31

A.—6a

it was £20,228,836. That is a period of twenty-four years, during which the trade was practically the same. The year 1906, as a matter of fact, was rather ati abnormal one, the figures for 1905 being only £16,991,009, so that over that whole period Britain's export trade to Australia did not increase, but remained about stationary. During the same period, however, Australia's total imports did not remain stationary. In 1880 the imports into Australia amounted to £24,622,000, but in 1906 thoy had increased to £44,745,000, so that over the same period, during which Britain's trade remained about the same, if indeed it showed no decrease, the imports into Australia had increased by over £20,000,000. All this increase took place with foreign countries, which were able to extend their trade with Australia although Britain could not. Preference was introduced in 1906, and between 1906 and 1913 the position changed, British imports increasing from the £20,228,836 already mentioned to £34,471,269, and in the latter year Britain was supplying 63 per cent, of Australia's import trade. During the war, owing to the fact that supplies could not be obtained from Britain, the percentage that Britain supplied of Australian imports dropped to 46 per cent. In 1920 the Australian Parliament passed a now tariff under which largely increased preferences were given to Great Britain. Wo wished to help Britain to regain her place in our markets if we could possibly do so, and the action taken was certainly effective, because by 1920-21 the percentage of British imports was restored to 64 per cent, of the total trade. 1 think these facts indisputably show that the preference is of value, and it will be a most unfortunate thing if anything is done to interefere with it. Value of Dominion Markets to Great Britain. Another point I think we have to establish is that the Dominion markets have a value to Great Britain. The export figures for the United Kingdom in 1922 were: Europe £311,026,847, and the Dominions £285,780,649, a balance in favour of Europe of £25,246,198; but of the exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures the Dominions took £270,4.04,802, and Europe £247,655,266, a balance in favour of the Dominions of £22,749,536. I think those latter figures very clearly show the value of the Dominions trade to Great Britain, because practically the whole of the amount that they take represents direct British manufactures, which are providing employment and helping the general economic situation here. The exports from the United Kingdom to the different parts of the world are probably familiar to most of you, but I will quote them Value of the Total Exports of Produce and Manufactures of United Kingdom, to —•

India heads the list, of course, In 1913 she took £70,000,000 ; in 1922, £91,000,000. Australia, in 1913, took £34,000,000; in 1922, £60,000,000. Those are the two Dominions I am. taking; but other countries with which Britain trades show increases. The United States, for instance, shows an increase from £29,000,000 to £55,000,000; France: from £28,000,000 to £48,000,000; and Canada from £23,000,000 to £25,000,000. These figures show a comparison betowesn the Dominions and some other big countries, and later I propose to give you the actual per capita amount that the Dominions take, as against foreign countries, from Britain. The estimate that I have here, anel which I think is of some interest, sheiws what percentage of the exports to different countries from Great Britain consists eif manufactured production. The problem of to-day in Great Britain is to find employment in her great manufactures. The table I am now reading sets out that 95 per cent, of what Australia imports from Britain is manufactured goods ; India, 94-5 per cent; Canada, 80 per cent. ; the United States, 69 per cent. ; Franco, 58 per cent. ; anel Germany, 52 per cent. But, an aspect that I think we have to consider in estimating the value of these, markets is the percentages over a period of years of British exports to foreign countries as compared with the overseas Empire. In 1901 Britain, exported 62 per cent, to foreign countries and 37 per cent, to the overseas Empire. In 1922 the figures were 60 per cent, and 40 per cent. I alsei give the intermediate figures : —

Percentage of Total Exports of Produce or Manufactures of Britain.

Population, 1818, 1022. Inelia Australia Uniteel States of America .,. France Germany Canaela . . .. 320,000,000 5,550,(;0() 110,000,000 40,000,000 65,500,0(10 7,300,000 £ 70,273,221 34,491,269 29,294,579 28,933,072 40,677,379 23,794,935 £ 91,621,301. 60,457,294 55,022,435 48,310,485 32,075,692 25,271,213

Year. Yei :ar. Foreign Overseas Countries. Empire. Tei Year. ?nr. Fprelen Countries. Fprelen Countries. Overseas Empire. Overseas Empire. 901 .913 Per Cent. Per Cent. 62-5 37-5 02-8 37-2 1921 1922 Per Cent. 57-6 60-0 Per Cent, 42-4 40-0