OVERSEAS DOMINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 6

OVERSEAS DOMINIONS.

FIFTEEN YEARS' PROGRESS. STRIKING FIGURES. How tho King's Overseas Dominions have doveloped in the fifteen years ending in 1910 is told iu a bulky volume of figures described «s the "Statistical. Abstract for the Several British Self-govern-ing Dominions, Crown Colonies, Possessions, and Protectorates," issued by the British Board of Trade (says the London "Daily Telegraph"). In many respects it is a ratvarknblc record of progress—a story, for the most par!, of abounding aiid'sfeadily-growing prosperity. Exclusive of the United Kingdom, the area ef tho Empire is now approximately 11,185,000 3quaro miles. In Ib9l the population of this vast territory numbered 307,474,000; in 1901 it was 343,789,000, and in 1911 it had risen to the hugo total of 371,102,000. The annexed' , ' tnblo shows how the populations of the principal (laughter States have grown during the last decade:— . ; ■ t ; -

1901. 1911. Canada and Newfound- ■■'■■• ■ land :..... 5,035,379 7,323,476 Commonwlth. of Aust. 3,773,801 1,449,193 Union o£ S.A. (1904) -..: 3,592,158 5,958,49? Aew "Zealand '..' 772,719 1,003,46'S TRADE EXPANSION. Tables relating to the growth of trade during the period under review bear emphatic testimony to tho great and growing importance .of the colonial market, to which foreign countries seem to be fully alive. The figures disclose a marvellous expansion in the commerce of the Empire overseas. In fifteen years the aggregate value of the trade of the Domiaious and Possessions.-has far more than doubled, having risen from ,£384,256,000 to .£870,539,000. It is gratifying to note that of this large total the United Kingdom's share is still greater than that of all foreign countries combined. On tbe other hand, our relative position is not being maintained. While between 1896 and 1910 colonial : trade with this country increased by .£190,513,000,; in the same period colonial trade with 'foreign countries rose by J!231,31!2,0u0. Below are the figures for the two years in detail:—. Imports. 1836. 1910. From , £ -* United Kingdom 98,682.000 ' 183.8C8.000 •British Possessions 31,030,000 64,968,000 Foreign countries 59,033,000 . 177,224,000 . Totala 188,7-47,000 426,060,000 Exports. 1596. 1910. To ■£ £ Tlnited Kingdom 92,676,000 198,003,000 British Possessions 29,977,000 60,497,000 Foreign countries 72,856,000 •'■ 185,979,000 Totals 135,509,000 ' 444,479,000 UNITED KINGDOM'S SHABE. The- following further ■ bible shows at a glance tho development of trade between the Mother' Country avid the. principal portions of the Empire ia the space of a decade and a half:— > .. . Imports From the United Kingdom. 1896. ■ 1910. British India ■ 38,269,61" 72,186,070 Australia 20,252,561 30,420,510 British South Africa 17,383,000 -24,724,889 Canada ; -R;813,130 22,691,391 Xcw Zealand -1,7U,(7« 10.498,771 West Africa -2,317,000 7,8011,001) West Indies 2,813,191 3,272,103 Exports to the United Kingdom. -. 189fi. 1910. British India 21,016,426 37,176,532 Australia : 21.030,820 37,698,312 British .South Africa 17,177,001) 50,103,477 Canada .v:' 13,703,484 ' 28,1 M,73.i New Zealand .'... 7,51),!I81 18,ra,",133 West Africa :... '■1,825,000 1,012,000 West -Indies l.GGl.Gaff 1,9.56,711 THE IMPERIAL MAIL. Post Office business has Fully kept pact r.ith developments in other direction.-!. Here nrc. some of the principal figures for letters and cards alone in 1910, toiU'ther with llu>'-corresponding totals for 1901:— . 1901. 1910. British India ... 46!>,209..J82 . 5f1.0,308,872 Australia, ;. 220,177.612' 39a,8:j0,fi52 Canada ..;.,..'...'.. 229,S'i!>,O0ft 52G,e29,3ft0 New Zealand ... 54.f15n.937 "210.4:1(1X3(5 i'.l'Ttin'svanl ■ ' 8,868.982 ' ;iS,fl(iß,;Hs R/im/e.-ia. ..;....... 2.173,789 ' 7MI.GS2 ,'Ceylon .10,535,125. , 2?,154,056 In 1910 British India hn.d 72.7-!fi milenf telegraph lines Au-.ti-.ilia «.#2 miles I Canada 36,517. New .Zolaml 11.318. rape Cpl'vny S-186. Klindpiia -Hfl). and Ni-Wh WH mil"?.