AUSTRALIAN GOODS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 316, 1 June 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN GOODS.

IXCIiEASKD PREFEIiEXCE ASKED. By cable. —Press Association.—Copyright Melbourne, May 31. A resolution of the Conference of Associated Chambers of Manufacturers held at Launceston in March was the subject of a deputation to Mr. Hughes. Th# proposals brought forward included increased preference for Australian manufactured articles for Government undertakings the appointment of a permanent lionpolitical tariff hoard, preferential trade with self-governing portions of the Empire, particularly with reference to British goods carried in British ships, tfie extension of the immigation policy to embrace approved immigrants of white races other than British, the prohibition of dangerous and indecent drugs, and a uniform railway gauge for Australia. Mr. Hughes admitted there were a few tarill' anomalies, but said that generally the tariff had not prevented a state of unparalleled prosperity. The Government wns there to see that the public did not pay too much fcr goods made in in Australia, and asked if protection were needed to safeguard industries or to swell profits. He was not opposed to a tariff board, and desired to see the tariff effective. ITe desired local preference. but not regardless of cost. He would be glad of suggestions as to what was a reasonable margin of profit. The question of immigration was a matter for the States. The Commonwealth had taken effective steps to enwurage population by means of laws winch he believed would alter the proportions in which laml was held. He did not think tliey should look outside Britain for immigrants, and disagreed .with a speaker who had said that Wie German immigrant was more skilled than the British. He was less desfrabe so far as they were concerned.