THE COMMONWEALTH TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 25, 24 October 1907, Page 4

THE COMMONWEALTH TARIFF.

The Commonwealth Parliament is passing through' a bitter struggle on the new tariff,proposals, and the Government is undergoing its full share of the baiting , usually attendant on fiscal .changes. Mr. J)enk'Vs troubles have been accentuated by the overbearing methods of liia iiiiiuster iur Customs, Sir "William Lyne, whose lighting propensities are apt to lead him into indiscretions, from which he does not always emerge unscathed, and which often-times produce embarrassment for his party. The ; preferential proposals brought forward by the Government at- first sight appear to have qaused almost universal dissatisfaction: but it is gradually coining to be recognised* that, while the preference, given to British -manufactures is not so extensive as many anticipated, material advantages are offered to British trade. Tho Tariff Commission appointed in London to analyse the effect of the proposals of the Commonwealth Government on British exports to Australia, came to the conclusion that, despite the increase in certain duties, the volume of exports to 1 Australia was '"hot likely to diminish, but .might increase. This anticipation of

nn increase in tlie total exports, was based ou the belief that the preferential duties proposed would lend to a transference of trade from foreign countries to the United Kingdom. At the same time the Commission mentioned that there still remained a large area of imports in connection with which the Commonwealth could give preference to the Mother Country.. Mr. Deakin, our cablegrams inform us to-day, holds the same view, for he makes it clear that what is being done is merely an instalment. "Where the Commonwealth Government is likely to find itself hardest pressed, however, is in regard to the proposed increases of duty; some of which are rather startling; Speaking ut Sydney recently, Mr. G. Reid, Leader of the Opposition, and recognised chief of the' Freetrade party in Australia, quoted an interesting return purporting to show some of the principal increases proposed. For-instance the duty on matches is to be increased by 250 per cent.; on preserved milk by 175 per cent.; on pickles and saiices by 25 per cent.; on curry by 200 per cent.; on wearing apparel by SO ; per cent.; on woollen piece goods by 133 per cent.; on silk piece goods 20 per sent.; on cotton goods 150 per cent.; on corrugated and galvanised iron from 15s. per ton to 25 per cent, on the value; and on engines and machinery 140 per cent. These, and a number of other increases, are being quoted by the Freetraders to show that the primary industries of the country are being sacrificed to the manufacturing industries. There will be a keen struggle on many of the items objected to, and the Freetraders are in high hopes that, whereas they may be beaten in the House of Representatives, in the Senate they will be strong enough to gain their ends. ' '