A—s

239

Coming down from general considerations to the proposals embodied in this Resolution, while the motives by which we are attracted are of that general nature, they are supported by reasons of a much more precise character. 1 see to-day in one of your leading newspapers, an article by Mr. John Holt Schooling, a well-known writer, whose diagrams elucidate so many problems. He furnishes several tables, one relating to India, which are devised on a new plan of taking yearly averages during each decade. The general result of his examination of the Indian figures is that they show a continuous fall of imports from the United Kingdom as compared with imports from all countries. Then we come to the Australian Commonwealth, and commencing with the year 1880, when the imports from the United Kingdom were 72-7 per cent, of the imports from all the countries into the Commonwealth, he shows their steady decline down to 1905, when the percentage of proportion had fallen to 61 -3 per cent. This he terms a large and continuous fall. Of course, this table does not include our inter-State trade. Mr. ASQUITH : What do you say the figures are now ? Mr. DEAKIN : For 1905 he gives the imports from the United Kingdom as 61 -3 per cent, of the total imports from all countries. He does not take 1906. Mr. ASQUITH : I think all the figures are not out yet. Mr. DEAKIN : I have, I think, the 1906 figures with me. He summarises it in this fashion : " What has'been the course of trade during 1880 " 1905 ? Australia's purchases from all countries have risen, and Australia's " purchases from the United Kingdom have fallen. The latter were " million pounds yearly during the first decade, and 22-4 million pounds yearly " during the last decade. These two opposite courses of trade produce in " combination the result disclosed in the last column of Table 11. A large and " continuous fall has occurred in the United Kingdom's share of Australian " markets. For example, during the first decade our share was 12-11. per 100/. "of Australia's purchases. But during the last decade our share had fallen to "61-3 Z. per 100 Z. And the fall was continuous. Not only are we making " less advance in foreign markets than is made by our trade rivals, but also "we are losing our place as a seller in the market of British Colonies. One " of the causes of this loss of position by us in foreign markets and.in the " markets of British Colonies is the fact that we give to each of our rivals a " great trade advantage. We give to our rivals a free market of 43,000.000 " persons in the United Kingdom, to add to their own free market in their " own country. For example, the United States possess an open market of " 82,000,000 persons in the United States, plus an open market of 43,000,000 "persons in the United Kingdom — total, 125,000,000. But the United " Kingdom possesses an open market of 43,000,000 in the United Kingdom, "which, moreover, is considerably interfered with by the foreign goods we " buy." His third table deals with Canada, and shows in the same way a large and continuous fall. The fourth table deals with the Straits Settlements, with a similar result, and the last table deals with the Cape of Good Hope, also showing a large fall.

Eighth Day. 30 April 1907.

Preferential Trade. (Mr. Deakin.)