THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17429, 26 March 1920, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF.

The new Customs Duties Bill before the Commonwealth House of Representatives embodies the first ! general revision of the Australian tariff undertaken since 1908. The Government has been guided by two principles now thoroughly established in the commercial policy of the Commonwealth, the encourageent of industries by protective duties, and the fostering of trade within the Empire by preferential treatment of British goods at the Customs. The recent promise of Mr. Hughes of adequate protection for Australian manufacturers has been interpreted in a novel scheme of deferred duties, to be imposed upon imported goods as the competing local industry begins to supply the market. The merits of this plan can hardly be estimated from the bare ; statement of its character given in the cable message. In regard to Imperial preference the Bill proposes a step forward. Under' the 1908 Act, provision was made for rates of duty on goods imported from Britain 5 to 10 per cent. lower than the genera! tariff, and both the list of goods and the margin in favour of Britain have been extended since then. There has, however, been no general plan of preferential treatment, such as New Zealand concedes to goods from all parts of the Empire. Instead of allowing rebates, as in Canada and Australia, the Dominion imposes a surtax upon foreign goods, ranging from 20 to 100 per cent, of the general rates. The Commonwealth now proposes reciprocal agreements wit the Dominions, under which any of them may secure, wholly or in part, the preferential treatment accorded to Britain. There is therefore still an important distinction between the Australian and the New Zealand policies. New Zealand gives to Australian goods more favourable treatment than those of foreign manufacture ; Australia still places New Zealand in the same position as foreign countries, and .presumably would not grant any advantage unless further concessions are also made by the Dominion to Australian products.