AUSTRALIAN AID TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25271, 25 August 1947, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN AID TO BRITAIN

DOLLAR ADVANCES TO BE RESTRICTED

ADDITIONAL MEASURES EXPECTED

SYDNEY, August 23. Drastic cuts in many Australian imports from the dollar areas are expected to be decided upon by the Federal Government next week in an effort to assist Britain in her economic crisis. The steps taken by the Government, after Britain’s decision temporarily to cease exchanging dollars tor foreign creditors, were announced in Canberra last night by the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley). These were:— (1 The Commonwealth Bank will severely restrict dollar advances to Iravellers, except for very essential purooses. (2) On Monday a conference in Canberra will review the whole range of imports from dollar countries, including tobacco. (3) On Tuesday Ministers will meet film interests to re-examine the import of films. (4) Negotiations have begun with users about newsprint imports. Before this week’s developments the Government had already announced a reduced petrol ration. The* Canberra correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald” says that it is considered almost certain that some cuts will be made in the imports of newsprint and films. The Commonwealth Government has kept a close check on dollar imports during the last 15 months, and the action now contemplated is a considerable tightening up of the existing restrictions.