TARIFF DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 15

TARIFF DISPUTE

AUSTRALIA AHD JAPAN COMMONWEALTH CONSIDERING NEXT STEP Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, July 3. No further development in the Japanese trade dispute is expected before next week-end. It was anticipated that the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) would to-night announce the next step to be taken against Japan by the Commonwealth Government under the licensing system, but no announcement will now be made until after further Cabinet meetings have been held next week. Cable messages received by the Government convey the news that Japan is prepared to reopen the negotiations. The Minister in Charge of Trade Treaties (Sir Henry Gullett) said that the Commonwealth was not prepared for this course owing to the unequal basis set up by Japan under the recent restrictive'trade ordinances. He pointed out to the Consul-general (Mr Murai) that the Government was unable to alter the duties on rayon and cotton textiles, but these would he revised if Japan was prepared to accept quota restrictions. SHIPPING AFFECTED SHORTAGE OF CARGOES.; SYDNEY, July 3. The shipping services between Australia and Japan are suffering severely by the trade restrictions arising out of Australia’s tariff revision and the Japanese boycott of Australian goods. Tramp steamers .have been withdrawn in Japan and diverted to other ports, while ordinary passenger vessels are able to secure only a tenth of their former cargoes. The newest Japanese vessel, the Canberra Mam, has just left Sydney almost empty* LIVE CARTRIDGE IN BALE OF WOOL TOKIO, July 3. (Received July 4, at 11 a.m.) Mr Ijima, director of the AustraliaJapan Society, has received a sheaf of letters from the Governor of Queensland and other prominent people thanking him for the warning regarding matches and other objects contained in Australian wool, but officials of an army clothing mill were startled to discover a live rifle shell embedded in a bale of Queensland wool.