HC Deb 18 April 1934 vol 288 cc963-4
48. Mr. PERKINS

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will give a list of the cases in which the Australian Government have increased the duties against British manufactured goods since the signing of the Ottawa Agreements?

Mr. J. H. THOMAS

I am sending the hon. Member a list of five cases in which the duties in the Commonwealth of Australia on goods manufactured in the United Kingdom have been increased since the conclusion at Ottawa of the Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and Australia.

Mr. PERKINS

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that these increases in the Australian tariff against British manufactured goods are contrary to the whole spirit of the Ottawa Agreements?

Mr. THOMAS

If you take out five items which are increased against us it looks bad, but in order to strike a balance you must look at the other side where there are 149 items in our favour.