BLOW TO FREE TRADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 943, 9 April 1930, Page 9

BLOW TO FREE TRADE

AMERICAN OPINION ON AUSTRALIAN TARIFF DRIFT TO PROTECTION NEW YORK, Tuesday. The “New York Times.” in a leading article entitled “Protectionist Australia” says the new duties imposed by the Commcinwealth Government are symptomatic of a state of mind which cannot but affect the United States as well as Britain. The writer discusses the increase in Australian tariffs in recent years. It says American manufacturers may now better understand the resentment of Canadians and South Americans against the increases in the American tariff on various staple articles of those countries. It is in relation to the scheme for free trade within the British Empire that this contest act is chiefly interesting, says the article. Britain enjoys preference on most of her goods which enter Australia, but opposition to preference is steadily growing. In fact the avowed purpose of the Australian emergency measure is to cut Australian imports by about £12,000,000 In England itself. This plan cannot but dampen the ardour of the advocates of Empire free trade. The new Australian tariff makes it more than plain that the Dominions will have none of this sort of special privilege for Britain. Australia is thinking of her own needs first. However mistaken that policy may seem to be to advocates of Empire free trade it cannot be ignored that the tendency in the Dominions clearly is toward more, not less, protection. LABOUR’S CHALLENGE N.S.W. ECONOMY PLAN OPPOSED SYDNEY, Tuesday. The Premier of New South Wales, T. R. Bavin, gave the members of the Legislative Assembly an opportunity today of discussing the economic situation. Mr. Bavin submitted proposals for a return to a 4S-hour week in all industries, a tax on all wages to provide a fund for the unemployed, and reductions in the salaries of public servants. Mr. J. T. Lang, Leader of the Opposition (Labour), challenged the Government to go to the country at once u Pon these issues. An acrimonious debate ensued. The State Government’s policy to ( ope with the present industrial depression includes the adoption of a system of payment by results, and in rases where a 44-hours week obtains is retained. payment only for actual time worked.