FEDERAL TARIFF.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 286, 1 December 1911, Page 5

FEDERAL TARIFF.

PREFERENCE TO BRITAIN. HIGHER DUTY ON FOREIGN GOOES. KAHIKATEA TO BE FREE. MELBOURNE, November 30. la the House of Representatives, Mr. Tudor (Commonwealth Minister for Customs) sprang a surprise on members by presenting a long series of alterations to the tariff, which will operate from tomorrow. Many of the alterations are merely verbal, or move an item from one category to another. British preference ia granted in a number of instances, mostly at the expense of higher duties on foreign goods, and in the few instances where the duties are lowered the change in the majority of cases is on articles required for manufacture. In regard to timber, New. Zealand white pine for the manufacture of butter boxes is made free instead of having a general duty of 6d per 100 superficial feet. Timber generally is not dealt with, but in ordsr not to give New Zealand an advantage, the rates, except for butter (box purposes, are now all made identical. Under the revised tariff aeroplanes are admitted : free. Paintings, previously free, now carry 25 per cent, except those by Australian students, or presentations to public institutions. NO GENERAL REVISION. MR. DEARTH'S COMPLAINT. (Received 11.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Altogether 124 amendments in the tariff are contained in the schedule introduced by Mr. Tudor. Nearly half are of a formal character. In order to try to discourage the wearing of birds and-wings, the duty is increased to .30 and 25 per cent on foreign and British respectively. Flannelette is regarded as highly dangerous. Noninflammable is admitted at 5 per cent and free, while ordinary is charged 25 and 20 per cent. Owing to the increase in the importation of lamp and gas stoves the duty is increased by 20 to 30. Gas meters were previously free, but in the interests of the big companies the duty is now 20 and 15 per cent. Mr. Deafcin declared that the Protectionists were disappointed at there being no general revision of the tariff. The schedule appeared to be based on departmental anomalies. They wanted new methods for the protection of industries, and he hoped that next session the Government would bring the tariff up to date.

Mr. Johnson (Oppositionist) wished to dissociate himself from any declaration of approval of the proposal to reopen the tariff. The debate was adjourned.