84 WAGES AND EMPIRE 



of 20,000 tons, but growing rapidly and (in the opinion 

 of the Commissioners) certain to increase. 



Tin. — Of the three Dominions AustraHa is the tin 

 producing country, and sends us about a milHon pounds' 

 worth a year. She might send us also the further three 

 million pounds' worth which we require, since payable 

 tin occurs in every state of the Australian Common- 

 wealth and in Tasmania. 



Zinc. — Of the four million pounds' worth of zinc 

 imported before the war into the United Kingdom a 

 million pounds' worth came from Australia, and three 

 million pounds' worth from other countries, principally 

 from Germany. But the latter was really Australian 

 zinc, for the treatment of which the German and others 

 had put up large works. Australia could supply the 

 United Kingdom directly with all her zinc imports if 

 the treatment of the ore took place either where it was 

 mined or on arrival in the United Kingdom. When 

 the Commissioners reported, a plan to do this was about 

 to be carried out, and it was anticipated that Australia 

 would directly supply all the zinc requirements of the 

 United Kingdom. 



Manganese. — This mineral comes mostly from India, 

 but there exist extensive unworkcd deposits in Australia, 

 and some in New Zealand and Canada. 



Silver. — Of the one and a half million pounds' worth 

 required annually by the United Kingdom only half a 

 million pounds' worth comes from the Dominions, and 

 this strangely enough from Australia, although the great 

 silver producing Dominion is Canada. Canadian silver 

 is exported to the United States, while the balance of 

 the United Kingdom requirements are imported from 

 South America. 



Gold. — The import requirements of the United 

 Kingdom in gold are small, and the half million pounds' 

 worth received from Australia satisfies them. 



Siimmary of metals. — It will be seen that some of 



