RECIPROCAL TARIFF

Evening Star, Issue 18035, 1 August 1922, Page 6

RECIPROCAL TARIFF

WOOLLEN MANUFACTURERS’ : OPINIONS. CONTENT IN THE MEANTIME. '** To-day a. ‘ Star ’ reporter obtained tho views of members of the Woollen Manufacturers’ Association as to the reciprocal tariff between Australia, and-New Zealand. Those opinions may bo thus stated—

When this tariff was talked about and we were asked l about tho matter we did not ask for any concessions. Wo put it tho other way—that we did not care, though wo got no concessions, and would be content that the'higher duty should remain as it was between the two places. Wo gave reasons for that. We said that Australia, being by for the bigger place, with a larger population, and going in for a -pronounced protective tariff to stimulate its own industries, would ho in a better position to export to us than we, ns a smaller place, would be able to export to them. As a matter of fact, wo do not export anything worth while to Australia, and 1 we do not expect to he able to. The- present demand in New Zealand 1 takes everything we can manufacture. Aa to piece goods, they come in at 20 per cent, from Britain to Now Zealand and at 25 per cent, from Australia to New Zealand. That does not matter a great deal. We are willing to give Britain that preference. Wo are not advocating a bigger duty ns between Britain and ourselves. To put it, in short, we are content in the meantime. But it is necessary to remember that Australia is a. big place, and naturally will increase its manufactures, and ho do not want it to come about that when she accumulates big stocks oho shall start and dump them on to ns. . In that view of tho matter it -may bo necessary for some alteration to bo made later on. One reason why Australia may take to dumping is that her companies are -in a good position to dump if so inclined, because of tho lower income fax paid there by companies.