On Thursday the Australasian Section of the London Chamber of
Commerce held a meeting to discuss the new Australian tariff. Mr. Faithfull-Begg, who presided, said that if he might judge from the letters received by the Chamber and by the tone of the Press, the preferences given to the British manufacturer were not going to be of very much value. It will be remembered that minute preferences over foreig% countries are given to Britain, while the whole tariff- wall is considerably raised in height against the whole world, including ourselves. After considerable discussion, a resolu- tion was passed protesting against "the imposition of further duties on British goods entering the Commonwealth, which, in spite of the financial support accorded to Australian industries by merchants and investors here, will seriously harm the manufacturing industries of the United King- dom, and declaring that the preference on British goods, although small, is thankfully received in the hope that it will be shortly increased, and that the sudden levying of the new duties is calculated to cause considerable incon- venience and leas both in Australia and Great Britain unless the time for the levying of the duties be postponed." The protest of the London Chamber of Commerce is important, and we hope it will cause some salutary reflection among those who play light-heartedly with Protectionist fire. The protest itself is not very likely to secure a reduction of the tariff, as the Australian manufacturer looks upon the British manufacturer as Gambetta looked on clericalism. We notice that the Sydney Morning Herald, which is quoted by the _Daily Chronicle, declares that the tariff is the result of a "deal" between Sir William Lyne and the Socialist-Labour Party. A strong agitation has been begun against the "shameful transaction."
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