INTERCHANGE OE COLONIAL PRODUCTS, ETC.

A—No. 31

4

Enclosure in No. 1. A Bill to make better Provision for the Interchange of Colonial Products and Manufactures between the Colonies of Australasia. Wheeeas the free interchange between the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, New Zealand, and Tasmania of their respective products and manufactures is restricted by reason of tho obligation which is now by law imposed upon the said Colonies to subject such products and manufactures, upon admission into any of tho said Colonies, to the same duties of customs as are imposed upon the like products and manufactures when the same are imported from other places: And whereas such restriction prejudicially affects the trade and commerce between the said Colonies, and it is desirable that such restriction should be removed or modified : And whereas it is necessary to this end that each of the said Colonies should bo empowered to make arrangements with the others for the interchange of their respective products and manufactures on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon: Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows : — 1. The Governor, by and with the a.dvice of the Executive Council, may enter into an agreement with the Governors of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and New Zealand, or with any of them, for the admission into Tasmania of all or any of the products and manufactures (except spirits and tobacco) of the said Colonies, or any of them, free from customs duty, wharfage, or other charge, or at such reduced duty and charges as the Governor in Council thinks fit : Provided that every Colony with whose Governor such agreement shall be entered into shall agree to admit the products and manufactures of Tasmania or some of them (except spirits and tobacco) either free from all duties and charges, or at such reduced duties and charges as may be agreed upon. 2. Any such agreement may bo entered into for a period not exceeding ten years. 3. Every such agreement may be altered or rescinded by the Governor in Council of Tasmania, with the consent of the Governor of every Colony who is a party to such agreement, but not otherwise. 4. The Governor shall, by proclamation to bo published in the Gazette, declare and make known the products and manufactures which are, under such agreement, exempted from duty and charges or subjected to reduced duty and charges as the case may be, and thereupon such products and manufactures may be imported free of duty, wharfage, or other charge, or subject to such reduced duty or charge as is set forth in such proclamation, so long as such agreement as aforesaid continues in force. 5. Every alteration or rescission of any such agreement shall bo made known by proclamation to be published in the Gazette. 6. The Governor in Council may make orders for carrying this Act into effect, and for determining what articles come within its provisions ; and any such orders may from time to time be altered or rescinded by the Governor in Council: Provided that all such orders shall be published in the Gazette. 7. This Act may be cited as " The Intercolonial Free Trade Act."

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