Necessity for 
Full scientific 
snquiry. 
Avoidance of 
ncreases of 
duties pend- 
ng enquiry. 
Protection 
when given 
i0 be effec- 
ve 
Reductions 
of duties and 
sffect on 
British 
reference. 
The task of 
he British 
nanufac- 
turer. 
conditions of his industry generally. The recipient of protection 
is obtaining a benefit from the public and should be required in 
return to give to the trustees for the public all the information 
necessary to enable them to satisfy themselves that the benefit 
is not being abused. 
56. We should not be justified by the extent of our knowledge 
in pursuing the matter in further detail. We are aware that 
much of the information necessary for a scientific revision of the 
Tariff is not available anywhere, but we are confident that it is 
argently necessary that a full scientific enquiry and investigation 
should forthwith be instituted by the Commonwealth Government 
into the wide question of the economic effect of the tariff and the 
incidence of its duties, with the particular object of furnishing 
veliable advice to the Government as to the removal of any 
extravagances and anomalies which it may be found to contain, 
as to the confinement of its benefits to industries which may 
reasonably be regarded as efficient, and as to the reduction of 
ts total cost to the community. 
57. We consider that while the investigation is proceeding 
egislative or administrative action to increase duties or impose 
leferred duties should, so far as is consistent with the continued 
Affective working of the existing tariff, be avoided, in order that 
he investigaton may proceed so far as possible untroubled by dis- 
urbing changes in its subject matter. 
58. We think that the protection which it may ultimately be 
lecided to afford to efficient industries should be high enough to be 
‘ully effective so long as the condition of efficiency is satisfied. 
This may mean in some cases even higher duties on imports than 
are imposed at present, with consequent encouragement to oversea 
manufacturers to bring their capital and skill to Australia to assist 
n local production. 
59. In some cases investigation on the lines we recommend, 
‘ollowed by appropriate governmental and legislative action, may 
mean reduction of duties. We realize that reduction in the rate of 
duty on an article in regard to which preference is accorded to 
Great Britain may sometimes mean a reduction in the amount of 
the preference. But if the reduction of the duty is to the economic 
advantage of Australia and calculated to enhance her prosperity 
that, as we hope we have sufficiently indicated already, is, to us, 
the important thing. Great Britain has more to gain in the 
long run from that source than from any amount of preference 
wceorded to her own as against foreign products, valuable as the 
tariff preferences which are granted to her in Australia undoubtedly 
are. 
60. For the rest it is for British manufacturers themselves, if 
they desire to take advantage of the opportunities of Australian 
trade, to bestir themselves energetically in the matter by establish- 
ing branches of their business in Australia where the goods of the