(L.G. 25/26.)
MY LORD,
84
Enclosure 3 in No. 20.
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Pretoria, May 28, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Transvaal No. 15/51, dated the 28th of April, on the subject of the preference which is accorded under the Customs Union Convention to British goods imported into South Africa.
2. I am advised that the percentages, as regards the Transvaal, are as follows:-
(Cape, No. 193.)
MY LORD,
85
Enclosure 4 in No. 20.
Government House, Cape Town,
June 19, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship, with reference to your despatch No. 23 of 28th April, the document specified in the annexed Schedule.
I have, &c.,
His Excellency
WALTER HELY-HUTCHINSON. The Right Honourable the Earl of Selborne, G.C.M.G.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
During 1902
"
1903
39
1904
1905
! United Kingdom.
British l'ossessions.
Foreign.
50
24
26
Date.
49
23
28
18th June 1906
17.5
22
30.5
47
21.6
28.4
Description of Document.
Minute No. 1/407 from Ministers.
Preference accorded to British imports into Cape Colony during
the last few years.
The figures for the years 1902 and 1903 are unreliable, as for 18 months of that period the preference did not exist, and many goods merely shipped from the United Kingdom, but of foreign origin, were entered by importers as British. Further, the particulars of purchases from open stocks in the coast colonies were often incorrect in respect to the country of origin. Taking 1904 and 1905 alone, there is an increase of Colonial trade in the latter year, United Kingdom trade remaining almost stationary.
3. Taking the trade of Cape Colony, Natal, and the Transvaal together, which comprises the greater portion of the trade of the South African Customs Union, the figures are as follows for the same period:-
United Kingdom
British Possessions
Foreign
1902.
1903.
1904.
1905.
Per cent.
59.I
Per cent. 56-5
Per cent. 56.8
Per cent. 53.9
17
14.6
27
19.7
23.9
28.9
26 2
26.4
4. My observations regarding the years 1902 and 1903, in regard to Transvaal trade, apply to some extent to the trade of the Cape Colony and Natal, so that the only accurate comparison that can be made is between 1904 and 1905. A comparison of the Transvaal trade alone, with that of the other two principal Colonies, shows that this Colony consumes a larger proportion of foreign goods than do the other Colonies, owing to the large quantity of foreign machinery and mining requisites imported.
5. On the whole, however, there has been a decrease during 1905 over 1904 in the proportion of goods imported from the United Kingdom, but a corresponding increase in goods imported from British Possessions. Canada is the only Colony which enjoys preferential treatment under the Convention. Imports from foreign countries have remained practically stationary.
6. Although the granting of preferential treatment has not resulted in any large increase of British trade, it may reasonably be contended that, had the preference not existed, the competition from foreign countries would have been more severe.
The Right Honourable
&c.
I have, &c.,
RICHARD SOLOMON,
Acting Lieut.-Governor.
The Earl of Selborne, G.C.M.G.,
&c.
&c., High Commissioner, Johannesburg.
(Minute No. 1/407.)
Prime Minister's Office, Cape Town,
June 18, 1906.
WITH reference to his Excellency the Governor's Minute No. 369 of the 3rd ultimo, transmitting copy of a despatch from the High Commissioner inquiring whether a statement could be prepared showing the effect of the preference accorded to British imports into Cape Colony during the last few years, Ministers have the honour to forward a statement of the total values of merchandise imported into this Colony during the eight years ended 31st of December 1905, distinguishing between the value and percentage thereof from the United Kingdom, British Possessions, and foreign countries as far as obtainable from the records, for up to August 1903 no attempt was made to obtain the actual country of origin of goods, but merely that whence they were imported.
Ministers are, however, of opinion that the evidence afforded by this statement is insufficient to show to what extent, if any, Great Britain has benefited by the preference. All inquiries go to show that any gain is largely set off by the adverse action of cheaper freight, railway carriage to the port of shipment, &c., on goods from foreign countries,
L. S. JAMESON.
F 3
45018.
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
3
Reference :--
TELE C.O
+885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
86
1898.
1899.
1900.
1901.
1902.
1903.
1904.
1905.
Valne.
Per
Value.
Cent.
Per
Cent.
Value.
Per
Cent.
Value.
19.J
Value.
Cent.
Per
Cent.
Value.
Per
Cent.
Per
F'er
Value.
Value.
Cent.
Cent.
T
+
£
3
10,409,700
53.5 9,600,163
53.4
1,620,034
8.8❘ 1,595,806
8-8
379,155
1.9
382,683
1.8
RETURN of the VALUE of MERCHANDISE IMPORTED into the CAPE COLONY during the Years 1898-1905 distinguishing between the Value and
Percentage thereof from the United Kingdom, British Possessions, and Foreign Countries.
British goods -
United Kingdom :--
Total from United King- 11,443,178 68.8 dom.
9,911,503
64 5 11,052,428 64-4 13,802,877
64.5 20,994,095
65.4 21,504,474
63-7 12,408,889 63-7 11,528,652 | 640
British Possessions
1,048,126
6.3 1,447,962
9.5 2,477,692
14-4 3,245,776 15-1 3,273,541
10-23,432,941
7.2 2,033,324 10.5 2,432,568
13-6
Foreign Countries.
4,130,050 | 24.9
4,011,506 26-0 3,631,692 | 21-2 | 4,867,507
20.4 7,841,969 24.4
9,827,416 29 1
5,009,045
25.8 4,031,152 22.4
16,621,354 100
15,370,971 100
17,161,812 100
21,416,160 100
32,109,605 100.
34,755,831 100
19,451,258 100
17,992,372 100
80
Foreign goods
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