NEW TARIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 11

NEW TARIFF

AUSTRALIA'S DECISION! GENERAL SATISFACTION BENEFIT TO MOTOR TRADE By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received May 24, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 24 Apart from woolgrowers, who fear that Japan will be irritated and may even seek reprisals, the announcement of Australia's new tariff haa caused general satisfaction. The motor trade of the Commonwealth is said to have received its biggest surprise for many years, and far-reaching readjustments of trade with exporting countries are expected to begin almost immediately.

A substantial increase in employment in most of the protected industries is predicted. Importations of chassis from the United States and Canada are to be restricted to 50,000 a year. There will be no restrictions on Japanese rayon, on which the rates of duty will be slightly increased, but large Australian purchases are likely to be diverted to Japan at the expense of the United States. Trade in fashion goods from America, except as samples, is expected to be diverted to France, which is a- good customer of this country. The United States will lose almost its entire Australian trade in refrigeration plants, toilet preparations, machinery, boots, shoes, paper and other manufactured products. FEELING IN JAPAN " OPENING OF TRADEWWAnR n TREATY PARLEYS WRECKED (Received May 24, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, May 23 The press features Australia's "antiJapanese textile measure" under headlines such as: "Opening Shot" in Trade War." The papers comment that the measure wrecks the treaty negotiations. They also report that Mr. Brennan, South Africa Trade Commissioner, ia touring Western Japan and actively . canvassing Osaka businessmen and the Nagoya woollen mills in the interests of wool and other South African goods. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has ordered the Silk, Rayon and Textile Exporters' Association strictly to control exports to Australia and to other specified countries.

LONDON OPINION CHANGES APPROVED $ EMPIRE PREFERENCE URGED LONDON. May 5251 Political quarters in London are favourably impressed by the Australian tariff changes, especially as they are made unconditionally. Lest foreign countries adversely affected should associate the revision with joint British and Australian action, it is emphasised at Whitehall that no preliminary soundings were taken in London. The changes are expected to minimise , the problem of revising the Ottawa I agreements, and are approved on the grounds that such decisions are better made individually than threshed out at large-scale conferences. The Daily Mail says Australia's action makes it more than ever a matter of honour and self-interest that Britain should reply by introducing a straight tariff with thoroughly effectiva preference for Empire products.