Evening star., 1932-07-24
AUSTRALIA ASKS
j. S. FOODS TARIFF
Joins With New Zealand and
Canada in Move for
Protection.
Continued From First Page.)

express the opinion that British f1nan
cial interests in Argentina would look
with disfavor on any move to discrimi-
nate against Argentine beef, one OF
hat countrys leading exports to the
British Isles.
- t,ra first time during the con-
--e..ce the United states was brought
,-rectIy INTO the proceedings by South
-..ican statement. After reviewing the
fruit industrys Importance to the Un-
ion of South Africa and citing its
growth, a South African supplementary
statement added:
U. S. Fruit Mentioned.
Competition, however. from foreign
countries, such as the United States
and some of the South American coun-
tries. is becoming increasingly strong.
Great Britain has granted 10 per
cent preferences on fresh fruits, but it
has already become patent that in the
case of citrus this preference cannot
Es effective.
"The position is such that the union
is forced to ask for further considera-
ton of its fruit exports and also in
regard to its wines and tobaccos."
The Irish Free State delegation to-
day clarified its position in view Of the
present Anglo-Irish tariff war by oe-
claring it will participate to the fullest
extent possible, having in mind the
present conditions existing between the
Free State and the United Kingdom"
Both the British and Free State
delegations have announced they wish
to avoid their own private difficulties
during this conference.
In explaining the stress upon fruit
trading the South African statement
had this to saw.
The fruit industry has become of
great importance to the union involving
relatively large areas, and thousands
of farmers are dependent upon the in
dustry. It's growth is reflected in the
export value which in 1881 amounted
to close on f1 500 900 tS7.300, 900 at
par to Britain alone and in the fact
that nearly 100000 trees are not yet
in full bearing.
Delegates Meet Separately.
1.-THE union department Of agricul.
ture has developed excellent systems OF
packing, grading and inspection of
fruit, with the result that South African
fruit has alreaoy made name for itself
in Great Britain, which is its best
market
The delegations of the nine nations
In the empire me- separately today 10
consider the proposals for empire pref
erence of the four doninions which
have. ALREADY spoken-Canada, Aus
tralia. New Zealand and South Africa.
Canada and New Zealand were not
specific in their sugg gastions, merely
offering a wider preference for similar
treatment.
Serious business was expected to be
taken up Monday after an adjourn
Inent over the week end. The British
delegation may make a preliminary
announcement then to the committee
to promote trade within the empire.
Meanwhile all concerned prepared
for a week end Of social engagements
in this Canadian capital Most dele
gates will attend the presentation OF
the colors to the foot guards OF Gov
ernor- General Lord Bessborough, to-
morrow.
The governor generals foot guards
comprise one of Canada's crack regi-
n1ents and the presentation will take
place at Rideauhall, the home Of the
governorg general,
The Canadian program which soon
will be presented IN detail is regarded
as suggestion that Great Britain i'm
pose tariff on meat and wheat i'm
ported from countries outside the en-
pire
when he submitted the outline of his
proposals yesterday Premier Bennett of
Canada asked for extension OF British
preferences to Canadian imports In re-
turn for increased Canadian preferences
to British manufactured goods. Great
Britain has no tariff on wheat and meat
and until there is one no preference can
be granted dominion products IN British
markets.
Persons close to the United Kingdom
delegation said there was belief the
specific results of the Canadian pro-
posals on Londons policy would include
a British tariff on focd products and
preferential treatment for those i'm
ported from Canada Neither the Can
adam nor the British wheat trade favors
a quota system for Empire grain in
British markets. Therefore, it is argued.
If Canada is to be repaid in kind for
preferential treatment of British prod
ucts it must be through British tariff
system which will raise barriers against
other exporting nations in favor of EN-
pire nations.
Presumably this situation will be dis
cussed early in the negotiations of the
several conference committees which
were app-lnted today.
''The open sessions of this conference
are over and the real bargaining Will be
done in committee. 1t is not likely
there will be another cpen session Of
importance until the ccmmittees have
something concrete to present.
British Shun Barriers.
In addition to Mrs. Runciman's dec
laration it is the opinion of American
observers that it will be difficult to per-
Suade the British merchant to depart
from his policy Of buying where the
prices are lowest.
That British precedent, the Ameri-
cans say. was reflected by Stanley Bald
win. leader Of the British delegation,
who said in his reply to Premier Ben
netts address of welcome that the way !
to prosperity lay in the lowering OF
trade barriers among the empire ma
tions themselves rather than in raising
them against others
A considerable part of the agricul- !
tVrai income of the United States would |
b, st stake In any British food tariff. |
Wheat cotton tobacco, meat and lard |
make up 80 per cent of the total value |
OF Americas farm exports. In 1880 the |
United Kingdom took S24 900 900 of the |
$4,000 900 worth of wheat exported by |
the United States: S8,5OO,O0O of the |
$50 900 900 in exported flour; s39 .OOO.- |
900 of s66 900 90 in exported meat and |
meat products; S29.0OO,OOO of S82,OOO,-
900 worth of animal oils, and S79,-
100000 of Sl58,000,c0 DIN exported to-
bacco. !
Shipments to the United Kingdom |
e,tounted for S202 100000 of the total
ewlited States income of S754,000,000 !
= crude and manufactured foods ex-
ported in 1929.