The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-20 00:00:00

The Austrian Tariff.

A deputation from the agricultural implement
makers waited upon Mr. -Milner Gibson, the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade, yesterday afternoon,
for the purpose of explaining the effect which the
proposed alterations in the Austrian tariff will have
upon agricultural implements and machinery. The
deputation, which was introduced by Mr. Stansfeld,
M.P., consisted of Mr. Clayton, Mr. R. Garrett,
Mr. James Howard, Mr. Le Butt (for Mr. Boby),
Mr. Head (Ransome and Sons), Mr. Exall (Barrett,
Exall, and Andrews), Mr. Priest, Mr. Aveling, Mr.
Cranstoun, Mr. Woolnough, &c.
Mr. STANSFELD, M.P., in introducing the depu-
tation, stated that they were a committee represent-
ing all the leading firms engaged in the manufacture
of agricultural machinery and implements. Their
attention had been called to the treaty now in course
of negotiation between this country and Austria.
They hoped that some advantages might be gained
for British manufacturers by the treaty, and he re-
ferred to one or two points in which, instead of
receiving benefit, they would sustain positive injury
by the alterations which were proposed to be made
in the tariff.

Other members of the deputation having addressed
the right hon. gentleman,

Mr. MILNER GIBSON said that the conversion of
the duties into ad valorem duties was not to take
place until March next. A commission would no
doubt inquire into this particular matter. The duty
was the basis at present. No details had at present
been settled. What they bound themselves to was
the basis that the maximum duty should not exceed
25 per cent., and after a certain time 20 per cent.
ad valorem, but lit did not follow that the duty
would be placed at that amount. When the French
treaty was under consideration, on the meeting of
the commissioners to consider the duties that should
be imposed ondifferent articles within the maximum
the first resolution they came to was that no exist-
ing duties should be raised. There was a treaty
between Austria and the Zollverein, by which Aus-
tria was bound to raise no existing duty within 10
years, and the Zollverein was to have the benefit of
the lowest Austrian tariff in operation ; and as we
were among the favoured nation class with Austria,
lit was not possible for 10 years to raise the existing
duties beyond their present amount. He could not
express any definite opinion on the subject, but he
might state that the attention of the Foreign-office
had been called to it. On receiving a communica-
tion respecting the allowance of 50 per cent. draw-
backreduoeedtheto 33 per cent., he wrote to
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fortunate that the deputation had not come a day
or two later, because M. Malet, who was expected
to return to-morrow, would have been able to throw
some light upon the question. But seeing that the
object of the Austrian Government was to reduce
duties and open up trade, he could not imagine they
were going to increase duties, and thus impede trade.
lie did not think the manufacturers could be placed
in a worse position than they were under thistreaty.
The reduction of duty was a matter on which he
could not speak definitely. He could speak as to
the duty itself, but not to any allowance to be made.
The fixing of a maximum implied that the duty
Imight be raised to that maximum ; but in the case
of the French treaty the proceedings were com-
menced by an agreement that existing duties should
not be raised. He should think that Austria was
not likely to raise any of her present duties. They
could not raise them violently, in consequence of
the treaty with the Zollverein, but they might raise
them by diminishing the allowance which was now
made. That was a point to which the attention of
Lord Clarendon had been called. It was an impor-
tant one, because the parties might be deprived of
the benefit of the treaty.
After some conversation, it was arranged that
Mr. Clayton should communicate with the right
hon. gentleman r • espectmg any further interview
that might be considered desirable.