IRISH TARIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21245, 27 July 1932, Page 11

IRISH TARIFF

ANTI-BRITISH MOVE SOME TOTAL PROHIBITIONS SCHEDULE NOW IN FORCE FINANCIAL RESULTS UNEASINESS CREATED By Tclcßrnpii—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 20, 5.5 p.m.) DUBLIN. July 23 The President of the Irish Free State, Mr. do Valera, to day announced the new tariffs under the Emergency Duties Bill, the retaliatory measure against the British import duties on Irish goods, levied to produce revenue equivalent to the land annuity payments defaulted by the Free State. The duties will bo in operation as from to-morrow. They arc as follows: —5s per ton on coal; 20 per cent ad valorem on cement, electricity apparatus, cables and wireless insulators, iron and steel articles; 2s 4d per cwt on sugar, molasses and glucose; 9d per ounce on "saccharine; |d per lb or 3d per gallon on articles other than sugar, confectionery, cocoa preparations, wines, tobacco and spirits containing sugar; 84s per cwt on pigs, meat and i sausages; and 42s per cwt on pigs' heads and feet anr] other products, although these duties will be reduced to 56s and 28s respectively when from countries within tho British Commonwealth, but fiee if the property of Ulster farmers and imported singly, and lard, when required I for margarine manufacture. Cheese-making machinery is taxed 100 per cent, although it is admissible free under licence. Potato duties are varied and the preferential rate withdrawn, except from Ulster. Clauses provide for British goods being subject to tariffs if imported via other countries. Penalties for infringements range to £SO and con fiscation of the article. Cheese From Britain Barred The importation of British ■ cheese is totally prohibited from to-night. It is explained that the coal and 20 per cent duties are applicable only to imports from Britain. Other duties apply to all countries but those where exceptions are specified. The Government explains that the steadily growing influx of cheap Continental bacon has necessitated reserving the home market, because the Free State farmers have found that the British market is closed after the duties of July 12. There is much speculation in Dublin as to the result of the sudden visit to London of Mr. Hugo Flinn, Parliamentary Secretary to the Free State Ministry of Finance, on a Government mission, which is reported to bo of the utmost importance, and may possibly mean the reopening of conversations with Britain. Withdrawal of Capital reared Among the problems which the promulgation of the new duties renders acute is the possibility of a large amount of capital being removed from the Free State. Already there is uneasiness regarding loans to farmers. Any sudden heavy withdrawal of capital would mean that the farmers would be called upon to repay borrowed money at a time when it would be impossible to do so, Mr. de Valera then would be forced to withdraw the securities now in the Bank of England, or to control exchanges and impose restrictions on financial operations. The Dublin correspondent of the Times says Mr. de Valera's retaliatory taxes are far less serious for Britain than was anticipated. The most serious is the coal duty. It is generally believed, says tho correspondent, that. Mr. do Valera will go no further until lie finds how the public receives tho duties. Ministers are touring the constituencies at the week-end to sound public feeling. Coal Duty Serious for Both Sides The Free State Government has assured the Irish public that coal equal to the best imported from Britain is obtainable from the Continent. The Government will deal with any unjustifiable increase in price. Last year the Free State was Britain's fourth largest customer for coal. She imported 2,424,699 tons, valued at £2,368,438. This represents tho output of 8000 British miners. Coal inevitably will be dearer for the Free State and have an effect upon industry and tho cost of living. The immediate position at Irish ports is serious. Outward trade has dwindled to the vanishing point. There were dismissals at the week-end in every bacon factory in Southern Ireland.