1867.] Belgian Competition in the Iron Manufacture. 199 



Turning now to the Exports of Iron from the United Kingdom 

 we have in — 



18G4. 1865. 1866. 



Tons .... 1,476,130 1,593,632 1,647.345 



showing an increase on each year, including the last, notwith- 

 standing the derangements of various kinds which affected the Iron 

 trade in 1866. The British quantities are exclusive of castings, &c, 

 which are included in the Belgian figures.* 



It has heen stated further that Belgian and French Iron is 

 being largely used in England. The Belgian Beturns show that 

 the Export of Iron from Belgium to the United Kingdom was — 



1865. Ten months of 1866. 



Tons .... 14,193 1,817 



and the total Export of Iron manufactured in France to all countries 

 in the first eleven months of 1866, was 2,494 tons ; so that it is 

 needless to inquire what proportion of French iron came to this 

 country. 



N.B. — Hie entire Export of Iron from France in the eleven 

 months was 37,578 tons, hut the whole of this quantity, except the 

 above 2,494, consisted of foreign Iron. 



I have not been able to obtain any return of the imports of 



Foreign Machinery into the United Kingdom (Mr. Laird, M.P., 



has moved for a return of the quantities), but the Exports were 



as follows : — 



Declaeed Value. 



1864. 1865. 1866. 



Steam Engines . . £1,617,117 £1,958,533 £1,750,492 



Other sorts .... £3,231,475 £3,264,100 £2,998,692 



This slight falling off in 1866 is accounted for, as the detailed 

 figures show, by an almost entire cessation of a large temporary 

 demand for Egypt, and by a diminution of exports to Germany 

 and Spain, arising in each case from obvious causes. 



It may be useful to add, that we exported to Belgium in 1866 

 (partly, no doubt, in transit to Germany) machinery of the declared 

 value of 151,297?. 



It is unnecessary to offer any comment on these figures, as 

 establishing the relative position of the iron manufacture in the 

 two countries; but on the other hand, I would direct attention 

 to the fact, that the exports of machinery to Belgium have, in the 

 last five years, consisted chiefly of that used in spinning woollen and 



* There is a considerable and increasing export of iron from the United 

 Kingdom to Belgium, but it is included in the Board of Trade returns in that to 

 "other countries," and not much information could be derived if it were pub- 

 lished separately, inasmuch as a portion is iron in transitu to Germany. 



