PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
8
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Comparing 1901 with 1897 there was an increase in British dutiable goods of 56 per cent.; free, 23 per cent.; and for the total, an increase of 46 per
cent.
From the UNITED STATES for the same period there were increases as follows:-
Dutiable Free
Total
75 per cent. 82
"
79
"
From BRITISH COLONIES enjoying the preference the increases were thus:—
Dutiable
53 per cent. 106 Free
Total
73
19
The Imports from ALL COUNTRIES other than those mentioned increased at the following rates:-
Dutiable Free
Total
32 per cent. 41
""
33
**
The Total Volume of Imports from ALL COUNTRIES increased in these ratios:-
Dutiable Free
-
Total
60 per cent. 67
"
63 "
Attached hereto is a statement marked A showing the values of imports for the years 1897 and 1901, as regards total volume, Great Britain, United States, and Other Countries.
It will be noticed that the total dutiable imports increased in 1901 over 1897 by 60 per cent.—and that the same class of imports from Great Britain, increased in practically the same proportion--the actual rate of increase being 56 per cent. When this is compared with the period from 1893 to 1897, when British dutiable imports decreased by 36 per cent., while those from the United States increased by 7 per cent., and from All Other Countries by 64 per cent., the showing is a gratifying one; and it is submitted it proves that the Canadian Preferential Tariff not only arrested the decline of British Trade but stimulated it.
Eighty-two per cent. of the dutiable goods entered for consumption last year (1901) from Great Britain came under the preference.
Particular attention should be directed to the fact that while British dutiable imports increased by 56 per cent. from 1897 to 1901, the increase in similar imports from all countries (exclusive of the United States), not enjoying the preference, was at the rate of only 32 per cent.
Hereto attached, marked B, is a statement showing the principal increases from 1897 to 1901 in British Imports.
In paragraph No. 11 of the Memorandum styled "Effect of the Canadian Preferential Tariff on Trade between the United Kingdom and Canada," prepared in the Colonial Office, it is stated that a comparison of the per- centages of the total import trade of Canada which came from the United Kingdom before and after the introduction of the Preferential Tariff respec- tively, shows that the omtinuous decrease in the proportion of imports from the United Kingdom into Canada had not been arrested by the operation of the Preferential Tariff. It is true that Great Britain's proportion of Canada's tatel lade slightly decreased even with the preference in force, but it should be particularly noted that the preference only applies to dutiable goods. To in the effect of the Preferential Tariff the comparison should, there- „be thade in regard to dutiable goods only. On this basis, the figures show that whereas from 1893 to 1897 there was a decrease in the proportion પ્રદ
433
of British Imports from 45 61 per cent. to 30.53 per cent., in the following four-year period, under the preference, the average annual proportion was 30-29 per cent., and in 1901 it was 29 92 per cent.
Paragraph No. 13 of the said memorandum contains the following
statement:--
"We should not expect to find any material effect exerted by the Preferential Tariff in the case of heavy and bulky goods in which freight bears a high proportion of total value, and it is precisely in these classes of goods in which the main increase of Canadian imports has recently taken place. It is also in these classes of goods, e.g., coal, grain, raw cotton, timber, iron and steel, and heavy manufactures thereof, such as bridges, girders, rails, engines, &c., that the United States, by geographical contiguity, as well as by wealth of natural resources, is to a large extent beyond reach of any competition from the United Kingdom in the Canadian market, even if aided by a much greater preference than that now accorded."
Paragraph 14 gives a statement of the imports of such articles from the The articles stated are:-Metals and United States and other sources. manufactures thereof, coal and coke, grain and breadstuffs, meat, dairy produce, and fruit, wood and manufactures thereof, raw cotton.
If we eliminate the dutiable imports of these articles in which it is admitted that Great Britain cannot compete in the Canadian market, even if aided by a much greater preference than that now accorded, and compare the progress of trade in the balance of dutiable imports, it will be found that the preference has been of substantial advantage to Great Britain.
The following statement shows the net dutiable importations for consumption, after deducting these articles.
1901.
Increase, 1897 to 1901
1897.
Total from ALL COUNTRIES.
$70,849,785 22,716,084 Rate of increase, 47 per cent.
1893.
Increase, 1893 to 1897
Rate of increase, 1 per cent.
$48,188,701 | $47,772,916
360,785
From GREAT BRITAIN.
$28,052,385
-
Increase, 1897 to 1901 10,448,437 Decrease, 1893 to 1897 -
Rate of increase, 59 per cent.
Increase, 1897 to 1901
$17,603,948 $26,559,888
8,955,940
Rate of decrease, 33 per cent.
From UNITEd States.
$24,498,414
-
8,114,787 Increase, 1898 to 1897
Rate of increase, 22 per cent.
$16,378,627 $13,406,351
2,972,276
Rate of increase, 49 per cent.
Increase, 1897 to 1901
Rate of increase, 29
!
From OTHER COUNTRIES.
$18,303,986
4,152,860
per cent.
These figures are instructive.
$14,151,126 6,844,449 Increase, 1893 to 1897
Rate of increase, 81 per cent.
$7,806,677
Briefly stated they show, first, that between 1898 and 1897 the imports from Great Britain declined by 33 per cent., as compared with an increase of 22 per cent. from the United States, and an increase of 81 per cent, from Other Countries.
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