PAPERS
RELATING TO
EXPORT TRADE OF THE COLONIES.
14605.
CANADA.
No. 1.
82
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
יייוייז יזיוייייין
Reference :-
C.O.885
EXTRACT from Report by the MINISTER Of TRADE and COMMERCE, enclosed in GOVERNOR- GENERAL the Earl of ABERDEEN's Despatch, No. 178, of June 21, 1897.
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With reference to paragraph 7*, suggesting the return of any products of the country which might advantageously be exported to the United Kingdom or any other part of the British Empire, but had not as yet found a sufficient market there, it may be said that there is no Canadian product which can be sold at its reasonable value in the markets of Great Britain but which is exported thereto. Unfortunately, it sometimes occurs that the Canadian producers, under inducements held out from dealers in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, export goods with the expectation of a reasonable return therefor, but which are sold for less than their value for consumption in the home market. It would seemingly serve no good purpose to attempt to specifically indicate such articles.
There are many little things which operate against a free exchange of commodities between Canada and the United Kingdom, none of which, separately considered, are seemingly of much importance, but, taken in the aggregate, have a marked influence upon the trade, such, for instance, as the different systems of currencies, weights and measures, want of uniformity in local modes of dealing, &c., all of which are to a certain extent taken into account by the dealers in countries competing with the United King- dom for the trade of this country-the German or the Frenchman will quote his prices in Canadian currency and in Canadian weights and measures, so that the purchaser knows exactly what he is doing. The English dealer is too apt to quote his prices in weights, measures, &c., used only locally, the same term having very different meanings when coming from different sections of Great Britain, as, for instance, the stone may mean one thing or it may mean another, according to the locality, and again according to the article quoted, and therefore is misleading to parties who are not perfectly familiar with the local customs of the various sections of the country, and know exactly the meaning of the terms as applied to the quotation. A more clearly defined system, no matter what may be its basis, would unquestionably assist in the development of trade, and it seems possible that some scheme may be devised which would secure à uniformity in values of currencies and in weights, measures, &c., without any very serious disturbance of trade. People accustomed to a decimal system, as in America, have little patience in figuring out the intricacies of other systems.
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Department of Trade and Commerce,
Ottawa, May 21, 1897.
3884.
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R. J. CARTWRIGHT.
BARBADOS.
No. 2.
A
EXTRACT from Report by the CHAIRMAN of the COMMERCIAL HALL, enclosed in GOVERNOR Sir J. S. HAY's Despatch, No. 17, of February 4, 1896.
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Dealing in like manner with our exports. The freight hence on crystals and Muscovado sugar is from 10s. to 14s., às against 25s. and 30s. respectively. These differences will account for the divergence of the sugar trade from the United Kingdom
• See page 17 of [C. 8449].
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON