JAPANESE TARIFF

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81863, 12 October 1906, Page 2

JAPANESE TARIFF

QUEENSLAND PREFERENCE PROPOSALS.

A SURPRISE PACKET

CURIOUS POSITION CREATED

Melbourne, October n

Mr Kidstone, Premier of Queensland, who is attending the inter-Stata Conference, explains in regard to Japanese preference that about 1898, when a separate treaty was completed between Britain and Japan, Queensland accepted the treaty, but no other Australian State did. The ■reaty practically remained in existence up to the present time. Queensland had not for some years had any negotiations on the subject, and tho piesent development came as a surprise. The only explanation he could offer was that Mr Jones, Queensland Commissioner in the East, has possibly unearthed a specially advantag--eous position in which Queensland stood, and secured an advantage over all the other States. The only other explanation was that possibly the Japanese Legislature, in altering the tariff, has provided for most favoured treatment to Britain and the other parties to the original treaty, and may have overlooked the facL that Queensland was no longer able to carry out her obligations in regard to immigration, that matter having now passed to the control of the Commonwealth. . It is a ouriou&.j>fißition under a treaty which is supposed to be reciprocal that Queensland is obtaining advantages -qvor other parts of Australia while not being in a posiiion to give reciprocal advantages to Japan.

Queensland under tho treaty is acceded preferential treatment" as follows:—Condensed milk 2d per dozen, other Australian States one pound per oieul, which equals 1331b weight-; fcole leather, Queensland 11/ picul others £1 8/; other leathers, Queens, land 4/4 picul, others 15/; wines, Queensland 4d per litre, others 8d; alcohol, Queensland l/ per litre, others 1/4; blankets, Queensland 15/ per picul, others £ 3 7. ; lead, Queensland 8d per picul, others gd; soap, Queensland 14/ per picul, others £2 'O/5; soap (washing), Queensland 2/, others 7/,