TARIFF AGREEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1922, Page 8

TARIFF AGREEMENT

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA

MATTER BEFORE PARLIAMENT

THE MAIN ITEMS AFFECTED.

The Bill embodying the New Zealand and Australian Reciprocal Tariff agreement was brought before the House of Representatives this afternoon by Governor-General's Message. It is naturally a bulky document.

. In the .first place it provides that the new duties shall take effect after both countries have ratified them and for six months' notice of the termination of | agreement. The right of either country to impose suspended, deferred, or dumping duties to meet abnormal trading conditions is saved. Goods of British origin transhipped-or re-exported from either country' shall be admitted under the British Preferential Tariffs of both countries. These clauses have already been brought into operation as from Ist May. It is provided that no'drawback shall be granted by either country on sugar contained in any goods exported to New. Zealand or to Australia as the case may be. The main items on which New Zealand produce has been reduced on entiy to Australia are the following:— Bacon and hams,, from 4d per lb to 2d per lb. . Butter and Cheese, from 3d per lb to 2d per lb. - Fish, smoked or dried, but hot salted from id per lb to free. Fish, n.e.i, including fresh and salted, from 6s per, cwt to free. ' Fish, canned, from 2sd per lb to free. Oysters, fresh in shell, from 2s per cwt to free. Oatmeal and rolled oats, from |d per lb to 2s 6d per 1001b. Hay and chaff, from £1 per ton to free. Meats, fresh or smoked, from 2£d per lb to 10 per cent ad val. (equals average' of 2d per lb). Meats, potted or concentrated, including extracts, from 40 per cent, to 20 per. cent. , \ ■ .. Meats, preserved in tins, from 2£d per lb to 20 per cent. ' Sugar of milk, from 40 per oent. to IS per cent. Lucerne, seed, from 9d per lb to 3d per lb. Tallow, from 4s or 20 per cent, (whichever higher) to free. :, •Vegetables, fresh from 2s per cental to free, ' \ Leather calf, other than patent and enamelled and other leather embraced as N.E.I, from 30 per cent, to 15 per cent, or 3d per lb, whichever higher. Timber, rough sawn from Is to 7s 100 super feetv to free. Agricultural machines and implements, namely, wool, hay, and straw presses, from 40 per cent, to free. Fibre scutching machines and strippers from 30 per cent, to free. Ploughs, harrows other than diso, grubbers other than spring tined, ridgers, turnip thinners, root piilpers from 30 per cent, to free. : Cambridge and land rollers, chaffcutters from 30 per cent, to free. Spring tined cultivators, disc harrows, seed and fertiliser sowers; and drills from 35 per cent, to 10 per cent. Seed cleaners and seed separators, from 30 per cent, to 10 per cent. -Dairying machines, viz., churns, cheese presses, dairy coolers, from' 35 per cent, to free. Cardmills, butter packers, butter workers, butter pounders, milking machines, from 30 per cent, to free. Pasteurisers, from 10 per cent, to free. Dredging machines, from'4o per cent, to 10 per cent. , Stone-crushing machines, from' 40 per cent-, to 20 per cent. Reaper and binder twine, from 7s cwt. to 6s cwt. Sheep dip, from 35 -per cent, to free. The principal reductions on articles from Australia imported into New Zealand are:—, ' Wine, Australian, from 5s per gallon to 4s per gallon. , Wine,' Australian Sparkling, from 15s per gallon to 10s per gallon. Timber, rough sawn, from 2s ,per 100 superficial feet to free. Machinery and metal manufactures generally, which are liable to 20 per' cent, under the British Preferential Tariff, are to be admitted at 25 per cent, from Australia, instead of 35 per cent, under the General Tariff. Encalptus oil, from 20 per cent, to free. Linseed oil, from Is per gallon to 9d per gallon. , Parts and colours ground in oil and mixed ready for use.—Varnishes, which are 15 per cent, under the British Preferential Tariff, to be admitted from Australia at 20 , per cent, instead of General Tariff 25 per cent. Carbonic acid gas from 3d per lb to l^d per lb. Several articles on entry N from Australia have been restored to, the British Preferential Tariff. Among these are : Confectionery, meats (potted and preserved), apparel and ready made clothing, leather. All these articles enter Australia on equal terms. .-, All goods not mentioned in the agreement are to fall tinder the British Preferential Tariff on entry into either country. .