, if not.most, of the prohibitions imposed' by the Scullin. Government will be removed..' '

(2)' The 50 per cent, restriction upon the import of a large number of specif fied lines'will be removed in many eases.

(3) The bulk of the existing duties will remain unaltered, but the most glaring anomalies will receive attention.

(4) Any alterations that are made will be in accordance with the recommendations of the Tariff Board, a policy that has not always been , followed. (The Labour Government frequently permitted dictation from the unions).

(5) Primage, being a purely revenue duty, is likely to remain at the present level, of 10 per cent., though the.range of exemptions may be slightly increased to benefit the primary producer.

(6) Goods removed from the prohibition list will be mainly, those required more especially by the primary producer. : ' ■ ■ ■ ■- ■■.■■■■"

(7) The policy now being prepared is'largely of a preliminary character, the Government taking the view that it is impossible to do more than adjust the most glaring anomalies, and bring the tariff generally into line with the recommendations of the Tariff Board until after the Ottawa Conference.

(8) The Tariff Board will be asked almost immediately to make an economic survey of the.whole tariff to enable the Government to ascertain, exactly what tariff concessions can be given to Great Britain and the British countries generally, with due regard to.the interests of Australian secondary producers, of the primary producers, and of tho consumers.

By special arrangement Renter's world service. In addition to other special sources of Information, is used In the compilation of tba overseas Intelligence published In' this Issue, and all rights therein in Australia and Nesr Zealand are reserved.