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TARIFF BARRIERS.
PROTESTS TO MR. BRUCE.
An Inter-State Memor
andum.
The Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce) has
received from the Victorian, Fanners'
Union and the Town and Country Unions
of Victoria. New South Wales, and West
ern Australia, representations concerning
the adverse international effects of the
Commonwealth's high tariff policy. On
behalf of the Town and Country Tariff
Reduction League of Western Australia,
the document has boeii signed by the vice
president, Sir WiXiam Lathlain, and the
secretary, Mr. T. A. Hartrey.
'At no time in the history of tariffs,''
this manifesto states, 'has there been
such a general outcry from overseas
traders -as that evoked by the high im
posts 'proposed in the Tariff Bill that was
validated by -the Hast Parliament' Bri
tish Chambers of Commerce, the National
Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers'
Associations, and various other repre
sentative bodies of Great Britain, had
united in an earnest appeal for a recon
sideration of the imposts on the grounds
that they were prohibitive in character,
and nullified the vaiue of any preferences
offered to British manufacturers. They
pointed out 'that the British Government
had accorded real preferential treatment
to Australian products, and in addition
had entered upon a campaign, at a cost
of £1,000,000 to the British people, for
the purpose of popularising Empire pro
ducts, and they added the warning that a
full realisation by the British public of
the effect of the increased tariff nroposa-s
could not but counteract this good work.
These' protects, it is pointed out, are
endorsed by the British Press and Bri
tish public opinion generally. Dictates
of common gratitude as well as considera
tions of expediency were directly opposed
to this harsh treatment of the Mother
Country, nor could me afford to erect
such hostile barriers against those other
nations who buy largely of our products.
Peaceful relationship with the nations of
the world constituted one of our fore
most Cines of defence. With Japan it
was a vital necessity. The proposed
prohibitory duties woiw'i be disastrous to
the mutually profitable trade between
Australia and Japan. Surejy imposts
ranging up to COO per cent, were incom
patible with the sentiments expressed by
Mr. Bruce recently in reply to & message
of goodwill by the Consol-General for
Japan. They were a direct negation of
his statement that 'the destinies of the
two peoples In the Pacific lie together,'
and that 'our civilisations are eompie
mentary, and we shall mutually enrich
oursetos in receiving and giving what is
best in them.' .
These considerations apiued with eqnM
force— perhaps with greater MntbnMtil
force— to the U.S.A. and either Bnflish
speafciag countries, and to New Zea*no
and Canada. We recently obtained a
large loan from the U.S.A, aU of which
musi come to us in goods. Yet we tevied
heavy imposts upon these roods, imposts
which the people of Australia would have
to pay themselves. -
'During recent years,' the signatories
continue, 'Australia's tariff policy has
been enacted without due regard to over
seas interests, and in opposition to the
saner counsels of moderate protectionists.
There has been apparently no considera
tion of economic or of reciprocal prin1
ciples, and litte semblance of Empire
sentiment or Empire vision. The hind
rance to development, and consequent
menace to national security, appears to
have been overlooked entirely.' The
recent increases in the tariff were as
much aimed at mutual trading between
Britain and Australia as the Communist
hold-up of shipping. .
The document emphasises the danger
of our vast unoccupied areas amongst
neighbours overcrowded and landhunger
ed? and concludes:— 'K our land is to
become the home of the waiting millions
who seek breathing space in the Empire,
we must seriously modify our policy of
restriction and artificiality, which not
only hinders rural, development, but a.so
causes secondary industries to suffer by
the consequent economic contusion.
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