TARIFF TREATY

Grey River Argus, 24 June 1925, Page 5

TARIFF TREATY

Canada and Australia Opposition Shown THE PROVISIONS. OPPOSITION I’Ali ITI-.S. BOTH AGAINST THEA I Y. OTTAWA. June 22. The measure for ratification of th 1 Australian agreement was introduce'! in the ('ominous this morning by Mr Robb, who stated that the Treaty iis not as wide as the Government des.fed. The present proposals did not. involve any increase in the Canadian general tariff, which is applicable to Canada, but gives Australia special rates for certain imports. Lard, eggs beeswax, cheese raisins, dried currants, essen-; tial oils, fruit pulp, eucalyptus oil, tomatoes and other vegetables canned are free; fresh meats, canned fruits are half a cent a pound; butter and honey one cent; tallow, dried apples, and other dried fruits, ten per cent; canned meats 15 per cent.; pears quinces, apricots and nectarines 25 per cent; sugar for refining, 35 to 464 cents a hundredweight, according to the degree of polarisation. (Received June 23 at 8.35 p.m.) OTTAWA, June 22. The Australian Trade Treaty met with opposition in the House of Clom . mous to-day. The Conservatives at tacking it, charged that the advantage of the treaty lay with Australia, and that under its provision for reduced duties on imported Australian meats, and placing Australian eggs, and cheese on the free list, a blow would be struck at mixed farming n»< Canada. Hon. Mr. Robb, Minister of !■:- nance observed that he personally represented one of the largest dairving constituencies in the Dominion-. and had he. not considered the Treats beneficial to Canada, he would have hesitated to introduce it. The Progressive Leader, ...r Forke, said he thought the Treaty was a mixture of good and evil. IL intended to vote against it. This was the gist of the first debate on the Trade Pact. Mr. Robb declared that lie hoped the mutual restrictions on apples ’Detween British Columbia and Australia would be removed. He stated that the Australian Premier had promised that, as soon as the measure was passed by the Canadian Parliament, it would be introduced in Aus tralia. Asked why onions were omit tea Mr. Robb stated that it was merely an omission, and onions would have to go in. Asked what advantage the I realy would be to the farmers of Canada, he replied that it would not be a great advantage, but it, would not i !l jure them. The Minister was subjected to a bombardment of questions from both the Progressives and the Conservatives regarding the effect oi the duty charges on raisins and other articles in the case of Canada.

The Progressives persisted th:it Canada, would not reap any material advantage from the Treaty.

FEAR OF BUTTER IMPORTS. OTTAWA June 22. A message from Victoria states that the Hon. E. D. Barrow’, Minister of Agriculture, British Columbia, has wired a protest to Ottawa against the proposed reduction in the Canadian butter tariff provided in the Australian Treaty. He stated that he feared New Zealand would ask for similar concessions which might lead to a serious loss of trade to the dairy industry in this province. IS TREATY DONE FOR. DELAY CERTAIN. (Received June 23 at 10.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 23. After a long discussion Mr Robb moved that the committee discussing the Australian Trade Treaty rise and report progress. There is considerable opposition among the Government supporters of the Treaty, and the suggestion is commonly heard that the Treaty may not come up again this session.