A.-7

64

British cotton and woollen manufactures per head of the population has been from three to five times as great as in Canada, although the Australian tariffs have not hitherto contained any preferential clauses. It may be noted that this difference applies in at least equal degree to the consumption by these colonies of British imports in general. Thus, while at present Canada takes about £1 7s. worth per head of goods from the United Kingdom, Victoria takes £5 Bs. worth, New South Wales £7 3s. worth, and New Zealand £8 4s. worth. 23. It is not proposed in this memorandum to consider in detail the relative growth of British and foreign exports to Canada of other groups of articles, the period being too short and the figures in many cases too small to make such comparisons of much value. The figures, however, are fully set out in the appended tables, which also give information as to the recent course of Canadian export trade.

Table I. Dominion of Canada. —Total Value of Merchandise (including Bullion and Specie) imported for Home Consumption from the United Kingdom, British Possessions, and Foreign Countries during each of the Years ended 30th June, 1897 to 1901, distinguishing Dutiable Goods entered under the General and under the Reciprocal and Preferential Tariffs.

Dutiable Goods. Countries. Reciprocal and General Tariff. [ British Preferential Tariffs(a). I Free Goods. Total Value of Imports for Home Consumption. 1896-97. £ 500,000* £ 3,654,265* £ 1,889,335 £ 6,043,600 United Kingdom British possessions Foreign countries 230,392 9,222,350 233,944 7,138,348 464,336 16,360,698 Total 13,607,007 9,261,S27 22,868,634 1897-98. United Kingdom British possessions Foreign countries 596,915 134,481 9,474,938 4,037,978 17,335 1,072,275 2,043,378 264,370 9,214,085 6,678,271 416,186 19,761,298 Total 10,206,334 5,127,588 11,521,833 26,855,755 United Kingdom British possessions Foreign countries 1898-99. 959,060 55,551 11,896,840 4,696,044 201,441 567,743 1,959,989 325,289 10,992,480 7,615,093 582,281 23,457,063 Total 12,911,451 5,465,228 13,277,758 31,654,437 1899-1900. United Kingdom British possessions Foreign countries 1,123,490 58,908 14,691,096 5,361,802 205,826 2,718,077 476,281 12,516,092 9,203,369 741,015 27,207,188 Total 15,873,494 5,567,628 15,710,450 37,151,572 190i 1-1. United Kingdom British possessions Foreign countries 1,190,945 30,449 14,901,925 5,323,093 328,195 2,325,310 429,316 12,711,449 8,839,348 787,960 27,613,374 Total 16,123,319 5,651,288 15,466,075 37,240,682 Note.—Conversions of dollars into (a.) Under the provisions of the rec July, 189-*, goods the product or mam countries, when imported direct, were Preferential Tariff on the 1st August, 18! United Kingdom and certain British pos * For the year 1896-97 the division preferential tariff ' goods is an approxin pounds sterling have been made at the rate of is. lifgd. pe jiprocal tariff, which was in operation from the 23rd Apri lfacture of the United Kingdom and certain British cc entitled to a reduction of duty. This tariff was superset 98, which confined the benefits to goods the produce or n isessions. of the United Kingdom imports into "general tariff " ai late estimate of the imports which would have been sub; ir dollar. I, 1897, to the 31st ilonies and foreign ied by the British nanufacture of the id ',' reciprocal and ject to these tariffs enacted.