UNIONIST TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 685, 9 December 1909, Page 7

UNIONIST TARIFF.

THREE CLASSES. PREFERENCE TO COLONIES ON CORN. A "TIP" FROM BIRMINGHAM. t RAW MATERIAL EXEMPTED—MEANS OF RETALIATION. (By Telßgr»ph.-Pr<sa Association -Obiiyrleht.) ' (Roc. December 8, 10 p.m.) , London, December 8. The Birmingham "Post" publishes an outline of a scheme of fiscal reform, which it believes will bo adopted by the Unionist Cabinet if the Unionists win the election. A general tariff, it is stated, will bo established for all "goods not; deemed to be raw material. There is no intention to have multifarious rates of duty, which will throw open the- door to Parliamentary intrigue and lobbying. On the other hand, it is proposed that the new duties shall bo based on a triple classification, as under:— Goods upon little labour has been expended prior to their importation ................ 5 per cent. Goods which are imported in a nearly finished state ' : 10 per cent. Goods imported in a completely manufactured state 15 per cent. In each of these three mtes of duty, there will be three scales. The maximum scale will remain in abeyance for two yeats in order to: give' time for friendly negotiations with foreign Powers as to mutual tariff arrangements. A duty will bo imposed on foreign corn of 2s. a quarter. Under this duty a substantial preference will be given to colonial corn, but possibly not the whole two shillings. •It is estimated that a,'general- tariff''on' these lines would produce a revenue of between sixteen and twenty millions per annum.

REVENUE AND PROTECTIVE ASPECTS. 'The estimated produce of this tariff, 10 to 2f ■miliionsy is approximate!;-' the amount of the estimated deficit—something over 111 millions— which the Liberal Chanctflor of the Exchequer set; himself, out to meet by means' of the taxes which the House of Lords have "held up." of .raw material 'is aprin-' oiplo. which Mr. Balfour has-'Repeatedly : professed on the platfoimV. As regards the taxation of food—anathematised "by tho - Liberal under tho motto, of'"the dear loaf"—Mr. .Balfour was: reported- in . the House of Commons as -foljows:—"Regarding -food, if: the country's financial "necessities it, he would not;shrihk from roimposing the corn duty, but he'would be no party ;to, increasing the working classes', proportionate burden." ■ : :.The. attempt at a general- classification is obviously-, designed . to. meet: the Free-trade"- objection that tariff duties; on individual articles' become;- ii source of endless log-roliing, bribery, and' generaj dishonesty.. : . ..- --.-•:.■' -- ' ■ The retaliatory power is provided by a maximum duty enforceable against highly-protected countries../ : : :' .-■-.">; ... ■ ■• :

PROPOSAL AT COMMERCE CONGRESS. At the Empire Congress of Chambers of Commerce, held in Sydney, a delegate, Mr. Hathaway, said he would show tho congress how preference should be given. A duty amounting' to six millions was imposed by the Aid Country on tea, and about 13 millions on tobacco.' Let them sweep away the duty on tea, which did no good to anyone, excepting that it brought m,revenue.,,3,'alcft.about one shilling preference olf tobacco from India, South Africa, and Australia. There would then bo a deficit of about eight millions altogether, which meant that, theworking men in Britain'would be iftvine 'that much money 'in 'a yoar. "What tnen? Impose exactly the same amount in other directions. Put a penny a pound on two different.knds of meat; that would help Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Put 2s a quarter on wheat and corn; that would assist Canada, Australia, and India. Put a penny .or even twopence on rice. The result would be to bring in nine or ten millions in revenue, to increase the amount of tea from Ceylon, to,assist British investor? in Indian rice fields and to increase trade between Australia and Britain. He Would like to see preference'by the colonies to goods brought in British ships to British ports.