THE COMMONWEALTH TARIFF.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8921, 14 September 1907, Page 2

THE COMMONWEALTH TARIFF.

Injury to British Interests

Press Association. —Copyright. London, September 13.

The Times publishes tho more important sections of tho Commonwealth tariff - . It couteuds that its general effect is in a direction which is detrimental to British trade. It can only hope that British goods, though “the advantage they receive compared with foreign m many cases is almost illusory, may bo sufficiently in demand to prvevent tho volume of the Motherland's Australian trade undergoing appreciable diminution.

The Chronicle, commenting on Mr Deakin’s resolve to adhere to preference, is afraid that his firm stand will not excite the Motherland’s grateful admiration. In commerce principle counts for less than interest. The tariff hits tho interests of British manufacturers very hard. Nevertheless in justice to Mr Deakin, if Australia indeed resolved on a high tariff all round—if ; in other words, the only choice is between the proposed high tariff with preference, and same tiling without it, Mr Deakiu’s stand therefore may call for gratitude in some infinitesimal degree. Since slight remissions are accorded Britain, clearly not with a hope of substantial preferential treatment, the Pall Mall Gazette concludes that Australian feeling has been piqued by the British Ministers’ militant aud contemptuous rhetoric and proved too insistent to enable Mr Deakin to give full effect to tho policy he foreshadowed in Loudon.

Tho Westminster Gazette admits that tho tariff would have created a worse impression if no preference was conceded.