§ 26. Mr. PERKINSasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the Australian Government have recently increased the duty by 35 per cent. on English-made elastic fabric, and that, allowing for freight charges, insurance charge, primage, exchange, duties and sales tax, it costs a British producer 92f per cent. to land elastic fabrics in Australia; and whether he will make representations to the Australian Government in view of the fact that it was agreed at Ottawa that Australian duties would not exceed a level which would permit United Kingdom producers to compete?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I am aware that the Commonwealth Government have recently imposed a duty of 35 per cent. on United Kingdom-made elastic fabric of less than one inch in width as against a duty on similar foreign-made fabric of 55 per cent. I understand that this duty was imposed in accordance with a recommendation of the Commonwealth Tariff Tribunal after receiving evidence from the United Kingdom interests concerned. I have no information to show that in making this recommendation the tribunal failed to take into account the principle laid down in Article 10 of the Trade Agreement with His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia.
§ Mr. PERKINSDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that this recent action by the Australian Government was in direct opposition to the whole spirit of the Ottawa Agreements, and will he explain to the Australian Government that it is impossible for this country to continue to buy her agricultural produce unless she is prepared to buy from us?
§ Mr. PERKINSWill the right hon. Gentleman do something about it?