A— 6

245

I think, in Sweden. In France the practice in regard to frozen mutton and beef is much the same as in Germany. The duty on mutton is Ik/, per pound, with a surtax of 255. per ton where the meat is not imported direct from the country of origin. Hence, if any Australian mutton is first sent to England and then on to France, it has to pay a higher duty. At one time there was the prospect of considerable development in the tinned meat trade of Australia, especially with Germany, but the importation of this class of me;it is now entirely prohibited. In France, tinned meats are allowed to be imported; but the duty of \d. per pound for direct shipment with the other charges on the tins and on the cases, brings the duty_ to nearly 1 \d. per pound. The policies of other countries of Europe follow on much the same lines. Where a nominal duty is insufficient to keep out our products, the agrarian party obtains the imposition of sanitary and port regulations which effectually prevent any importation of meats and dairy produce whatever. These details I fe"ar are rather tedious to you, bur they are very practical to us. Mr. ASQUITH : These are the very things we want to get. Mr. DEAKIN : They show what we have to face in other markets. Mr. ASQUITH : In reference to what you have been saying, let me call your attention to two or three figures as regards Australian trade with Europe. The total Australian exports to foreign countries in the year 1891 were 7,725,000/.: in the year 1905 they were 17,619,000/.; in other words they- had increased between two and three times. In the corresponding years in 1891, the Australian exports to the United Kingdom were 25,500,000/. in round figures, and in 1905, 26,700,000/., an increase of It hardly looks as i f you had been blocked out of the European market. Mr. DEAKIN : You have been blocked, in our opinion, from anything like* your fair share of our natural increase. Apart from the purchases which they make from us because they are bound to make them, there was no reason why your proportion of our trade should not have been increased also. Mr. ASQU ITII : I was dealing with the argument that you were being excluded from foreign markets. Take the markets you have mentioned— Germany and Franco 1891 seems to have been a low year, and therefore 1 I will not take it for Germany, but I will take 1892. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I think that is wool, chiefly. Mr ASQUITH : I have here only the total exports. Sir JOSEPH WARD : That is chiefly wool. Mr. ASQUITH : No doubt, chiefly wool. Sir JOSEPH WARD: That is wool, a great proportion of which formerly came to London for sale, and was then transferred to the Continent, but their own steamers take it direct there now. Mr. ASQUITH :Be it so. I only want the fact. For Germany the total was 1,770,000/. in 1892, and last "year 5,088,000/.: for France it was 1,857,000/. in 1892, and 5,762,000/. in 1905.

Eighth Day. :i(l April 1907

IBNTIAL Trade. (Mi. Deakin.)