Vol. VIII. No. 86. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[February, 1902.] 
53 
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE REPORTS. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Bradford. — At a meeting of the Council held on the 31st 
December, Mr. W. B. Gordon (president) in the chair, a letter 
from the Huddersfield Chamber of Commerce was read asking 
the Bradford Chamber to support the following resolution : — 
“That His Majesty’s Government be urged to increase the 
.duties on all German wines, in the event of the proposed new 
German tariff coming into operation." The London Chamber 
of Commerce also wrote with reference to the proposed organis- 
ation of a National Commercial and Industrial Congress, in 
order to consider what recommendation should be made to the 
Government with respect to the tariff. It was agreed that the 
Huddersfield communication should be allowed to lie on the 
table. 
The Customs authorities wrote in reply to the Chamber’s 
request for the establishment of a local Custom-house in 
Bradford, stating that they were unable to make any special 
concessions in favour of Bradford, and pointing out that goods 
free of duty were examined at the port of landing, whilst 
dutiable goods might be removed to local bonded warehouses. 
The Governing Board of the Yorkshire College wrote asking 
the Chamber to appoint an additional representative on the 
Committee for the management of the proposed higher com- 
mercial course. Mr. F. F. Steinthal was appointed. 
The president, before presenting a letter which had been 
forwarded to the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy, said there 
appeared to be an impression that the Chamber were about to 
discuss the merits of the Goodman Root case. The Law 
Amendment Committee had had no such thought in their 
minds. Their only desire had been to discuss the abstract 
question of bankruptcy law, and in accordance with this they 
had addressed to the Inspector-General a letter (to which a 
confidential reply had been received) in which, after disclaiming 
any concern as to the case of Goodman Root, the Committee 
drew attention to two points suggested by the proceedings in 
that case. These were as to the necessity of an amendment of 
the law so as to penalise debtors for failure to keep proper books 
of account. “ It has always appeared to this Chamber,” the 
letter went on, ' ' that in dealing with this question the Legislature 
would be striking at the root of most offences in bankruptcy. 
The Committee are now keenly disappointed to find that, in a 
case in which a bankrupt — aftercareful preliminary investigation 
in the Bankruptcy Court, and afterwards before the magistrates 
— has been indicted at the Assizes for making fraudulent entries 
in his books, the charge had not even been investigated by the 
Court. The Committee have before their minds a similar case 
where in the month of February, 1896, a bankrupt was charged 
at the Mansion-house, London, with various offences, including 
fraudulent entries in his books, and these charges were similarly 
withdrawn on the bankrupt pleading guilty to a minor count of 
the indictment, the bankrupt being then sentenced to come up 
for judgment when called 011. The Committee feel very strongly 
that such treatment of charges of this nature is likely to create 
the impression that the fraudulent manufacture of accounts is 
not regarded as an offence of any gravity. The Committee feel 
that the effect will be most demoralising if it becomes generally 
understood that a debtor may keep his books as fraudulently as 
he likes, so long as he takes care to refrain from making false 
entries, or makes none at all, for four months, and staves off his 
bankruptcy for that period.” 
The Committee desired to see some steps taken the effect of 
which would be to penalise bankrupts who have not kept proper 
books of account. They further thought that some steps should 
be taken to secure that offences under the Debtors Act shall be 
thoroughly investigated, and to extend the period of limitation 
beyond which such offences can be punished. They added that 
they thought of placing a resolution on the agenda foi the next 
meeting of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, but first 
asked for the Inspector-General's opinion on the subject. The 
matter was not further referred to, but at a later stage of the 
meeting it was decided to forward the following resolution to be 
placed on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the 
Associated Chambers : — 
“ That the present state of the law as to the punishment of 
fraudulent bankrupts is unsatisfactory, and that the Executive 
Council be requested to consult the various Chambers of Com- 
merce in the Association, with a view to a bill being introduced 
into Parliament to amend the existing law.” 
Other resolutions for the meeting of the Associated Chambers 
adopted by the Council were for the extension of the jurisdiction 
of County Courts so as to make it unlimited (subject to proper 
power of removal to the High Court), or in the alternative the 
establishment of no lower limit of jurisdiction than ^500; and 
for the adoption of a uniform halfpenny inland postage for all 
matter enclosed in open envelopes or wrappers. 
Cardiff, — The Royal Commission on Coal. — At arecent 
meeting of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, the following 
resolution was passed: — “That this meeting of the Cardiff 
Chamber of Commerce, deeming it certain that questions 
affecting the export of coal will engage a large share of the 
attention of the recently-appointed Royal Commission, deeply 
regrets the inadequate representation, especially as regards 
South Wales, of the exporting interest on the Commission, and 
is of opinion that the findings of the Commission will not 
command the confidence they otherwise would.” Mr. W. H. 
Lewis, president of the chamber, said he found that last year 
the South Wales district had 415 per cent, of the foreign coal 
export of the country. The Commission contained one coal 
exporter only, and that one from the north, Mr. John Andrews, 
who proposed the resolution, said the idea which had been 
expressed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and which had 
got a firm hold of the country, that it might be a good thing to 
restrict export of coal, constituted a grave danger and meant 
disaster to the exporting and shipping interests of the country. 
Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P. , said it was a commercial question 
affecting Cardiff more than any other port in the kingdom. For 
several years the Government had been pressed to appoint a 
Royal Commission on the coal supply, and had consistently 
declined to do so until after the coal tax was imposed, when a 
promise was given. This showed that the tax and the question 
of exports were really the origin of the Commission. Not only 
had South Wales been ignored, but the whole commercial 
element. He questioned whether there was any precedent for 
the addition of a member to a Royal Commission, and if there 
were he doubted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would 
favour the appointment. In the House of Commons he had 
urged the Government to see that the commercial element was 
adequately represented on the Commission, and a member of 
the Government then asked what was meant by “ the commercial 
element.” He might mention incidentally that he would take 
the earliest opportunity of moving the House of Commons to 
do away with the Board of Trade and its president, and asking 
for the appointment of a Ministry of Industry and Commerce, 
with a Minister who should have the status of a Secretary of 
State. 
Dundee. — At a meeting on the 26th Dec. last, the president 
(Mr. David Macintyre), in reviewing the work of the past year, 
said reference was made to the circular which had been received 
from the Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade, requesting 
information in connection with the new German tariff. The 
opinions then expressed were kept in view in the reply given to 
the Government, and were embodied in the. report on the articles 
in which Dundee was specially interested. An assurance had been 
received iu reply that the various points raised would have the 
careful attention ot the Committee. The revision of the Spanish 
tariff, which was soon to engage the attention of the Spanish 
Government, gave an opportunity of again representing the ex- 
ceptional rate of duty levied on the yarns of this district, more 
especially the heavier sizes of linen yarns. I11 the tariff of 1892 the 
rate of duty on these yarns was altered from 27$ to 45 pesetas per 
100 kilogrammes. The result of that change had been not only 
to restrict the exports to Spain very seriously, but also to greatly 
hamper the weaving industry in that country. The linen manu- 
facturers in Spain who used that class of yarns had felt the 
disadvantage of the high duty so much that they were now 
petitioning their Government for a return to the former rate — or 
to* a still lower one. The Directors had placed all the facts 
bearing on the subject before the Government, and they had the 
satisfaction of knowing that His Majesty’s Ambassador at 
Madrid had been instructed to take such action as might be in 
his power in the matter. 
It was customary at the closing meeting of the year to refer 
to the main features of the trade, so far as its volume and value 
were concerned. Compared with the preceding year the 
importations of raw material showed an increase all round. 
Imports of flax and tow from 1st January, 1901, to this date 
had been 18,400 tons, and hemp and hemp codilla 2,090 tons, 
an increase of 4,000 tons of flax over the imports of 1900, hemp 
showing no difference. Imports of jute for the year amounted 
to 200,000 tons, compared with 186,000 tons in 1900, an 
increase of 14,000 over last year. In exports the figures testified 
to the restrictive production which had marked the linen trade 
this year. During the eleven months from the 1st January to 
30th November, 11,864,000 lbs. of linen yarns, of the value of 
.£754,000 sterling were exported, as compared with 15,000,000 lbs. 
— value £853,000 sterling — exported in the corresponding period 
of 1900, a decrease for 1901 of 3J million lbs. of yarn and 
£99,000 value. The decrease applied to all countries to which 
linen yarns were exported. Linen cloth had been exported to 
the extent of 135^ million yards, valued at £3,350,000, as against 
143 million yards, valued at ,£3,550,000, for the same period in 
the previous year, a decrease of 7} million yards and £-200,000 
value. The United States of America showed an increase of 
5 per cent, and the Republic of Colombia an increase of 100 per 
cent. With these exceptions all other countries had taken 
smaller quantities of linens this year than in 1900. In jute 
manufactures, on the other hand, the volume of trade had been 
larger this year than in 1900. Jute yarn exports for the eleven 
months of this year had amounted to 39J million lbs., valued at 
f 471,000 sterling, as compared with 35^ million lbs., valued at 
450,000 for the same period in 1900, an increase of 33? million 
lbs. of yarn and ,£21,000 value. Of jute cloth for the same 
periods the exports had amounted to 200 millions of yards, 
valued at £1, 985, 000, in 1901, compared witli 157 millions of 
yards, valued at ,£1,706,000, in 1900, an increase of 43 millions 
of yards and ,£279,000 value. Three-fourths of that increase 
had been to the United States of America and the remainder to 
the Argentine Republic, Brazil, and Canada. The value of jute 
manufactures imported from abroad was almost exactly the 
same as in 1900, viz., ,£2,015,000, These were again exported 
to the extent of ,£1,677,000, leaving a value of ,£338,000 sterling 
as the apparent home consumption of jute cloth manufactured 
abroad. The corresponding figures for 1900 showed that the 
apparent home consumption in that year of jute goods manu- 
factured abroad was ,£500,000. The high prices which were 
current for flax at the beginning of this year continued until 
towards the closing months, w'hen the promise of a more 
abundant supply exercised a downward influence on prices, 
with a somewhat more hopeful prospect for the trade. The 
demand for linen goods had not been equal to the average. It 
had, however, been materially assisted by the requirements of 
the Government, but as yet there was not full employment for 
the looms. For the first half of the year prices of jute were 
firm, and gradually advanced until the opening of the new 
season. Thereafter, under free selling and the issue of the 
Government forecast, values gradually receded, but the market 
had again stiffened to some extent. All concerned were waiting 
with interest to see if the supply for the next few months would 
justify the expectations which had been formed as to the 
extent of the crop. It was always difficult to forecast the 
prospects of the jute trade, which from time to time underwent 
many fluctuations. There was no apparent reason for a 
desponding outlook at present, but it must be kept in mind 
that the legislature had decreed that the production was to be 
lessened after 1st January next to the extent of nearly one 
week in the year, and that Dundee would be to that extent 
handicapped in competition with other countries for supplying 
the markets of the world. 
The President concluded by referring to the inconvenience 
which the trading community had suffered through the break- 
down in the telegraph service throughout the country. This 
had been so severely felt lately that they could not allow the 
matter to sleep. The matter should be pressed on the attention 
of the Government, and they should avail themselves of the 
opportunity of united action with other Chambers of Commerce 
in this important matter. 
Leeds. — At the monthly meeting on December 31, attention 
was given to subjects to be considered at the meeting of 
Associated Chambers next month. One of these related to the 
recent interruption in telegraphic communication on account of 
recent storms. The secretary (Mr. R. K. Calvert) remarked 
that two or three other Chambers had taken the matter up, and 
were proposing resolutions for the meeting of Associated 
Chambers. Liverpool and Edinburgh had both drafted resolu- 
tions, and, in the circumstances, it was not thought necessary to 
duplicate them, if they met the view of the Leeds Chamber. 
The president (Mr. G. R. Portway) thought they could 
decide later which resolution they would give preference to. 
The secretary read the resolutions passed by the Edinburgh and 
Liverpool Chambers, as follows : — 
Edinburgh. — That whereas the frequent breakdown of the 
telegraphic system of the country is a great disadvantage and 
loss to all classes, and past experience proves that no remedy is 
to be found for these periodical stoppages except the substitution 
of underground trunk lines for the present overhead system, 
this Association resolves that the Postmaster-General be again 
urged to proceed without further delay with the completion of the 
underground system between the main centres of commerce, 
and that the Executive Council be requested to arrange for an 
influential deputation to wait upon the Postmaster-General with 
this object. 
Liverpool. — That in view of the great disorganisation and 
prejudice to business resulting from the recent stoppage of 
telegraphic communication within the United Kingdom, owing 
to the destruction by storm of the overhead telegraph wires, this 
Chamber is strongly of opinion that steps should be taken 
immediately by the Postmaster-General to place wires under- 
ground in sufficient number for emergency purposes, between 
London, Liverpool, and other important commercial centres of 
the kingdom. 
The president said they had all seen the reply of the Post- 
master-General to the . Liverpool deputation. It seemed very 
largely a question of expense. The breakdown had been felt 
very seriously in Leeds, and they regarded it as an intolerable 
interruption to business. The question of expense, whilst it 
might be seriously considered, was one that should not outweigh 
a great public improvement and the need for regular communi- 
cation. It had been established that underground wires could 
do their work without any such risk of disorganisation as 
affected the overhead wires, and in the interests of commerce 
they ought to put pressure on the Government to get an 
extension of the underground system. The Government needed 
the commercial community behind them to make them do what 
they now thought they could not do. It was decided to support 
one or other of the resolutions at the meeting of the Associated 
Chambers. It was also agreed to send a communication to the 
Postmaster-General pointing out the great inconvenience suffered 
in Leeds through the recent collapse. 
In answer to a communication from the Chamber, in which 
they sought an expression of opinion in favour of the compulsory 
adoption of the metric system, replies were received from all the 
local membersof Parliament, except Mr. Lawson Walton. K.C.. 
and Mr. Whiteley. Mr. G. W. Balfour, President of the Boasd 
of Trade, wrote — I am afraid my reply must be that, while 
recognising the many advantages of the metric system, I am 
not prepared, as head of the department which would have 
charge of any legislation dealing with the subject, to say that 
the time has come when the system could be advantageously 
enforced by a compulsory measure. Mr. W. L. Jackson 
replied — I think that in some branches of trade there is a 
growing opinion that the metric system would be an advantage ; 
but I feel some difficulty as regards the compulsory adoption of 
the system, and I incline to think that it would be better to wait a 
little and see whether under the permissive system the movement 
makes any practical headway, Mr. Id. S. Cautley answered 
that he was quite willing to add his name to the list of members 
of Parliament who are in sympathy v. ith the compulsory adoption 
of the system ; and Mr. Herbet Gladstone replied that he had 
sent in his name to the Decimal Association as a supporter of 
the system. 
One of the subjects the Leeds Chamber proposes to bring 
before the meeting of Associated Chambers relates to reform of 
Parliamentary procedure. The united Chambers will be asked 
to say that an amendment of the present system of transacting 
both public and private business by Parliament is urgently 
required in the interest of commercial and other beneficial 
legislation, and putting forward suggestions for the re-arrangc- 
ment of business and an extension of the principle of devolu- 
tion. 
On the motion of the president, Mi\ Robinson was appointed 
a second representative of the Council on the committee for the 
management of the higher commercial course at the Yorkshire 
College, 
Liverpool. — At a meeting of the African trade section of 
the Chamber, on the 21st ult. , Sir A. L. Jones presiding, a reply 
was read from the Colonial Secretary's office at Lagos to a 
communication from the section, to the effect that the Governor 
was not prepared, without first receiving an order from the 
Secretary of State, to abolish any dues during the present 
financial year. The question of the advisability of their main- 
tenance or abolition had been considered, and his Excellency’s 
views had been communicated to the Secretary of State. The 
Government understood that the general consensus of opinion in 
Lagos favoured the maintenance of transit duties, and it had 
been pointed out to the Secretary of State that the Liverpool 
Chamber of Commerce had in that and all similar recommend- 
ations refrained from suggesting any substitute tax. Complaints 
received from West African gold-mining companies as to delay 
with the concessions work of the Gold Coast Court had been 
forwarded to the Colonial Office. Mr. Chamberlain replied 
that the matter was receiving his attention, and he promised a 
further communication on the subject. A scheme of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Lamprey, R.A.M.C., for providing light ambulance 
trains in the West African colonies had also been forwarded by 
the section to Mr. Chamberlain, who had replied that he was 
bringing the matter under the notice of the Governors of the 
Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and Lagos. 

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE OF THE PAST 
MONTH. 
January , 1902. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
JAN. xst. : The Incorporated Society of Musicians held their 
annual meeting. Mr. J. H. Arkwright was appointed Lord 
Lieutenant of the county of Hereford. Death of Dr. John Birrell. 
Mr. John Redmond, M.P. , addressed a Nationalist demonstration 
at Sligo. 
2nd : Riots took place at Bethesda of strikers at the Penrhyn 
quarries. A donation of £ 200,000 was placed at the King's 
disposal by Sir E. Cassels, for charitable purposes. The 
National Federation of Head Teachers' Association opened their 
annual conference at Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
3rd : The Marquis Ito was entertained at luncheon by the 
Lord Mayor of London. Death of Sir J. Parker Deane. 
Death of Prebendary Tucker. 
4th : The King decided to devote Sir E. Cassel's gift to 
the provision of sanatoria in England for the cure of tuber- 
culosis. 
6th : Mr. Chamberlain addressed a meeting of the West 
Birmingham Relief Fund promoters. The King conferred the 
order of G.C.B, on Marquis Ito. Lord Londonderry spoke at a 
Unionist meeting at Chester. Death of Admiral Sir E. S. 
Sotheby, k.c.b. Death of Sir James Chance. 
7th : Prebendary Hannah, vicar of Brighton, was appointed 
Dean of Chichester. Lord E. Grey addressed a meeting at 
Newcastle-on-Tyne on the public situation. Death of Mr. John 
Brett, A.R.A. 
8th : The Lord Chancellor spoke at the centenary banquet 
of the Liverpool Underwriters' Association. Mr. Chamberlain 
presided as Chancellor at the Annual Court of the Governors of 
Birmingham University. A large convention of the United 
Irish League was held in Dublin. Death of Mr. Edwin John 
Beale. 
9th : The Association of Head Masters opened their annual 
meeting at the Guildhall. A Conference of Science Teachers 
was opened at Chelsea, The Nationalists held a conference in 
Dublin. Death of Sir Thomas Lea. 
10th : Mr. Balfour addressed his constituents at Manchester. 
Mr. E. B. Hoare resigned his seat as M.P. for Hampstead. 
nth: Mr. Balfour was entertained at luncheon by the 
Manchester Conservative Association. Mr. Chamberlain spoke 
at the annual dinner of the Birmingham Jewellers' and Silver- 
smiths’ Association. 
13th : The King and Queen returned to London from 
Sandringham. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman presided at the 
inaugural meeting of the London Liberal Federation. Lord 
Heneage withdrew from the Liberal Unionist Association. 51 
fresh cases of small pox were reported in London. 
14th : The King and Queen visited the Albert Chapel in 
Windsor Castle, on the anniversary of the death of the Duke of 
Clarence. The Army Rifle Association held their annual 
meeting. It was proposed to found a British Academy. A 
conference on Old Age Pensions was held in Memorial Hall. 
