OUR PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 650, 29 October 1909, Page 3

OUR PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Mr. John Duthie,.in-your issue of the 2oth, repeats his opinion that the preferential tariff Jias entirely . failed-to effect its'object. He supports his belief by, reference to imports from British possessions, not including, specie, two quinquennial periods, as compared with imports fforii foreign countries • during, tho same periods. From aii examination of nye such periods, it seems to me Mr. Dathie's conclusions "cannot bo justified.' I give'the figures:— v ■ ' ii s> | ■ If. ' : 8 1' . £ ;v.. '• ,; s§ • s ! ' &' i • ■ u 2 2 ' ";Q g ' '2 '' ' M" "" '"" i■' Ha ' -g'Z S . eSM ■ - C/tfi St 2 a s*y c ® to' . £8 - JSf S.® a . S 9 ■ :■ • e - . • ho British.'For'gn. £ .£ 1889.1893 ... 28,706,031 . 2,871,371 90 10. ■ > 1894-1898 '...>31,100,112 4,217,007 88 12 1899-1903 ... 44,464,947 8,743,448 83.6 16 4 1904-1903 ... 61,726,959 11,754,288 81 16 It will be seen that the percentage of imports from-British possessions fell from the, first 'quinquennial period, to 1903, and that the last period the table shows these imports on tho rise. This period being the one during which the preferential tariff was. in operation, it .is fair to 1 , assumo this'tariff produoed .tho result. In a previous letter I ventured'the opinion that the preferential tariff had effected ita .object with respect' to' certain' imports, some of-which I enumerated. A further .examination some of. the items confirms.-me .in'.the opinion I- had forined. For instance the imports in pounds, sterling of following: items seem to poipt without doubt -.to. tho beneficial effect of. the preferential tariff: 1 - - ' i : From British Possessions. , 1 1893: ; 1898. 1903, ■■ 1903. ' Bicycles and materials nil. 101,213 128,712 177,770 Boots'and-shoes 140,024 116,723 ' 129,964, 200,010 Candles 41,877 26,715 41,586 35,861 Iron, (sheets,. . ' : plates) 14,211 - 38,798 < 54,293 71,902 Iron (bars .and ' < ; ■ . . . bolts) 37,784 86,321 111,038 192,846 Paper (printing) 50,056 43,359 67,909 -.167,280 Instruments . (surgical) 1,588 ; 8,085 16,899 ' 33,402 , .. .From Foreign Countries. • 1893. .1898. . 1903. 1908.' Bicycles and . materials nil. 30,229 32,817 6,247 Boots and shcee 2,652 30j525, 105,290,- ,23,940 Candles. ........ 456 4 14,902 231 Iron,, .(sheets, '' -' plates); 12 3,205 5,675 ' ' 1,121 Iron (bars: and, . bolts) '274' 1,597 8,691 »;IS7 Paper (printing) 15,174 - 31,875 53,000 " 2,082 .Instruments • ' (surgical) 1,218 6,792 ' 15,888 90 . From, 1903 to 1908 tho preferential tariff has been in ojioration, and ' its effect on tho 'importation of 1 the above item seems to'me clear. : —I am, etc., J. ALLEN. . October' 27. f'• "■■■ ' : V;' :