ON BRITISH AND FOREIGN STATISTICS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE. 317 
difficult, The inaccuracies in price statements in the United Kingdom 
are probably of not much importance in the main lines of goods, and the 
aggregate value is not much affected. It is probably safe to compare the 
records of total imports and total exports in particular countries with 
their own previous records, if we pay the necessary attention to the 
changes discussed in Section D above. In Germany we cannot go back 
beyond 1880. ‘There is a widespread distrust of the trade statistics of 
U.S.A. We can compare the rates of increase in one country with those 
of another more safely than we can compare the actual amounts in par- 
ticular years. On the other hand, we cannot at all easily compare either 
the total special or the total general trades of one country with those of 
another. We cannot divide a country’s exports into those of home pro- 
duce and of foreign produce in any systematic way. We cannot, however 
we group countries together or analyse the figures, use the statistics repre- 
senting the total trade between two countries or two groups of countries, 
except in the roughest way, for purposes which would not be affected by 
a great percentage error. 
The Committee make the following suggestions, which should rather 
be regarded as statements of the kind of information they have specially 
felt the want of, and which does not seem impossible to obtain, than as 
final expressions of opinion as to the best way of remedying the defects 
in our knowledge. They, however, attach considerable importance to 
No. 6. 
1. That the Board of Trade should make an inquiry, to whatever extent 
and in whatever way proves practicable, as to the prevalence of erroneous 
statements, especially of value of exports. 
2. That the Board of Trade should make an estimate of the extent to 
which export trade is done on a c.if. basis, and as to whether any 
source of error is introduced in the published values by this development. 
3. That in the same way an estimate should be made as to the over- 
valuation of imports when they are valued at market prices. 
4, That the classification of goods by quantity and quality at present 
in use is not perfect, and that the Board of Trade should consult the 
chambers of commerce and others as to the methods of improving it. 
5, That it should be considered whether exports of textile goods 
cannot be entered in some way which will give more detailed information, 
and make the returns more easily comparable with those of foreign 
countries. 
6. It is very advisable for the sake of the public who use the official 
publications that a reasoned statement relating to the accuracy and exact 
meaning of the returns should be inserted in every Annual Statement of 
Trade, and in a more contracted form in the Statistical Abstract for the 
United Kingdom and in the Monthly Returns. In the same way a careful 
and brief criticism of the meaning and accuracy of the statistics of trade 
of foreign countries should be inserted in the Statistical Abstract for the 
Principal and other Foreign Countries. As it is, it is a matter of the 
very greatest difficulty for even the educated public to attach the right 
meaning to the official returns. 
The Committee regard with satisfaction the steps the Board of Trade 
have taken in Cd. 1761 and No. 131 of 1904 to inform the public on these 
matters, and trust that publications of this nature will continue to be 
issued, 
