HIGHER TARIFF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 267, 24 August 1936, Page 3

HIGHER TARIFF.

IMPOST ON JAPANESE GOODS. * AUSTRALIA’S STAND APPROVED. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 22. Comment on Australia’s stand against the flooding of Commonwealth markets with Japanese goods was made this morning by Mr E. Abbey Jones (managing director of the “Southland News”), who, with Mrs Jones, returned by the Mariposa from an extended tour of the East. It was pleasing to read, he said, that Mr Lyons (the Commonwealth Prime Minister had decided to stand firm as regards the higher duty on Japanese imparts. It would) be interesting to see how Japan could obtain wheat and wool from any other source, especially the former, because of the world’s shortage. Mr Jones connected the Australian attitude with the international situation.

“It wili hurt Japan more to buy wheat from Russia than Australia,” ho commented. “Japan recognises the U.S.S.R. as its natural enemy, and any check on its objective of obtaining complete possession of Manchukuo and other parts of China will come from Russia, with the support of other interested nations.”

Mr Jones thought that the tourist trade might with advantage be pushed in the East. Throughout Honolulu, Japan, Shanghai, Hong-Kong, Singapore and Java there was a dearth of tourist literature and advertising matter. There were no folders on any of the six vessels he travelled in, while the leading hotels were also devoid of anything about New Zealand tourist resorts. In a lesser way! this applied to Australian propaganda. Sydney however, was particularly well served, and the New Zealand Government Tourist Bureau in the city was a very live organisation. “There is a great opening in the Fast to advertise the Dominion as a home for British civil' servants in their retirement, and also as a place where children might be educated,” Mr Jones added. “In Malaya a great number of civil servants, especially in the Survey Department, are New Zealanders, and it is a pleasure to hear them praising their native land. They are the cause of many Britishers spending the long furlough in this countiy. GOOD WOOL PRICES LIKELY. DESPITE JAPAN’S ABSTENTION. AUCKLAND, August 23. “In, spite of Japan being out of the market for the time being, prospects for the Sydney wool sales at the end of the month are good,” said Mr H. Raper (a prominent Australian wool buyer), who passed through Auckland by tho Mariposa on Saturday. ‘‘lf Japan does not buy as much in Australia as last season she must buy more from South Africa and that will mean European orders which usually go -o South Africa will bo transferred to the Commonwealth,” he said. Mr Raper added that ho was sure Japan would not remain permanently out of the Australian market and would sooner or later be buying fine merino there again. Rates for merino this season, in his opinion, would be up to those i uling last season. Buying prospects from England were good. There had been a strong winter demand for scoui o skin wools during the winter, which was a favourable sign.