"NO DICTATION."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 9

"NO DICTATION."

AUSTRALIA'S TARIFF.

Lyons' Reply to Businessmen's

Deputation.

ADHERE TO PEOPLE'S POLICY. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. A businessmen's deputation to Mr. J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister, requested that the Government immediately consider the withholding of further action on the tariff schedules and substitute therefor a schedule in conformity with the 1921-28 duties. They also asked tile Government to consider the further reduction of these duties in accordance with the fall of salaries, rents, etc.

Mr. Tout, the transporters' chairman, submitted that a reduction of the artificial price levels, maintained by an excessive tarifl' wall on essential commodities not subject to oversea competition, could bring immediate relief.

"We feel that the reductions so far introduced by your Government have not given effect to those clauses of the Ottawa agreement which were framed for the purpose of assisting the British manufacturer," he added. It was suggested that the Government might give a reply next week.

Mr. Lyons: Why not in 24 hours?

Mr. Hawkes, chairman of the Joint Tariff Revision Committee, denied that anv dictation was intended.

Mr. Lyons: It is dictation and we are not going to allow it. The policy approved by the people —the policy on which the Government stands —is the only policy for which I stand. The Government refuses to take instructions from an outside organisation.