CANBERRA APATHY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22426, 5 September 1947, Page 5

CANBERRA APATHY

MR. BEVIN’S PLAN BIG PROBLEMS IN WAY MINISTER'S OPINION (10 a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept. 5. The proposals for an Empire customs union, advanced by the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin. were not received enthusiastically in official circles. The Government reaction to the proposal was summed up by the Minister of Post-War Reconstruction, Mr. J. J. Dedman, who said he could see quite big difficulties in the way of such a proposal being adopted. Mr. Dedman added that if the proposal were put forward as an official suggestion by the British Government it would be fully considered by the Australian Government. Mr. Bevin’s suggestion drew the disclosui'e in Canberra that consideration had been given for some time to the proposed customs union between Britain and European countries. Reports on the proposal, however, were unfavourable, particularly as it involved the complete scrapping of the Ottawa agreement. Mr. Dedman explained that even an Empire customs union would involve an extensive revision and alteration of Australian tariff schedules. There would be a considerable objection to this, it is understood, on the ground that tariff schedules at. present existing are designed to give to Australian industry sufficient protection to allow their‘expansion. Any action to remove this protection would threaten Australia’s capacity to contribute in a major way to the alleviation of Britain s economic difficulties.