TE 
as it may be found necessary to im- 
pose in order to promote it. 
9. Although Great Britain is a 
country which has followed the policy 
of free imports, she does levy a 
revenue duty upon certain classes of 
goods; already certain remissions of 
these duties in favour of Empire pro- 
duced goods exist, but some extensions 
of these remissions might be favourably 
considered if by such action it can be 
shown that reciprocal trade is bene- 
fited. 
10. In our report we have dealt, in 
connection with infant industries, with 
the question of bounties versus pro- 
tection. We hold that bounties cost 
less to the community than protec 
tion does, and are subject to fewer 
abuses in that the cost to the com- 
munity is more easily ascertained and 
appreciated. It would therefore in 
our judgment be well, both from the 
political and the economic point of 
view, for Great Britain, if she deems 
it to be desirable to make further con- 
tributions to preferential trade, to dv 
so in the form of direct assistance to 
the marketing of Australia’s produce. 
11. ‘We believe that a close inquiry, 
assisted by experts and the opinions of 
those directly concerned with the 
various commodities in both countries, 
into the incidence of tariff and pre- 
ferences would reveal many anomalies 
and would show that in some cases the 
scope and scale of the present pre- 
ferences to Great Britain are not so 
effective as the mutual desire for re- 
ciprocal trade warrants, and in other 
cases that the cost to Australia is not 
as low as it might well be. 
12. We hold that the imposition of 
suitable safeguards for the importer 
should be a condition of the granting 
of a preferential rate. At the present 
time, under the Australian * anti- 
dumping’ regulations, a person ex- 
porting goods to Australia may be 
required to furnish proof that the 
prices of his goods are not lower than 
those ruling in the country of origin. 
The information required from him 
ander this regulation might quite well 
be used for the alternative purpose of 
ascertaining that the f.o.b. prices of 
preferred exports to Australia are 
not in excess of the general prices 
ruling in Great Britain. 
13. So much for the national aspect; 
we would turn now to the question of 
industrial and personal relations, 
which we believe are more important 
‘rom the point of view of the pro- 
motion of reciprocal {rade than pre- 
ferences or bounties. We have realised 
that there. is a very strong inclination 
throughout Australia, first to buy 
Australian-made goods and after that 
British; propaganda work in Great 
Britain is doing a great deal to en- 
gender in the consumer the desire 
to buy Empire goods, and this epirit 
thould be encouraged as much ae 
possible in both countries. 
14. It is desirable that Australian 
ndustrial and commercial practice 
should advance as far ag possible along 
British lines and in accordance with 
3ritish standards. It is evident that 
‘nthe past British industrial practices 
aave been laid down primarily to meet 
British conditions. Australian needs 
should also be studied, and, if possible, 
British practice and standards should 
be modified when this can be done 
with advantage to meet Australian 
sonditions. 
It is essential that British manufac- 
surers should clearly appreciate the 
present needs of Australia, and the 
trend of her developing requirements. 
15. We have realised that a far 
sloser touch should be developed and 
maintained between British and Aus- 
sralian industrialists and institutions 
roncerned with industrial problems. 
We suggest that a Federation of Aus 
ralian Industries, possibly emerging 
yut of the existing Chambers of Com- 
nerce and Manufactures, should be 
‘ormed, corresponding to the Federa- 
ion of British Industries; that there 
should be the closest exchange of in- 
‘ormation through the Secretariats of 
hese two organisations; and that 
seriodical visits by leading representa- 
iives of each organisation should be 
arranged to the other’s country, 
16. We believe that it would be to 
the benefit of both countries if home 
ind dominion manufacturers developed 
1 policy of co-operation. For instance, 
take the motor car industry: Australia 
can at present produce economically