BRITAIN'S BEST CUSTOMERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 25, 30 June 1913, Page 6

BRITAIN'S BEST CUSTOMERS

INSTRUCT IVE FIU UK KS. London, lfith May. In reply to a question bv Major Archer Slice, the I'resident of the Board of Trade supplies some instructive figures relative to the exports of the United Kingdom in 1!)12. From these it appears that while Germany, with over 00,(100,01) people, was our largest customer, taking £40,362,707 worth of British goods, Australia, with only 4,500,000 inhabitants, took £34,840,701, the Commonwealth •being the second best customer. An important consideration was that, whereas only (5!).4 per cent, of our exports to Australia came under this category, which, of course indicates the claas of goods from which the Home workman derives his livelihood. The Dominion of Canada occupied fifth place, with an importation of £23,531,311, of Home produce, being exceeded by the United .States ( £30,00.),806) and France £25,">85,681). When the enormous difference in population is taken into consideration, also the fact that 84.5 per cent of our exports to Canada were wholly or mainly manufactured, as against 72.4 per cent, in the case of the United States, and 64.4 per cent, in the ease of France, Canada as a customer can be readily appreciated. Sixth on the list is South Africa, with imports from Great Britain of 88.3 per cent, being .manufactured goods. New Zealand occupies ninth place, with imports from the United Kingdom worth £10,300,334, anil a percentage of 88.0 of manufactured goods. The seventh and eighth places are occupied by Holland and Bclguim.