A.—7

60

No. 6. Colonial Office to War Office. Sir, — Downing Street, 11th June, 1902. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter* on the subject of obtaining supplies for the army from Australia. 2. Mr. Chamberlain will not fail to communicate a copy of your letter to the GovernorGeneral of Australia, for the information of his Ministers, but, before doing so, he would be much obliged if he could be furnished with the approximate total of the amount of meat, grain, and horses obtained from Australia and New Zealand and Canada during the war. If Mr. Brodrick considers that such a return cannot be supplied, Mr. Chamberlain would be glad to receive a list of the orders given by the War Office to the Australian Colonies and Canada during the last two years. I am. etc., 11. Bertram Cox.

No. 7. War Office to Colonial Office. (Eeceived June 20, 1902.) Sir,— War Office, London, S.W., 20th June, 1902. In further reference to your letter of the 11th instantt, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to forward, for the information of Mr. Seicretary Chamberlain, the following approximate totals of the amounts of meat, grain, and horses obtained from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada during the war, viz. : —

I am, &c, G. Fleetwood Wilson.

APPENDIX VIII.

EFFECT OF THE CANADIAN PREFEEENTIAL TARIFF ON TRADE BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA. 1. From 23rd April, 1897, a reduction of one-eighth of the Customs duty was granted by Canada to goods (with certain exceptions, including alcoholic liquors, liquid medicines containing alcohol, and tobacco) produced by and imported direct from countries whose Customs treatment of Canadian produce was on the whole as favourable as that accorded by the Canadian Customs tariff to the produce of those countries. From Ist July, 1898, the preference was increased to onefourth. 2. From Ist August, 1898, the preference was confined to goods produced in and imported direct from the United Kingdom and British colonies and possessions. At present the colonies and possessions sharing the preference are India, Straits Settlements, Ceylon, New South Wales, Bermuda, British Guiana, West Indies. 3. From Ist July, 1900, the preferential reduction of duties was increased from one-quarter to one-third. 4. In order to show the principal facts relating to the growth of Canadian trade since the introduction of the preferential tariff both with countries and in articles to which preference is, and is not, accorded, respectively, the following statements are appended : — (i.) A statement showing for each financial year from 1896-97 to 1900-1 the imports into Canada from the United Kingdom, British colonies and possessions, and foreign countries, classified under the three categories of— (a.) Goods dutiable under the general tariff. (b.) Goods dutiable under the reduced " preferential" tariff. (c.) Free goods. So far as the first year, 1896-97, is concerned, the division between (a) and (b) is an approximate estimate only, the goods placed under heading (a) being those of a class to which the preferential tariff, when enacted, did not apply, together with an estimated allowance for the dutiable goods imported from the United Kingdom which were not the produce of the United Kingdom, and hence not entitled to preference, (ii.) A statement showing for each of the sixteen years 1885-86 to 1900-1 the value of the import and export trade between Canada and each of the principal countries.

* No. 5. f No. 6.

Supply. Australia. New Zealand. Canada. Preserved meat Hay ... . Oats Horses 28,000,000.1b. 196,800 tons. 404,000 tons. 21,458 | 1,422 1,700,0001b. 205,000 tons. 17,000 tons. 13,612