BRITISH TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1932, Page 5

BRITISH TARIFF

DEBATE IN COMMONS. COST OF LIVING MUST RISE. .United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 23. In the House of Commons, Mr J. H. Thomas, replying to Mr Mander, said no representations 'had been received tiom Australia in reference to Japan’s action in the Far East. The Commonwealth had been kept in. the closest touch with the situation and there was no reason to doubt the British policy commands Australia’s general assent. Air .\bunder asked: “ Has your attention 'been called to the attack on the Australian migration policy made, by the Japanese delegate at the last Lea-

gue meeting?” Mr Thomas replied that he saw the account, but was much more influenced by personal discussion with the Australian representative than by the general discussion by an outside authority. Mr iManders was apparently referring to the Japanese allusion at the League Council, to it’ne exclusion of the Japanese from different countries of the world, including the Pacific. Mr Lewis asked : “Will British representatives at Ottawa be, willing to discuss preferential duty on meat?” Mr Thomas said the Government was prepared to discuss any proposal. Mr Page Croft asked : 'May we definitely under stand that the questions of meat and wheat will not be precluded from discussion ?” Ah' Thomas .said it was open to buy Dominion to submit apy proposal. Air Thorn ; “Is it the Government's intention to reduce instead of increase tariffs?”

Mr Thomas: “Personally, I support the tariff because I believe as a bargaining powers the only means of reducing tariffs. The wheat quota bill read for the first time, entitled a bill to secure to growers home grown millable wheat at a standard price and market, therefore, providing for imposition on millers. Importers of flour obligation to make payments calculated by the wheat quota.” Mr (Neville Chamberlain referring to the free list under the import duties bill, said the Government's policy in this connection was founded on expediency. They tried to judge each item on its own merits and proposed to extend the free list to pearls and semiprecious stones. Platinum would be included with gold, silver and bullion. Esparto grass, used in making certain glasses iof paper was being included with woodpulp. ,As a result of representations, it was proposed to include all metallic ores, including concentrates, residues and copper not produced within the Empire in sufficient quantity to fulfil requirements of the manufacturers. Therefore raw copper ill various forms would be free listed. Mr Neville Chamberlain said the Government 'had difficulty in deciding abbub maize. It was an important food stuff of which Britain imported £lO,000,000 worth yearly. Two-thirds came from Argentine. The duty thereon would yield £1,000,000, Qp the other hand, as it was largely used in the production of pigs, poultry and cattle, it would be hard on the farmer ; furthermore, the Argentine was a country with which it was hoped to make mutual arrangements, The Government had decided bn the whole, it would be> best to put maize on the free lift.

Regarding the proposal to omit meat from the free list, he said he was chiefly concerned about the cost of living. It was -at present artificially low, but must rise'. The Government had not pledged itself, under any circumstances, to tax meat, but at present it regarded it as imprudent to do so, Air Romsden sought information in regard to the suggested transference of sections of the textile industry to the Dominion. Air Runciman said possibly the British industries and Empire industries were making arrangements and mutual beneficial co-operation was under consideration in preparation for the Ottawa Conference. Air Ramsden: “Has it been suggested that the textile' industry transfer part of i'ts machinery to vhe Dominions Air Runciman ; “No, lam not aware of any official suggestion in that direction, but any arrangements made between the British Textile Trade and the Dominions, will naturally have our blessing.”

|AIr Amci’y said the taxation on meat would yield eight times as much as on maize. Argentine had no other market for her meat but Britain. The duty of a halfpenny per pound would be, borne by the producer, not by the British consumer, The British Ministers at Ottawa must be free to agree to duties on meat. 'Mr Page Croft said the duty on meat furnished greater opportunities for satisfactory agreements with the Dominions than other products. In Australia, New Zealand, and the Irish Free State meat and pig products were of uppermost consideration. The taxation of foreign supplie s would produce a substantial revenue, and would assist in obtaining reciprocity with the Argentine. He asked, was the Government going so Ottawa empowered to offer preferences oh meat products or was the door already closed. Sir Stratford 'fr'pps said Air Rimeinum had given a specific elution pledge that meat and wheat would not lie taxed. Air Chamberlain, ''winding up the debate, said (lie problem of the stock raiser 'was not easily solved under the bill, it was difficult, to see hmv to give adequate protection without duties higher than .eu per cent, but an import duty was not the only method. He asked the House to have patience. The