-July 16, 1896.]
BRITISH TRADE AND THE SHIP- PING CONFERENCE.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
permanent interests of the members of the Conference that they should do that some- thing themselves than that they should wait for legislation in the matter,
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THE EXPANSION OF HONGKONG AND THE WATER SUPPLY. The possibilities of the commercial expan- sion of Hongkong are practically unlimited,
China, the construction of railway and with the prospective openin
Empire, and the great augmentation in the volume of the foreign trade of that country, there is every reason to believe that the growth of the colony, remarkable as it has been in the past, will go on in the future. an increasing ratio. Those who look forw to seeing a million of inhabitants dwelling on our busy island, with a light railway or tramway running round the coast to enable the population to spread out eastward and westward and to the south, might not
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The Committee appointed by H.E. the Governor, in response to an inquiry from
The evidence taken by the Hongkong the Secretary of State asking whether there which there may be good reasons, but if it Committee has not been published, for had been any and what displacement of were accessible it would no doubt prove British goods in this market, are to be very interesting reading for the mercantile congratulated on the practical and business community. Referring to the trade in elike character of their report. The Com-metals the Committee say: "It may be ob- jected that a portion of the evidence does mittee consisted of two officials and two un- "not bear out the statement that deadweight officials, namely, the Hon. J. H. STEWART
cargo shipped direct from Great Britain LOCKHART, Hon. W. C. H. HAStings, Mr. "arrives here at a disadvantage in freight N. J. EDE, and Mr. CHANTREY INCHBALD, compared with that shipped from Conti- It is found as a fact that the displacement
"nental ports. The Committee were con- strained, nevertheless, to accept the of British goods has been going on steadily "balance of evidence, which unmistakably for some years, but that it has not been on points to the conclusion arrived at; and, a strikingly large scale nor have many great
to more clearly elucidate the point, some staples been seriously affected. The causes
tabulated examples of actual shipments regard be had to the commercial prospect "have been obtained." We should like to alone, be deemed unduly sanguine. But assigned for the displacement are (1) see those tabulated examples. The Com- here the Director of Public Works steps lower cost of production of rival foreign mittee also feel bound to record their con- in with a, suggestion of smaller limitations goods, (2) disinclination of British manu-viction that several of the witnesses were facturers to study taste of consumer, (3) indisposed to speak freely on this subject of necessitated by the inadequacy of the water the steadily falling value of silver since the Shipping Conference. We reach solid supply. 'In his able report on the water
ground, however, when we come 1873, (4) lower freights outwards from the question of freights from America.
to supply of the city of Victoria the hon. gentleman examines the question not only foreign as compared with British ports, and "this connection the Committee wish to with regard to the requirements of the (5) cheaper railway transit to foreign ports of "make special reference to the advantages shipment. The two last named causes apply "conferred on American cotton piece goods present but also with regard to the require- more especially to metals and heavy goods, and “in the China market by the rates of freight tents and possibilities of the future. No. 4, the Committee regret to say, is due charged by the Conference steamers from He has a scheme in hand to bring to the action of the Shipping Conference "New York to Hongkong and Shanghai, the supply up to present requirements and (consisting chiefly of British steamship "which average from 25/- to 30/- per ton
a further scheme which will raise the sup- owners), which, while maintaining freights as compared with 57/6 from London and ply to a sufficiency for a population of from British ports, carry cargo at a much Liverpool putwards. The same remarks 266,000 persons, or the estimated popula lower rate from Continental and American apply to the shipment of machinery from tion in 1910. But the actual population in ports, thus giving foreign manufactures a "the United States to China, the freight for that year will probably be far in excess of virtual subsidy in their competition with "which is about forty per cent. lower than the estimate, and it seems likely, British products. The Committee suggest that from British ports." It is rather therefore, that the requirements will that this question is of such paramount curious, after reading this, to read that the advance more rapidly than the supply. importance to British trade that it might United States Consul at Canton in an official When the Taitam works were entered upon fittingly form the subject of a searching report has been complaining of high freights it was thought that with their completion investigation on the part of the Home from America. If a similar rate of freight the colony would have got over the water Government. We hope this suggestion will "could be obtained for and with cargoes difficulty for a long time to come, but the be acted upon and that some method will" from the Atlantic ports of the United population had so grown in the meantime be adopted for rectifying the evil. "States to Eastern Asin, American com that almost as soon as the new supply was sympathise with shipowners in endeavour- merce would be benefited," writes Consul available it was found to be insufficient. ing to keep the rates of freight up to SEYMOUR, "but, at present, and for many The Taitam project, as Mr. COOPER points a paying standard and by agreement years past, all of the steamships laden with out, was for the supply of water to 92,000 amongst themselves doing away with cut- "Asiatic cargoes for the Atlantic ports of persons, but the works were not completed throat competition; all that is right and "the United States generally return to Asia until 1889, by which time the population proper; but it is quite a different thing" with European cargoes; or, if any cargo had increased to upwards of 170,000. So when we find British shipowners discrimi "via the Suez Canal comes from American will it be with Mr. COOPER's project and nating against British trade and favouring Atlantic ports, it is subject to double (his estimatell population of 266,000. The the foreigner. If that is the price that has 'freight-that is, from America to Europe hon. gentleman, however, sets limits to the to be paid for the maintenance of the Con- " and from Europe to Asia, with tranship growth of the city in the following terms ference, then the sooner the Conference is "ment at some European port usually. It Though I have assumed that the rate broken up the better. The Government could "is high time for Americans to establish of increase in the population of the city hardly take upon itself the regulation of "direct communication with the freights as will be maintained for the next ten years rates of freight, but there may be other "low from New York to Asia as from at the rate of 5,000 persons per annum, means by which the evil could be met, as
the Hongkong to America (258. per ton) and "I am of opinion that, considering for instance, by so amending the law relat-" as low as from Europe to Asiatic ports." limited area of the city and its present ing to conspiracy as to bring the Conference This quotation is taken from a home" overcrowded condition, such a rate of within the legal meshes. It will be paper and we have not had the opportunity "increase should not be permitted remembered that some years ago a ship of seeing the full report, but taking "not likely to occur. In view of the owner not in the Conference sued the mem- the quotation as it stands and comparing" improvements in Kowloon it. bers of that body for damages sustained by it with the report of the Hongkong Com-"probable that the increase in reason of an alleged boycot placed upon one mittee on the displacement of British goods, "population of the colony will to of his vessels, but the action failed, the law and also with the complaints of British "extent be confined to that district, th being on the side of the defendants. But manufacturers that have from time to time" supply of which is entirely separate the law might be altered in such a manner been published, we should say the worthy that the Conference should be unable to Consul is considerably at sea in his state- choke off free competition. That would ments. We believe it to be the fact bring the rates of freight down by the run, that, to say nothing of the rate on direct which is not altogether desirable, for, as shipments, goods can be conveyed Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND pointed out at from New York to Liverpool, transhipped" 4 and 5 the water pu the meeting of the P & O. Company the at that port into a steamer for China, and existing reservoir the co other day, they are alrently very low; but brought out to their destination at a total of these suggested reservoirs ar if through the action of the Conference cost much below that which has to be paid and 250 acres respectively, and freights are kept lower for foreign goods on British goods carried in the same of the supply than for British goods something must be steamer from Liverpool: Small wonder that might be cal done. It would probably be better for the British trade should decay 1a
80,000 of 90,000 pers
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however, not be the case a materi crease in the water supply ved the Taitam Valley may be o construction of the reservoir
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