BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18824, 18 May 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

LEVY ON WAR WEALTH. THE COMMITTEE FAVOURABLE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Imperial News Service.! LONDON, May 15. The committee appointed to consider the practicability of a levy on war wealth reported affirmatively and suggested that it could best be carried out by the adoption of the Inland Revenue Board’s scheme, estimated to yield £55,000,000 and affecting 75,000 persons. The committee, however, strongly held that the principle of the levy on capital, which was involved, was unsound and would harm industry. Opinion in business circles appears to favour a continuance of the excess profits duty more than the war levy as likely to involve less disturbance to industry. The Associated Chambers of Commerce are strongly protesting against the levy. BUTTER CONTROL. RATIONING TO BE DISCONTINUED. LONDON, May 15. The Food Ministry announces that owing to the large increase in British and Irish supplies the rationing of butter will cease on May 30. Private importation is prohibited. As the outlook for supplies of imported butter does not yet justify complete de-control, the Ministry' will continue the purchase and distribution as heretofore at a fixed maximum price of 3s 5d per lb. THE AUSTBRALIAN TARIFF. RECIPROCAL PREFERENCE. LONDON, May 15. Mr Watt in an article in the Sunday Times says the Australian tariff gives sub stantial preference to British manufacturers. There is no reason why such an arrangement should be one-sided. Australian producers of wool, meat and wheat ought to be able to sell on the British market tp better advantage than the Argentine and other foreign competitors though not necessarily by tariff adjustments. The problem is difficult but not insoluble. To admit the contrary is a confession that Imperial statesmanship is bankrupt. The article emphasises Australia’s need of population and the imperial necessity of developing emigration within the Empire. MESOPOTAMIAN OIL FIELDS. GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS CRITICISED. LONDON, May 15. The Sunday Express, continuing to condemn the Government’s negotiations regarding the Mesopotamian oil fields, states that Germany’s pre-war interference on behalf of the Royal Dutch combine, prevented the Turks fulfilling their promise to give complete exploitation rights in Mesopotamia to the Anglo-Persian Company, in which the British Government hold the majority of the stock.