TARIFF PREFERENCE.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15308, 23 February 1920, Page 5

TARIFF PREFERENCE.

POSITION OF INDIA

COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY

and N.Z. Cable Association)

Allahabad, Feb. 20. The Imperial Legislative Council debated the need for a tariff preference system in India.

A member of the Viceroy's Council moved for the appointment of a committee to examine trade statistics and give an opinion whether it would be consistent with the interests of Indiato apply to the Indian Customs Tariff a scheme of preference in favour of goods of European origin. He explained that the; reason for raising this thorny and difficult question was because the principle of Imperial preference had recently been adooted by the United Kingdom. The Government desired purely a dispassionate view of the question, but_. if India accepted the principle of Imperial preference, the excise duty on cotton piece goods must be- totally abolished.

After opposition by some Indian members of the Council, the committee was appointed.