OTTAWA BILL NOW LAW

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1932, Page 11

OTTAWA BILL NOW LAW

TREASURY ORDER ISSUED

DUTIES ON IMPOETS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 17th November, 11 a.m.) \ BUGBY, 16th November.

The passage into law of tlio Ottawa Agreements Bill, which, received Boyal assent last night, is promptly followed by a Treasury Order, which, with certain exceptions, will bring into force from midnight to-night the duties on foreign goods in the various Ottawa Agreements, together -with a preferential'tax on the import of coffee and wine. The Order also provides for the continuance of the exemption of Empire imports from the ten per cent, ad valorem duty and additional duties imposed under the Import Duties Act. The duties which come into force tonight are those covered by agreements with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Southern Bhodesia, all of which have already taken' steps to give effect to the tariff changes agreed upon at Ottawa. India and Newfoundland have not yet taken these steps, and accordingly the duties "required solely by terms of agreements with them are not yet to be imposed. Meanwhile they will continue, with the rest of the Empire, to enjoy general Imperial preferences into Britain under Section Two of the Act. The proposition is also made for temporary postponement of the. copper duty.

The only Dominion which does not participate in Empire preference is the.lrish Free State. Up to sth November special duties imposed on imports from the , Free State produced '£773,000. The withholding of the land annuities by the Free State has so far cost the Exchequer £1,142,419.