AUSTRALIAN TARIFF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18206, 29 September 1933, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN TARIFF

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED TWO OTTAWA AGREEMENT BONBON, Sept. is. • • I do not consider that Australia is performing her side ol the Ottawa. MiMveiuent in a manner calculated to ensure cent immure of the British concessions,” says 'the acting-Leadcr of the Australian Parliamentary Country I’arlv, Mr Paterson, in an article in the Observer.

“Britain is scrupulously executing Hie contract,” Mr Paterson says.

“Our -re preseii t a t ires at Ottawa would have had an unparalleled opportunity io make concessions to .Britain, owing to the tremendous .Schllin t a rift, if t.bGr hands had not"boon tied'by thi foolish pro-mi sib “that tlnnA would ho ho reductions until the Tariff BAuM bad made an investigation. “The. Tariff Board,'.though, working at high pressure, will fake years 4© revise the tariff, in Hie'light of Ottawa. The work will proceed with, tbrtoiselike slowness as lohig ha ithe (Aovo-rtt-riiont refuser, to iftiireise the board’s personnel. The redout ratification .of

the Scullin duties accentuates the, delav, since it prevents the reductions from operating immediately they are tabled in Tarliament. ii The Government cannot blindly accept the Tariff Board’s suggestions where they coiitliet with the Ottawa agreement.' The hoard frequently recommended -la per cent duties against British goods, alleging that this con forms with Article Id of the Ottawa

agreement. “It is surely plain that, either the reasunahlv competitive lerel is exceed ed <bv this reconuneudation, or tlie basis of Australian manufacture is not economical or eilicient. Moiooiei, ox change and primage superimposed on such' high duties make Article 10 a dead-letter.

<‘The hoard’s report in .1 une is believed to have recommended that a substantial reduction should be made m .existing duties as ,a set-oft to primage and exchange. The Government’s fiaUfire to a etc upbn this-conflicts with Article JO, and also with Article IC, requiring Australia not to exceed the board’s recommendations. ‘MI is obvious that the Government is hesitating, uuwilling to lower the tariffs. Britain can impose duties on Australian dairy ’produce in 1935. and Australia’s action render, such a move probable.”