PROTECTIVE TARIFF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17230, 9 April 1930, Page 7

PROTECTIVE TARIFF

AUSTRALIAN ACTION A LESSON TO AMERICA NEW YORK, April 7. The New York Times, in a leader entitled "Protectionist Australia," states that the new duties are "symptomatic-' of a. state of mind which cannot but affect, this country as well as Britain." After discussing the increase of the Australian tariffs in recent years, the article continues: "American manufacturers may now better understand the resentment of Canadians and South Americans against increases in the American tariff on various staple products of those countries. It is in no relation to the scheme for free trade within the Empire that this latest actis chiefly interesting lo Britain, which has enjoyed preference on most goods entering Australia, but opposition to preference is steadily growing; in fact, tho avowed purpose of the emergency measure is to cut Australian imports by about £12.000.000. In England itself this plan cannot but dampen the ardor of advocates of Imperial free trade. The latest tariff act in Australia makes it more than plain that the Dominions will have none of this sort of Special privilege for England, they think of their own needs first. However mistaken the policy may seem to be to advocates of Imperial free trade, if cannot be ignored. The tendency in the Dominions is clearly toward more, not less, protection."