EUROPE’S TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1931, Page 6

EUROPE’S TARIFF

AUSTRO-GERMAN -MOVE . QUESTIONED. ((Jmitwd Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, March 2-1. The President of -the -Hoard ol Trade, replying to Commons’ question concerning /the tariff truce and the recent conference- at Geneva, said he had regarded the commercial convention, not as an end in itsell. but as affording an opportunity for further negotiations, with a view to securing a reduction in European customs tariff. These negotiations, would continue. The Government did not minimise the difficulty, hut -still believed a downward move in tariffs was desirable, and would continue to do everything possible to accomplish it.

Asked which Governments had continued to raise their tarill's after approving of the recommendations of the 1927 Economic Conference to the effect that, world economic development Wilis being retarded by tariff walls, Mr Graham replied that since the conference, tariff increases of substantial importance had been introduced by Austria, Belgian, Chile, t ze-eho-Slovika. Finland, France, Germany Hungary. Italy, Persia, Poland and Portugal. .. The Parliamentary Secretary for the Treasury to-day refused to recommend to the Government that a Cabinet Committee be established to make- an immediate enquiry into the possibility of adopting in Britain, revenue producing tariffs, which recently had been the subject of much discussion among economists.