A.—2.

Enclosures. Commercial, No. t2. R, , British Consulate, Chicago, 7th April. L 909. I have the honour to transmil herewith, under dying seal, a despatch to the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Customs, Wellington, \.-w Zealand, on prison-made goods written in reply to a question us to whether it was likely that such goods were sent. It was found out .some time ago thai much of the small hand farm implements were made by firms who had subsidiary companies carrying on the same business in prisons; and Canada,' Australia, and V« Zealand closed their markets to these firms. Of the list K iven in the despatch there i.s little doubt that many of the big firms who export would be found to be interested in such companies, especially in boots and shoes. Many of the Mates n,,w prohibit the general sale of prison-made goods, while others, like Minnesota, are ,m,klll g ! 'ing-twine for sale to the farmers of the State, in which business they only come into competition with a large corporation, I have, &c. His Majesty's Principal Secretary of Stale for Foreign Affairs, A-c. 0.0f., Xo. 23. SIE) . British Consulate, Chicago, 7th April, 1909. In reply to your inquiry as to classes of goods made by prison labour which, like the agricultural band-implements which your Governnieni has recently prohibited from importation. may be difficult to detect.from free4ab ■ made g Is, as none are marked: I have the honour to inform you thai the following list, with the name of the States in which tliev are made is a Fairly comprehensive one :— Agricultural hand-tools .. .. lowa, Michigan, Ohio. ' ia g s • • • • .. .. New Jersey. Baskets, willow-ware .. .. Illinois and Maryland. Hoots and shoes Connecticut, Illinois. Kentucky Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. Brass goods .. .. .. West Virginia. Brooms and brushes .. .. Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania. West Virginia, and Virginia. Buttons .. .. .. .. lowa. Carriages and wagons .. .. Maine and Michigan. Chairs and tables .. .. .. Connecticut. Illinois. Indiana, [owa, Kansas, Kentuoky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Now Hampshire. Vermont. Clothing .. .. .. .. Connecticut. Delaware. Indiana. .Maryland. Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island. West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Cooperage .. .. .. Illinois, Indiana. lowa.. Cotton goods .. .. .. Indiana. Enamelled ware .. .. .'. West Virginia. (rloves and mittens .. .. Indiana. Hardware, saddlery.. .. .. Ohio. Harness .. .. .. .. Kentucky. Maine, Tennessee. Hosiery .. .. Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Iron bolts, nuts, &c. .. ~ Ohio. Iron chains .. .. .. Indiana. Matting .. .. .. .. Maryland and New Jersey. Phosphate-mining .. .. .. Florida. Saddle-trees .. .. .. Missouri. Stove hollow-ware .. .. .. Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio. Stoves .. .. .. .. Oregon. Tobacco and cigars .. .. Michigan and Ohio. Turpentine and resin . . .. Alabama and Florida,. [Imbrellas .. .. .. Massachusetts. Whips .. .. .. .. West Virginia. Wire goods .. .. .. Ohio.

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Date. Description. L909. \pril 7 .. From II.M. Acting - Consul, Foreign Other. (!hicago, lo