BRITISH INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 6

BRITISH INDUSTRY

RAISING IMPORT RESTRICTIONS. Press Association—By Telegraph—'Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 12. In the House of Commons, in response to Sir Donald Maclean’s demand for a statement of the Board of Trade’s policy, the absence of which was interfering with the recovery of trade. Sir Auckland Geddas, Reconstruction Minister, said the Government’s policy was to reduce the price of raw materials to what might be regarded as a fair post-war level._ Raw material from any part of the Empire was now free of import restrictions. Raw material required for British industries was also free. Semi-manufactured articles necessary for British manufactures were free except where the same articles Mere also produced by British industries, which it was necessary to foster. Manufactured articles were subject to restrictions when not necessary for consumption in Britain or when produced by industries which required shielding from foreign competition while in course of re-establishment. The arrangement would be reviewed on September 1, and was without prejudice as to a future fiscal policy. The Government had, still to maintain the blockade, but he hoped it would be abandoned in a few weeks. There were no restrictions on exports to non-blockade countries.^ Except articles required for the Army and Navy, goods required for Homo consumption' or manufacture would be subsidised by the Government, who hoped thus to enable the country’s trade to recover and become greater than ever.