GERMAN REPRISALS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11975, 19 September 1906, Page 4

GERMAN REPRISALS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

Thb German newspapers are up in arms against the Commonwealth's proposed preference to the Motherland, and are urging reprisals. Generally' speaking, the proposed duties give a preference of from 5 to 10 per cent, to Great Britain on a long list of articles, as against other countries. That is to 6ay, the duties have been left as they are on certain things, while they have been increased in their application to other countries. Take revolvers, for instance. The present duty is 15 per cent., at which rate those manufactured in the United Kingdom will be allowed to come into the Commonwealth, while those from other countries will have to pay 22J per cent. Similarly with articles of wicker, bamboo, cane, or wood. The present duty of 20 per cent, is raised to 30, except against British goods going to Australia in British ships. In every case they must arrive in British ships to take advantage of the preference. Bicycles and similar vehicles pay 20 per cent, now, but for the future countries other than the United Kingdom will have to pay 30 per cent, on their importations. There will be a 10 per ceiit. rise on foreign-made boots and shoes. While Great Britain will pay 30 per cent., other countries will pay 40. The preferential duty on watches, clocks, and chronometers will be 10 per cent., that is, the difference between 30 and 20. Microscopes, telescopes, and spectacles are free, but there will be an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent, on goods not manufactured in the United Kingdom, and not imported direct in British ships. Furniture is sprung up 10 per cent, and engines 10 per cent. On quite a number of other commodities the duties are also increased. When the question of preferential trade with Great Britain was first announced, cablegrams were* received by several leading Sydney firms to the effect that Germany would in all probability adopt a policy of retaliation with respect to Australian produce sent to that country. It in explained that the export of wool from Australia to Germany last year represented between 300,000 and 340,000 bales, valued at about JEIS per bale. The wheat exports were not very high last season, and in flour the exports were only moderate also, but it is stated that a big trade in flour is being built up. The trade between Australia and Germany in cocoanut oil is described to be assuming very large dimensions. A large trade always has been done in tallow and copper, and it i»

represented that a great industry is being developed in fruit, oil cake, copra, copper, matte, Broken Hill ores, wolfram, tin ores, and pig lead. In each of these great exporting industries Australia will, it' is predicted, have to fight against a policy of retaliation on the part of Germany. There is a very high tariff in that country, but it is modified in favour of countries making modifications in favour of GermanySuch a reciprocal treaty exists with Great Britain. Germany, it ia said, imports much more from Australia than she sends there, and it is argued that Australia stands to lose much by the adoption of a policy of retaliation on the part of Germany.