AUSTRALIAN TARIFF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN TARIFF

THE DUTIES ON COTTON OPPOSITION IN ENGLAND MELBOURNE, August 27. The Federal Cabinet to-day briefly discussed the cotton duties, which recently aroused opposition by the English cotton manufacturers. The Cabinet decided that it Could take no action because alterations could only be made effective by Parliament. However, the Minister of Customs (Mr White) will have' a census made of cotton goods affected by the new \ duties which were on firm order in England before August 2, and in cases.where hardship is proved the Minister will consider remitting duties on the goods, provided they are entered for home consumption before November 30, 1934. COMMENT FROM LANCASHIRE

LONDON* August 27. Mr Forrest Hewitt, leader of the deputation, to Mr Bruce on August 22, commenting on the reported Australian decision to adhere to the duties, said that Lancastrians could Hardly act further, pending ,an official announcement. Perhaps the Australian Government was leaving the decision to. the new Parliament. He added: “We hoped that application of the duties would have been delayed ■ until the, Australian Government had. fully considered our case, since cancellation of orders has caused much dislocation and loss, and no new business has been placed. The Australian reference to special treatment of hard cases, and the admission of goods for home consumption to November 11, may mean. that application of the increases will be somewhat delayed.” ; BRITISHPRESSCOMMENT -'" , "•■ - ■ LONDON, August 28. {Received ;29, at 1 a.m.) 'The' Jianchesit'er Guardian, in an editorial; • says: “It is fairly certain that the Australian Cabinet’s attitude to cotton duties is governed purely by electioneering considerations. It certainly never entered the heads of the Lancashire cotton leaders and provision dealers, who threaten a boycott that they were taking sides in dominion politics. The Federal Government is trying to buy off the primary producers of Queensland, or some of them, and a section of the manufacturing interests in Victoria and New South Wales concerned with cotton. The argument that counted for most is that British goods must be kept out or made a prohibitive price to enable Queensland farmers to find an assured market’ for their cotton. Self-sufficiency in manufactures and an expanding market in Britain are incompatible. To attempt self-sufficiency in new fields will provoke British retaliation against Australian exports, and it seems about as bad a business policy as the'Australian Government could pursue. After the election, perhaps, the reason may dawn.”