AUSTRALIAN TARIFFS

Evening Star, Issue 21488, 12 August 1933, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN TARIFFS

REDUCTION URGED DEPUTATION TO MR LYONS Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, August 12. (Received August 12, at 11 a.m.) A business men’s deputation to Mi Lyons requested that the Government immediately consider withholding further action on the tariff schedules and substitute therefor a schedule in conformity with the 1921-28 duties, and consider further reducing these duties in accordance with the fall in salaries, rents,- etc Mr Tout (transporters’ chairman) submitted that a reduction in artificial price levels, which wore maintained bj an excessive tariff wall on essential commodities not subject to overseas competition, could bring immediate ielief. “We feel that the reductions thus far introduced by your Government have not given effect to those clauses in the Ottawa Agreement which were framed for the purpose of assisting the British manufacturer.” It was suggested that the Government might give a reply next week. Mr Lyons: “ Why not in twenty-four hours ?” Mr Hawkes (chairman of the Joint Tariff Revision Committee) denied that any dictation was intended. Mr Lyons: “It is dictation, and wo are not going to allow it. r lho policy approved by the people is the policy on ivhich the Government stands and is the only policy for ivhich I stand. The Government refuses to take instructions from an outside organisation.”