TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 7i9 



compai-ed with 29 per cent, of imports from Great Britain. As to duty-paying 

 goods, 53,000,000 represents roughly the value of the preference to Great Britain 

 in 1902 if we consider the amount of duty paid by Great Britain and U.S.A. 

 respectively in relation to the value of the total duty-paying imports. _Tlie 

 increase in the value of British exports to Canada since 1898 has been 11' 5 per 

 cent., and this relates to goods under the preferential tariff only. AlthoLigh the 

 United States have an e.xcess of §25,000,000 over us in exports to Canada, yet this 

 can be accounted for almost to the last dollar by articles in which we do not 

 compete to any great e.\tent, because we cannot. But to our shame be it said 

 that §1,3,000,000 represents the excess of iron and steel exports, and yet our 

 figures for 1902 are an increase of 100 per cent, on those of 1901. The preference 

 chiefly afiects textiles, and here, despite the Dingley tariff, we beat the Americans 

 easily. We have driven them out of the woollen marliet, and even in cottons 

 we liave an overwhelming preponderance. Silk and linen goods tell the same tale. 

 In one market at least we have beaten a protectionist nation, but we have opposed 

 to the Dingley tariff", not free imports, but a preference of o-S^ per cent. If the 

 preference is withdrawn we cannot hope to retain our advantage, or even a footing, 

 in the Canadian market. __^ 



6. Some Economic Aspects of the English Colour Industries. 



By F. EVERSHED. 



The exceptional progress of Germany in the coal-tar industries, much more 

 rapid than her general industrial progress, has given the impression that the 

 English aniliue-clye trade is not only much smaller and less profitable, both of 

 which are true, but is actually disappearing. The statement is sometimes enlarged 

 from dyes to colour, and even to chemicals generally. 



The facts are that our annual export of chemicals increased from 7,639,000/. 

 in 1880-1884 to 8,829,000/. in 1897-1901 and 9,587,000/. in 1902. Germany's 

 export is greater, but only in proportion to her larger population. Her annual 

 rate of increase, however, is greater than ours. 



Our annual export of painters' colours and materials increased from 1,256,000L 

 in 1880-1884 to 1,836,000/. in 1897-1901. 



The figures for coal-tar dyes, averaging 231,000/. in 1882-1902, show a 

 decline since the beginning of the period, but the trade has apparently been 

 stationary in value for the last five years. The figures, however, are untrust- 

 worthy owing to many sources of error. Translated from values to quantities 

 they sliOAv a large increase. Prices have fallen 40 per cent, in the last decade. 

 The industry apparently needs a higher standard of en<rineering, chemical, and 

 business abilitj', and in some factories attempts are being made to supply this. 

 The German annual export has grown from 2,500,000/. in 1882-1888 to over 

 4,000,000/. in 1896-1902. 



The question of the amount of the loss we have sustained by allowing Germany 

 to appropriate the bulk of the coal-tar industries, estimated to produce 10,000,000/. 

 annually, is discussed. The loss must be placed at a fraction of that sum, repre- 

 senting the difference between it and the annual value now being produced by the 

 English labour and capital which would have been diverted to the production of 

 dyes, scents, and medicines. 



Similarly the annual loss to India by the threatened destruction of her indigo 

 industry by Germany will be the difference between the value of Indian indigo, 

 3,000,000/., and the value of the sugar and oil which will be produced on the 

 same lands Avith the same labour. The loss in this case, as in the other, is much 

 less than is commonly supposed. 



In other cases where certain industries are appropriated by foreign countries 

 there need be no loss at all, since employment and profit do not depend on a 

 multiplicity of different occupations, but on the most efficient employment of a 

 limited quantity of capital and skill, to obtain the highest returns by exchange in 

 the world's market. 



