§ 33. Mr. HOLTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is now the average Import Duty on British manufactured goods imported into the Commonwealth of Australia; to what extent, if any, these duties have been raised since 1st August, 1914; and whether any other of the self-governing Dominions have similarly increased Import Duties on British manufactures?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Wardle)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. A calculation made by the statistical authorities of the Commonwealth shows that the average incidence of the tariff of 1914 (which came into operation after the outbreak of war) amounted to about 16¾ per cent. ad valorem on imports of all descriptions from the United Kingdom, as compared with about 14¼ per cent. in the case of the previous tariff. There has been a general increase of rates of duty in Canada, and one on important classes of goods in South Africa. In New Zealand and Newfoundland a few articles only have been subjected to higher rates.