The Australian Tariff proposals, which were introduced on Thursday week
by Sir William Lyne, reveal, in the words of the Times correspondent at Sydney, the determination strongly to support the development of local manufactures, and especially of locally produced raw material. At the same time "British imports are ensured advantages over foreign imports." The intention seems to be to make the tariff as little advantageous to Great Britain as is compatible with professing the principle of preferential tariffs. The proposals, says the Times correspondent, " are the Federal Government's reply to the British Ministerial ' banging of the door ' "; and again, "as the British Government absolutely refused even a preference on imports which were already dutiable, the Federal Government retains its freedom to consider Australian interests only." That, of course, is a rhetorical flourish. The Commonwealth has always declared that she would never give our goods any preference which would put them on an equality with Australian products.
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