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CHINA'S TRADE IN 1901.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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shows 29 per cent. from Hongkong and 71 from Shanghai. Into the discussion on the lekin and transit-pass questions we cannot, unfortunately, from want of space follow the report. We must note, however, that of the former Mr. JAMIESON says:"There is in China a growing feeling that, could other means of raising an equivalent revenue be devised, lekin should be done away with. The total amount it brings into the Government coffers-Imperial and provincial is said to be between "16,000,000 to 18,000,000 tacls. The mode "of collection, however, is so radically vicious, and affords so many opportunities for harassing trade that the majority of culightened officials are anxious to see it abolished."
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passenger traffie they have gradually built up, the Peninsular and Oriental "Steam Navigation Company should so systematically have neglected to avail "itself of its opportunities.' Mr. JAMIESON sees an arrest of the development of early traditions of the P. & O. Company, which has allowed others to seize what by exercise of foresight it might have had itself. Admitting, too, the strong position of the British companies with respect to the coast trade of China, he speaks with admiration of the determined efforts of the Japanese, and points out the advantages which they enjoy in understanding the wants of native passengers. With regard to the opposition of other Powers, in their desire to foster their own trade, he says that the induce. ments being offered to those shipping goods to and produce from, Manchuria via Dalny, may, at no very distant date, bave the effect of driving 150,000 tons of British shipping away from Newchwang. The burden, in fact, of the report is that the energy of Britain's competitors is making serious inroads on our trade, and that we are not making the necessary efforts to counteract these. We cannot prevent the increase of other Powers' commerce, but we can provide that our own shall not fail through our mistakes.
THE HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
Daily Press, 16th December.)
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exchange has had the effect of stimulating"not clear why, if it pays the German and exports from China, and it has been asserted Pacific mail lines to cater for the large Daily Press, 18th December.)
that but for the fall in silver many articles" By the last mail from England we received now in the export list would never have a copy of a report by Mr. J. W. JAMIESON, found their way there, and that a rise in British Commercial Attaché for China, ou exchange would cause them to disappear the foreign trade of China in 1901. The altogether. Mr. JAMIESON, like so many pamphlet is of an elaborate nature and others, points out the damage done to extends to 54 pages of the ordinary size of China's export trade by the suicidal policy our diplomatic and consular reports. It of the native seller in adulterating his contains not only figures but also clear- goods; and he shows how the fierce com- headed deductions from them, and a careful petition of Europeans merchants for the reading will certainly repay the expenditure limited exports of China induces the of time. For purposes of comparison with Chinaman to make his little go as far as 1901, a year in which trade in some parts possible. With regard to the tea-trade Mr. of China had to be carried on under the JAMIESON puts forward the arguments with abnormal conditions arising out of the which we are familiar here, and declares troubles of 1900, Mr. JAMIESON selects the the trade, in much the same terins as we year 1896, in which commerce recovered ourselves used a few days ago, to be past from the shock dealt it by the war with recovery. As for the inland trade, Mr. Japan. In the interval the total foreign JAMIESON points out that, with the excep- trade of China increased by nearly tion of the fraus-frontier commerce with £9,000,000. Imports, for which more silver Russia and a negligible quantity of com. bad to be paid, owing to a fall of over eleven modities exchanged across the Burma per cent. in the value of the metal, showed horder, China's supplies of foreign mer an increase of more than £5,500,000, while chaudise are drawn in the first instance exports increased by £3,313,000. The frum Rangoon, Hongkong, and Shanghai. figures for British trade with China were in A table of the percentage of foreigu imports 1896 £39,103,800 and in 1901 £41,963,620 | distributed by Hongkong and Shanghai -an increase of £2,859,820. The aggregate | of British trade, which in 1896 formed 56.6 per cent. of the whole, was in 1901 only 51.02 per cent., direct imports from the United Kingdom falling 15.9 per cent. Hongkong in imports to China advanced from £15,226,000 in 1896 to £17,798,250 in 1901; and in exports from £9,008,500 in 1896 to £10,664,250 in 1901. India also manifested an improvement both in imports and export, whereas other British dominions shared in the twofold falling-off of the United Kingdom. Of the thirty-nine millions and a half of merchandise imported into China in 1901, 14 millions represented the value of cotton goods, over 4 that of opium, 2 kerosene oil, nearly 2 sugar, over 1 metals, and over half-a-million woollen goods. Cotton goods have neither advanced nor declined during the past decade, the falling off in one class being made good by an increased import of another. American drills and jeans have increased, according to Mr. JAMIESON's figures, while there has been a marked decrease in Indian T-cloths, and Japanese T-cloths. American and Japanese cotton flannel, and Japanese yarn have increased to a large ex- tent. Nor is there much change in the opium trade. In spite of the steady increase in the cultivation of native opium, the Indian drug continues to hold its place, and the import in 1901 was almost exactly the same as in 1897. The importation of morphia nearly doubled in the last six years, and its use has spread rapidly throughout Southern and Central China. Pills are the common form in which the morphia is taken, but subcutaneous injection also exists. While the main staples of the import trade, except keroseno and sugar, have to a great extent remained stationary, certain articles included under the head of sundries show great strides. Chife amongst these are flour, matches, soap, cigars and cigarettes, aniline dyes, perfumery, paints, and umbrellas. Mr. JAMIESON sces gradual change in native taste and a teu- dency to absorb, more and more, articles of Western luxury. The growth of cigarette- smoking, superseding the Chinese water pipe as well as the Indian hookah, is a notable instance.
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The Times has been publishing recently a long service of articles upon Municipal Socialism," which, whether we agree with the writer's views or not, must be admitted to be very interesting reading. One of the latest articles dealt with a subject which cannot but attract a good deal of attention in Hongkong, uamely the housing question. The author of course treats the question as it is in London, where the issue has been between private enterprise and municipal action; but this issue was touched upon the other day by H.E. the Governor in the Legislative Council, and it cannot be con- sidered waste of time to glance at its
One of the most interesting sections of the report is that about "Shipping" The total number of vessels entered and cleared in 1901 was 64,844, aggrogating 48,416,668 tons--including nearly 8,000 Chinese junks, but not the native shipping of Kowloon and Lappa nor that passing through the custom-history in London. Previously to the houses of Mengtsze. Taking a comparison institution of the London County Council again with 1896, we find that the percentages in 1889, when the Metropolitan Board of under the different flags were then :- Works was still supreme, the bousing of the British, 65; Chinese 22; German, 6; working classes was chiefly provided for by Swedish and Norwegian, 3; Japanese, 2; trusts and companies formed for the French, 1; all other flags, I per cent.
In purpose.
When the Board undertook a 1901 the percentages were :— -British, 54; clearance scheme, the cleared land was by it German, 16; C: ineso, 13; Japanese, 11; disposed of at low rates to companies or French, 2 per cent.; United States, 2; private builders. But with the advent of Russian, 1; all others, 1 per cent. That the London County Council came higher “the percentage of British tonnage should | ideas of the kind of dwellings which work. have fallen off so considerably," says the ing men and their families should have, and report, "is due to the strenuous effor.s from the point of view of private enter "made by Germany and Japan to compete prise the restrictions which the Council "for a share of the carrying trade on the imposed in its building agreements became
coast of China, to the increase in the size | "of the mail steamers which German com- | "panies employ in their Far Eastern liue, and to the development of the Japanese steamship services with the United States and Europe." Mr. JAMIESON continues:- It was not to be expected that we would be allowed to retain for ever our former supremacy in the matter of the carrying trade, but the opposition we now have to encounter is by no means to be despised, "and should our percentage of the gross tounage go on dwindling at the rate of "the past five years, in 1926 the British flag į "will represent 4 per cent. of the whole. "It is to be presumed that the ocean "carriers know best how to defend their own interests, although to an outsider it is
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Turning to the export trade of China in 1901, the total estimated value was over £25,000,000, silk accounting for £8,920,434 and tea for £2,738,355. The figures, Mr. JAMIESON points out, show that the low
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prohibitive, “Such, indeed," says the Times writer, was the nature of the restrictions imposed by the L.C.C. that in one instance, at least, the representative of a Luge housing company told them, 'If you offer me your land for nothing, I "won't have it.' The institution of the Loudon County Council has meant that the formation of great public com- panies to deal with the housing question in London Ius practically stopped. Metropolitan Board of Works, moreover, dispose of its cleared land on reduced terins to the companies, whereas the Council put it up to auction. According to the companies' contention, the poor man cannot be housed decently in London if, to begin with, the land must be bought at its
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