BRITISH RESTRICTION

Grey River Argus, 15 August 1934, Page 5

BRITISH RESTRICTION

ON DOMINIONS TRADE Australia’s Objection (Aus. & N.Z. Cable (Received August 14 at 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. The “Daily Telegraph’’ says: “In the Australian prime Minister Mr J. A. Lyons’s policy declaration, there is the blunt announcement that Australia will never willingly accept the restriction of her production. This stands out. At the present time there are negotiations for the salvation of our beef, and there are also urgent demands for the regulation of our imports of butter and of cheese. Yet no impatient pressure has been put on the dominions with regard thereto. -Mr Lvons has to fight on two fronts —against the Australian Country Party and the Australian Labour Party. The first is prepared to let in British manufacturers free in return for a British market for Australian agriculture; but the Labour Party would raise the Australian tariff to the highest against all imported manufactures, and yet it would oppose any protection on our side. Mr Lyons has taken the middle course. Tn return for the reasonable opportunity given us for competing on the Australian market, Britain buys 90 per cent, of Australia’s butter, 95 per cent, of her wine, and 75 per cent, of her fruit exports, to say nothing of mutton or wool.”

IS THERE INCONSISTENCY? LONDON, August 14. The “News-Chronicle’’ (Liberal) says: “There is nothing surprising in My Lyons’s announcement, which is but one more illustration of the radical incompatibility of the two great aims of our protectionist policy. It is possible to encourage dominion trade and it is possible to check it; but it is not possible to encourage and check it at the same time.”

English Boycott AGAINST AUSTRALIA. DAIRY PRODUCE THREATENED. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, August 13. An unofficial boycott of Australian dairy produce is threatened by some sections of the community in Lancashire, as a retort to Mr Lyons’ announcement in the Budget speech that Australia intended to impose tariffs on cotton to assist the local industry. The boycott began spontaneously at Bolton and other small towns, and is threatening to spread to Manchester and Salford MELBOURNE, August 6. The “Melbourne Age” records the amazing fact that while Great Britain’s imports of flour and wheat from. Empire countries during the first quarter of this year declined by 36 per cent., her imports of thes e two commodities from foreign nations increased by leaps and bounds. The position is made more remarkable by -reason of the fact that Great Britain has of lat e been endeavouring to have Australia restrict her exports of primary produce while at the same time increased supplies are being obtained by her from the foreigner. The figures show that during the quarter mentioned Great Britain’s total imports of flour wheat were 1,175,000 tons, as compared with 1,379.000 tons during the first quarter of 1933. Supplies by British countries during the latter period were 1.029,000 tons, but for the first thre e months of 1934 this total fell to 659.000 tons. Australia’s contribution dropped from 335,000 tons to 274,0'00, while Canada suffered a reduction from 694,000 tons to 385,000. Consignments from Russia jumped to 110.000 tons, as compared with only ten tons in the January— March term of 1933; Argentina jumped to 325,000 tons from 304,000; Roumania to 27,000 from one single ton, and other foreign countries from 6000 to 15,000. Australia further suffered at the hands of Great Britain in her imports of wheat flour. The increase obtained by foreign countries in this commodity was 14,000 tons during the. fin«t quarter of 1934; Canada benefited to the extent of tons, but Australia’s contribution was reduced by 2400 tons.