373

A—s

Mr. DEAKIN : These totals you have given us show the published totals of excess of exports of the United Kingdom over those of Germany in 1891 to 1898 were 868,000,000/.; while in 1899 to 1906 they were down to 847,000,000/. In the same way as regards the United States our excess of exports over theirs in 1891 to 1898 was 697,000,000/., but Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Which year do you take . Mr. DEAKIN : Seven years as printed in this paper " Colonial Con- " ference 1907. Miscellaneous statements as to British and foreign trade in " continuation of those laid before the Conference of 1902 by the Prime *' Minister of New Zealand; revised and brought up to date at the request of " the Prime Minister of the Australian Commonwealth." You will find on page 2 a Table headed Germany and the United States, and for the period 1891 to 1898 the excess of exports of the United Kingdom over those of Germany was 868,000,000/., and in the second period 847,000,000/. In the same period the excess of exports of the United Kingdom over those of the United States was 697,000,000/., but it dropped to 493,000,000/. in the later period. Comparing the growth of the export trade it shows that the United Kingdom increased its trade in the second period over the first by 658,000,000/.; Germany hers by 679,000,000/., and the United States by 863,000,000/. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I will take if you like the very first figure you gave me, or any year you like. Ido not care which, because Ido not wish to take the responsibility of choosing the /ear. Mr. DEAKIN : Take the period 1891 to 1898. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : In 1891 the exports of manufactured goods from Germany amounted to 102,000,000/. Mr. DEAKIN : You give here seven years. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE: Yes. In 1905, the exports came to 191,000,000/.—that is an increase of 89,000,000/. Mr. DEAKIN : You gave that for these years. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : No, not 1891. Mr. DEAKIN : I take the table circulated to us. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : In the year 1891 we sold 210,000,000/. of manufactured goods, excluding ships, and we have increased to 264,000,000/. in 1905, and to 311,000,000/. in 1906 including ships and parcel post. Mr. DEAKIN : You are taking some other period then. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE ; No, the period you gave me—lB9l. Mr. DEAKIN : This is not given in single years at all.

Eleventh Day. 6 May 1907.

Preferential Trade.