Preferential

Fiji's Kick

Australian Goods Pay Bigger Duty

Preference For Britain,

N. Z., And Canada

THE Legislative Council of Fiji, at its opening session on June 1, passed into law an amendment

of its Customs Tariff, which places

a definite and direct handicap

upon the importation into Fiji of

Australian goods.

Previously, the Fiji Customs tariff carried two rates—a British preference rate, which applied to the products of the British Empire generally, and a general rate. This tariff gave a pre ference of roughly 15 per cent, to the products of the British Empire.

Under the new law, the Fijian Gov ernment has created a new rate, so that its tariff now provides three dut ies—a rate for scheduled countries, a British preference rate and a general rate. Generally speaking, the rate for scheduled countries is 20 per cent, ad valorem, the British preference rate is 30 per cent, and the general rate is 40 per cent.

The “scheduled countries” are the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zea land and Hongkong.

The British preference rate applies, of course, to all other British countries.

Australia is excluded from the schedul ed countries and included simply as a British Dominion. Australian goods, therefore must pay the British prefer ence rate.

The items to which the new condi tions apply are as follows. Except where otherwise stated the percentage rate is ad valorem:

In regard to all other items the old tariff applies, in which Australia is on the same basis as other British coun tries.

But it will be seen that so far as the particular items enumerated above are concerned, the four scheduled countries have a preference over Australia, rang ing from 10 per cent., in the case of foodstuffs, to 20 and 25 per cent, in the case of liquors.

The new tariff, of course, has been framed as a direct retaliation against Australia, for Australia’s short-sighted policy in keeping out Fiji products, par ticularly bananas. Australia, in order to give “protection” of doubtful value to a comparatively few fruit growers, is now in danger of losing part of an extremely valuable market for her foodstuffs and manufactured articles.

It is net surprising—the only surpris ing thing is that Fiji has held its hand so long.

The next move is up to the Aus tralian Government. In the House of Representatives Mr. Browse recently directed the attention of the Attorney- General (Mr. Brennan), who at the time was representing the Prime Min ister, to the fact that the Fiji Gov ernment had excluded Australia from preferential treatment in regard to numerous articles. “Will the Minister,” he asked, “take steps to maintain trade with Fiji, and ascertain the causes which have led to the exclusion of the Commonwealth from preferential treatment?”

Mr. Brennan replied that the ques tion was one that should be dealt with by the Department of Markets and the Department of Trade and Customs.

He asked for notice of the question.

There the matter has rested.

Miss Lina Jones, of the New Zealand Methodist Missionary Society, arrived from the Solomon Islands by the last Mataram. She is on her way to the Dominion on furlough.

Article.

Rate for

Scheduled

Countries.

British

Preferential

Rate.

General

Rate.

Ale, beer, porter, cider, perry, hop and other beers when containing more than 2 per cent, proof spirit, in wood or jar, per gallon 4/- 5/- 6/- Ale, beer, porter, cider, perry, hop and other beers when containing more than 2 per cent, proof spirit bottled, per gallon 3/- 4/- 5/- Bacon and hams .. .. 20% 30% 40% Biscuits, plain .. .. 20% 30% 40% Biscuits, sweet .. .. 30% 30% 40% Bran 30% 30% 40% Cheese 20% 30% 40% Confectionery, per lb. 3d. 4'/ad. 6d. and in addition .. 10% 10% 25% Flax and hemp .. .. 20% 30% 40% Pish 20% 30% 40% Fruit, dried 20% 30% 40% Fruit, fresh Free 10% 20% Golden syrup, treacle 20% 30% 40% Grease, tallow, fat . . 10% 20% 35% Hay and chaff .. .. 20% 30% 40% Hops, per lb 9d.

V- 1/6 Jams, jellies 10% 20% 35% Lard, dripping . . .. 20% 30% 40% Pipes, earthenware .. 10% 20% 35% Soap, laundry, and soap, per lb sand- Id. 1 '/ad. 2d.

Soap, not otherwise enum. 20% 30% 40% Vegetables, fresh . . ..

Free 10% 20%