COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. 



53 



Ndtionalifij of the Shi'pjnng. 



The question of natiouality is important as indicatinj,^ the extent to 

 which foreign competition has been carried. The following figures 

 show the tonnage cleared in 1891, the tonna<rc entered \)?m<f verv 

 similar : — 



Total Clearances for Outside Ports in 1894. 



* Excluding o\ eiland traffic. 



It may be a surprise to some readers that the Australian tonnage 

 should so considerably exceed the British tonnage. But the explana- 

 tion is not far to seek. The Australasian coasting trade deals to a 

 larger extent with jjassengers to and from intercolonial ports, and in 

 loAV-priced goods^ such as coal, as movements coastwise of goods of 

 higher value are discouraged by the excessive tariffs in the different 

 colonies. There can, indeed, be small doubt that were Australia 

 federated the coasting trade would grow vastly in importance, though 

 it would cease to be classed as imports and exports. 



But looking to values, it will be seen that the exports to the United 

 Kingdom in 1894 reached 51-8 per cent, of the total shipments; and 

 in reality it reached a yet larger proportion as the bulk of the over- 

 land exports to Melbourne and South Australia were destined for the 

 United Kingdom. It cannot, so far, be said that in spite of heavy 

 subsidies to certain foreign shipping lines, they have appropriated 

 any very large proportion of the merchandise actually conveyed from 

 New South Wales. The direct shipments to France, Germany, and 

 Belgium amount to 20-2 per cent, of the above values, and consisting 

 largely of wool, such exports naturally represent a high cash value. 

 These comparisons, are, however, in a considerable degree vitiated by 

 the tonnage being in part employed in conveying _ goods to other 

 destinations, and probably an exact comparison, which is not attainable, 

 would considerably vary the foregoing results. 



That Germany and America have materially undermined the dealings 

 of the British manufacturer with New South AVales importers in 

 certain trades, such as musical instruments, iron and steel, machiuery, 

 toys, clocks, and fancy articles, is strongly in evidence, even though 



