BRITISH TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1932, Page 5

BRITISH TARIFF

TO RECTIFY TRADE BALANCE.

CONSIDERATION BY CABINET

(British Official Wireiess.)

RUGBY, January 14

Last night, the committee of the Cabinet which has before it the problems of correcting the adverse balance of trade met and good progress has been made with the tack.

It is expected that a further order under the Abnormal Importations Act, will lie issued shortly.

“The Times” recalls that in his .-peedi in the Commons last September the Foreign Secretory (Sir .J. Simon), declared the country would have to i abandon its policy of free imports, and lie added there is a growing feeling . in Ministerial circles that legislative • action will have to be token as soon as the Coinmoirs meets again. When the Committee has presented its report to Cabinet, it will be for the Ministers to decide bow action can be taken with the least dislocation of trade. CABINET COMMITTEE. EXPECTED TO FAVOUR TARIFF. LONDON, January 15. The Cabinet Committee that is considering tariffs, contains representatives of the three Parties, and it expected to reach a decision in a tew days. The problem is being considered from the sole viewpoint of the trade and financial situation. It is recognised that the position a,? regards the balance of trade demands that not a moment shall be lost in introducing remedial measures. All the indications point to the question that, the Committee’s recommendation will be in favour of a tariff, and there is no reason to fear, that is if it is unanimous, that trouble will arise when it comes before the whole Cabinet. BRITISH MANUFACTURERS. LONDON, January 14. Simple and valorem duties, pending tlie creation of a Tariff Board to promulgate full scientific tariff, constitutes the chief suggestion in the programme of the Grand Council of the Federation of British Industries, to restore Britain’s prosperity. It states: Industry would accept the duties of food and raw materials or

other measures, to obtain, the widest possible extensions of Empire preference. SOVIET TIMBER IN BRITAINIMPORTERS OBJECT TO DUTIES. VANCOUVER, January 14. The Premier of British Columbia, Mr Tolmie, has requested the Dominion Premier, Mr Bennett, to instruct the Canadian High Commissioner at London to notify the British Government that the acquiescence of the latter in a petition from the English importers of timber asking that the importation of Soviet lumber into Britain he not interfered wfth through tariff® or preferences, would he a blow to Canada, and would be likely to injure the Imperial Conference.

The Premier of Quebec has wired Mr Bennett to the same effect.

Leading merchants claim that Vancouver is the first city in the Empire to take a practical more for Empire trade, and tlie merchants are using the Trade Board organisation to launch a, campaign for a greater exchange of British goods.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRELAND

RUGBY, January 14

The President of the Board of Trade, Mr Runcimnn, yesterday, received representatives of tlie Irish Free State. Discussion was concerned with the possibilities of improving the trade between the two countries, collaboration in trade problems, collarboration in trade problems. Air Runciman stated that he and his colleagues were anxious to co-operate with the Free State Government, and explained that on the re-assembly of Parliament, a statement would he made as to their policy for developing inter-Comrnomvealth trade.