FEDERAL TARIFFS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1936, Page 5

FEDERAL TARIFFS

BRITAIN BENEFITS DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. (British Official Wireless J, RUGBY, May 26. In the Commons, in an answer regarding (the tariff amendments recently discussed in the Australian Parliament, the President of the Board of Trade (Mr Runciman) said that on the basis of the recent import statistics, the reductions made affected the United Kingdom trade amounting to H million sterling. The Commonwealth Government had introduced important proposals relating to the import of cotton and rayon goods, motor cars and some other commodities.

While it was not possible to estimate the -exact effect of these new proposals on United Kingdom exports to Australia, he was glad to say they .included measures, notably those relating .to cotton and rayon, which should prove of substantial benefit to the United Kingdom trade. Mr Runciman said ho shored the hope that the Commonwealth Government arrangements would strengthen che trade between the two countries.

JAPANESE RETALIATORY MOVE, APPREHENSION FOR F,UTURE. TOKIO, May 27. The directors of the Japanese AVoollen * Industry Association, comprising twenty-six companies, have decided tentatively, and subject to approval, to restrict their coming season’s Australian wool buying to 250 thousand bales,, and to buy the remainder of their wool from South Africa, New Zealand, and South America. M. Sakatani, president of .the Aus-tralian-Japan Society, has cabled to Canberra to the Ptfime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, and Sir H. Gullett (Trade (Minister), saying: “Deeply regret tariff decision. It is aggravating traae relations. Apprehend grave future developments.” The spokesman at the Japanese Foreign Office estimates that the Japanede exnorts of cotton goods to Australia will entirely, except for materials like wheat sacks. The exoort of ravon goods is expected to decline by eighty per cent.

The spokesman added: “Australia is a paradise. It is rich in natural 'resources. Japan is different. The stopping of onr export of manufactured goods means the stopping of our national life.”