AUSTRALIA AND PREFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 281, 7 November 1924, Page 6

AUSTRALIA AND PREFERENCE.

CANADA’S VIEW. Ottawa, Oct. 27. There is much speculation here as to whether or not Australia is awaiting the outcome of the British election before declaring her view regarding the date of enforcement of the new tariff agreement with Canada. It is believed that Australia is watching the British contest closely, to see if the electors show any assent to Mr. Stanley Baldwin’s plans for Imperial preference. At present the situation is that Canada is simply waiting to hear from Australia. On a few days’ notice, at any time. Canada can bring Australian preference into effect. Some dealers in Western Canada are perturbed- over the raisin trade from California, which in future will be penalised by heavy duties, so as to favour Australia. Dealers insist that Canadians, under the preference scheme, will pay more than £200,000 annually, in excess of the present priced. Government officials reply that even if this is true, which they doubt, it would be far more than made up by the increased trade with Australia in those articles on which we would get preference—canned fish, paper, and other products.