Mr. Bennett admitted that the Lancashire spinners had been unable
to satisfy the regulations which require British goods entering Canada under the Preferential tariff to have a 50 per cent. British content. Henceforth the content demanded will be approximately 88 per cent. Mr. Bennett seeks powers to prohibit the impor- tation into Canada of any goods from a country which is "not a party to the Versailles Treaty." He is thinking particularly of Russia. One of the most notable changes affects agricultural machinery. There are increases of 300 to 400% against such machinery from the United States. British agricultural machinery will still he admitted free. The new tariffs came into force on Wednesday and we are particularly interested to see that before Mr. Bennett gave Canadian manufacturers their high tariffs he entered into a kind of contract with them. "We have," he said, "a definite and positive answer that the tariff increases will involve no increase of price to the consumer. The Government has the right to reduce duties in the event of profiteering. Manu- facturers have given assurances that there -will be a reduction of prices as their plants reach a maximum output." The promised "general tariff revision " may be greatly influenced by the Imperial Conference. Meanwhile, Canada is determined to protect herself against everybody, Great Britain not excepted, though the treatment of Great Britain is gentle. Manufacturers have often declared that Protection would not raise their prices and the declaration has afterwards looked foolish. The Canadian manufacturers must keep their pledge—it seems to be nothing less—if Mr. Bennett is not to ga into trouble with the farmers.
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