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BEITISH TRADE IN CERTAIN COLONIES. 



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851881. 

Page. 
NOTE ... 4 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA : 

Report ... 

Import Trade Conditions ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 

Trade Organisation ... ... ... ... ... ... - 5 

Foreign Competition .. ... 7 

Appendix A. Statement showing the Quantity and Value of Goods which are imported 

into Southern Nigeria in appreciably larger quantities from Foreign Countries than 

from the United Kingdom during the years 1909-1911 12 

Appendix B. Memorandum and Statistical Statement relating to certain Classes of Goods 
in which supplies from the Continent have increased in greater proportion during 
recent Years than those from the United Kingdom : 
Memorandum : 

Fish 

Flour 14 

Rice 14 

Dane Guns 

Gunpowder ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 

Coopers' Stores ... 15 

Earthenware... 

Furniture ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 

Textiles 15 

Smoking Pipes 

Statistical Statement ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 

Appendix C. Memorandum concerning certain Classes of Goods not included in 
Appendix B., but in which the United Kingdom might secure a larger share of the 
Total Trade : 

Enamelware ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 

Implements and Tools ... 

Sugar 18 

Matches 19 

Haberdashery and Cotton Hosiery 

Ale, Beer and Porter .... ... ... ... --- ... 

"Trade" Spirits ... 

GOLD COAST : 

Report : 

General Statistics 21 

Notes on Foreign Competition : 

Agricultural and Gardening Implements 

Ale and Beer ; Beads ; Bags and Sacks ; Blue, Indigo ; Bread and Biscuits ; 
Building Materials ; Candles ; Coopers' Stores ; Cotton Yarn and Twist ; Cotton 
Manufactures 
Drugs and Chemicals ; Furniture ; Hardware ; Musical Instruments ; Mineral 

Waters ; Perfumery ; Provisions ; Coarse Salt ; Flint Lock Guns ; Gin ; Sugar ; 23 
Tobacco ; Wearing Apparel 
Samples on view at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade 

Commercial Travellers ... ... ... ... 

General Remarks ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 

Statistical Tables relating to Articles of Foreign Origin which compete seriously with 

Corresponding Articles of British Origin 25-27 

SIERRA LEONE : 

Report : 

Memorandum on Trade ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 

Appendix A. Table showing the Import Trade of the Colony for the years 1909, 1910, 

1911 29 

Appendix B. Statistics relating to certain Articles of Foreign Origin which have a larger 

share of the Trade than similar goods of British origin 

GAMBIA : 

Report 32 

Appendix A. Comparative Statement of the Quantities and Values of Imports from 

Great Britain and the principal Foreign Counties, 1907-1911 .- 33 

Appendix B. Return of Articles the Importation of which from Great Britain has 

during the past 12 years decreased in proportion of total importation 34 



3 

STRAITS SETTLEMENT*: 

Report 35 

Statement showing the Quantities and Values of Manufactured Goods in which Foreign 
Imports exceed those from British Sources ... ... ... ... ... ... . 40-42 

Appendix. Notes on the Principal Articles of Foreign Origin which compete successfully 
with British Goods : 

General Remarks 43 

Detailed Observations : 

Apparel, Hosiery, Millinery, Drapery and Haberdashery ; Towels and Naperyj 
Cotton Blankets ; Hardware, Cookery Utensils, Tools, &c.... ... ... ... 44 

Enamel-ware, Ironware ; Hoop Iron ; Wire Nails ; Zinc Sheathing ; Beads ... 45 
Cabinetware ; Clocks and Watches ; Earthenware ; Glassware ; Indiarubber 
Goods ; Lamps ; Leather Goods ; Musical Instruments ; Perfumery ; Paper 
and Stationery ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 

Roofing and Building Materials ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 47 

Remarks on Competition in certain Goods 47 

BRITISH GUIANA : 

Report ; 

Manufactures other than Textiles ... ... ... . . ... ... ... ... 48 

Textiles 49 

Commercial Travellers 50 

Freight and Exchange Rates ">() 

Packing of Goods .. 50 

Price Lints and Catalogues 50 

Finish and Appearance of Goods ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 

General 50 

A))|>endix I. Statement showing the Principal Articles iinuorted during each of the last 
three yean, and which are chit-fly imported from Nun-British sources ... ... ... 51 

Appendix II. List of Articles imported almost exclusively from Non-British sources ... 53 

BERMUDA : 

Report .".1 

Table A. Total Imports, and Imports from Principal Sources, 1902-1911 57 

Table B. Comparison between Import*) from British and Foreign Sources, 1902-1911 ... 57 

Table C. Statement showing the Total Quantity and Value of the Principal Articles 
imported into Bermuda in each of the Tears 1910 an<l It'll, distinguishing Imports 
from the United Kingdom, British Possessions and the United States 58 



(lM77r-4.) Wt.J7S 3W4. 1280. 4/18. D * & A i 



4 



NOTE. 



In consequence of a recommendation made last year by the Advisory Committee on 
Commercial Intelligence, the Board of Trade requested the Honorary Correspondents of 
the Commercial Intelligence Branch in the British Colonies not possessing Responsible 
Government, and in the British Protectorates, to furnish, for the use of the Commercial 
Intelligence Branch, special Reports on the position of British Trade, and the nature and 
extent of Foreign Competition, in the respective Colonies and Protectorates. 

The information contained in the Reports received in answer to this request lias been 
utilised by the Commercial Intelligence Branch in furnishing information from time to 
time to British traders and manufacturers. As, however, several of the Reports appear 
to add materially to the trade information already available in the Annual Colonial 
Reports, it has been thought desirable, on the advice of the Commercial Intelligence 
Committee, to publish a selection of them for general information. 

Board of Trade, 

Commercial Department, 
April, 1913. 



SOUTHERN NIGERIA. 



COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE, 

LAGOS, SOUTHERN NIGERIA. 
SIR, 24th August, 1912. 

WITH reference to your letter of the 6th June asking for a report as to the present 
position of British trade in Southern Nigeria, I have now pleasure in forwarding herewith 
a certified return (Appendix A) showing the classes of goods which are imported 
into this Colony and Protectorate in larger quantities from Foreign Countries than 
from the United Kingdom and British possessions. In doing so, 1 would point out 
that whilst the Southern Xi^vrian Customs statistics are now, and have been for the last 
two years, prepared in accordance with the Board of Trade '- wishes, it will be seen at a 
glance that the " country from which the consignments originated," as now declared by 
the merchants, does not by any means indicate the country of production. Thus, for 
example, we find beads to the value of 6.000 appearing under the head of the United 
Kingdom in the 11)11 returns, and 2S,OOd from Germany. The true source of origin 
of the sweater portion of the goods was probably Austria or Italy, although the actual 
consignment to Southern Nigeria took place in Liverpool or Hamburg. Similarly, in the 
case of fish, kerosene, matches and unmanufactured tobacco, the real country of origin 
of a large projortion of the imports is not di-elo-ed by Jhe statistics, which was probably 
Norway, United States, Norway or Sweden, and United States, respectively. Whilst the 
loss or gain of tin- country's business in these transit goods does not affect our British 
manufacturers, the fluctuations an-, of course, f consequence to Briti.-h merchant- and 
British shipping, a jn>int which I shall ho|*- to refer to later. 

2. Import Trade Condition*. In your letter <>f fith .June, I was requested to rej>ort as 
to the reason for the success of foreign coni|x-tition. and it' |>--ili]c. to otter suggestions 
as to mean- wherehy the trade now passing to foreign countries might be diverted to the 
Tinted Kingdom or British Dominions. With regard t<> this phase of the question, I would 
call attention to the fact that the arcaBMtanOM utter ting the inijMjrt business of Southern 
Nigeria are somewhat peculiar, inasmuch as, with one or two minor exceptions, the Euroj>ean 
firms trailing in this part of the world are simply branches of houses which have their head 
offices in Europe, at which it maybe said for all practical purposes the whole "t the 
buying is done. That is to say, the local managers of the firms send their indents to 
their own principal* in KurojH-, bv whom the orders are placed with manufacturers, or 
with agents for transit merchandise, such as unmanufactured tobacco, rice, fish, beads, 
matches, Hour, &c., not produced in the country from which these goods and others are 
shipped to Nigeria. I mention this point in order that it may be clearly understood that 
the principals of the West African firms in England are in the best position to tender 
really reliable information as to the causes which induce them to buy goods of foreign 
manufacture in preference to I'.riti-h. or to -hip tran-it goods from Hamburg or Rotterdam 
instead of via Liverpool. In the majoritv of ease- the local representatives of such firms 
are not completely informed as to why an appreciable proportion of their inward 
consignment- i- -hipped from the Continent, und it is only by approaching their principals, 
who do the actual buying in Europe, that final conclusions on this large question can be 
arrived at. 

3. With the reservation noted in the foregoing paragraph, I now proceed to report. 
as far as I am able, on the purely local aspects of the situation : 

Trade <fr : j>ii.<atinn. in Southern Nigeria, which has a total native population of 7^ 
millions, and 10 ports served by ocean steamers (omitting minor river stations), there are 
about 40 distinct European firms engaged in business. Of these firms, five may be described 
as important German houses, two minorGerman firms, one important French firm, two minor 
Bohemian houses (who were attracted here mainly by the bead trade), and the remaining 
30 British, of which about half might fairly be described as important houses. It will 
thus be seen that so far as the numbers of separate European trading firms are concerned, 
one quarter of the whole are foreigners. But this gives an exaggerated idea of the 
facilities for distribution possessed by the foreign firms as compared with the British, a- 
it i- the exception to find the German houses established in more than one or two jxarts 
in Southern Nigeria, whilst some of the British firms are doing Ini-inc in -everal |K>rts. 
Therefore, a truer conception of the relative importance of local foreign competition is 
obtained by comparing the total number of trading factories owned by British and foreign 



6 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 

merchants respectively in Southern Nigeria, and by taking into account the financial 
standing of the firms. Allowing for these factors, I should say, as a personal view, that 
the relative importance of British and foreign merchants trading in Southern Nigeria 
might be stated as approximately 85 per cent. British, and 15 per cent, foreign. 

4. Where there is an appreciable number of foreign merchants on the spot, as in 
Southern Nigeria, it is only reasonable to expect that the principals of such firms will 
make every effort to push the sale of goods which are either produced in their own country 
or can be economically shipped therefrom. At a first glance, and in view of the fact that 
many largo classes of goods sold here are not produced in the United Kingdom, it would 
not appear that the total value of imports received from foreign countries was dispro- 
portionate to the local representation of such countries. I fear, however, that I shall have 
to show that the true position is not quite so satisfactory as might be superficially supposed, 
more especially as it is apparent from an inspection of a Continental cargo boat's manifests 
that the increased shipments from Hamburg and Rotterdam are by no means entirely due 
to the presence of so many foreign merchants in Southern Nigeria, but that they are 
materially aided by shipments of goods consigned from foreign ports to British houses 
here. I mean goods which one might not unreasonably expect to be manufactured in the 
United Kingdom, or transit merchandise which could be shipped therefrom. In this 
connection I would invite reference to a speech made by the Chairman of the African Trade 
Section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on 17th June, 1912, when, in the course of 
some remarks on the Merchandise Marks Act, he said : " There was a certain class of 
articles which they had to get from abroad for reasons which were not very easily explained. 
The net result to them as African merchants was that the Germans could supply these 
articles at a lower rate than they were obtainable in this country (United Kingdom), 
and therefore they had to go to Germany for them." 

5. It may not be out of place, at this stage, to refer to the existing facilities for 
shipping Continental goods to Nigeria. The British line managed by Elder, Dempster and 
Company send two cargo steamers a month from Hamburg to Lagos, and both these boats 
call at Rotterdam for cargo. The Woermann Linie runs three cargo boats a month from 
Hamburg to Lagos, and two of these call at Rotterdam. Hence there are five steamers 
monthly taking Lagos cargo from Hamburg and four from Rotterdam. From Liverpool 
there is a weekly service to Lagos. It will thus be seen that the facilities for shipping 
goods from the Continent to Lagos are now equal to those afforded from Liverpool. 

6. In addition to the German, French, and Bohemian merchants established in 
Southern Nigeria, there is also a number of Syrian and Italian traders (about 60 adult 
males), mostly shopkeepers and hawkers, but including one or two men who might not 
unreasonably be classed as merchants. Individually these people do a relatively small 
business, but in the aggregate their operations must amount to a fairly appreciable sum. 
Although a portion of their supplies is shipped from the United Kingdom, the classes of 
goods in which they trade are more particularly of Continental manufacture beads, 
scents, cheap cutlery, jewellery, headwear, haberdashery, &c. The Syrians and Italians 
live very economically, and, owing doubtless to their small expenses, they appear to be 
able to do a business, satisfactory to themselves, in small cheap miscellaneous goods, which 
many of the large European merchants apparently find unprofitable, or which they consider 
unsafe lines to stock. I should like to make a point here of the fact that whilst in Lagos 
town several of the British merchants do now cater to a considerable extent for the demand 
for small miscellaneous articles, the assortment stocked by -them in other parts of Nigeria 
is, generally speaking, very limited, possibly due to the small apparent demand at present. 
Twenty years ago there was, even in Lagos, prejudice on the part of the large European 
merchants against stocking cheap cutlery, small lines in hardware, haberdashery, &c.,and 
at that time there was only one firm of consequence which made a speciality of this class 
of business. To-day there are, however, several important British firms in Lagos who are 
doing quite a satisfactory trade in such articles, in addition, of course, to their general 
business in staple lines. The small Syrian and Italian traders are, in my opinion, useful 
in introducing miscellaneous goods into markets where they would not otherwise be found, 
thus giving the natives an added incentive to work palm oil or kernels or other produce to 
acquire them. But our own merchants should not ignore the Syrian competition, which 
may become formidable as time goes on, in the same way that, as I am informed, many of 
the Indian traders in East Africa have now become merchants doing business on a large 
scale. I personally do not think there is much danger to be feared from the Italians. 

7. No really important foreign houses have entered the Southern Nigerian trade 
during the last five years, and therefore it may oe convenient, with a view to ascertaining 
the current trend of business, to state the value of British imports in 1907 as compared 
with 1911. In the former year the total value of imports from all sources (exclusive of 



SOUTHERN NIGERIA emit. 

e) was, according to the Customs statistics, 3,839,000, the proportion shipped from 
tne United Kingdom being 2,892,000 or, say, equal to 75'3 per cent, of the whole. In 
1911 with the total imports running to .">,227,000, the proportion shipped from the 
United Kingdom was 3,679,000 or 70'3 per cent, (see paragraph 9). 

8. It should here be explained that all goods in transit to Northern Nigeria are 
cleared at the Southern Nigerian Customs on the seaboard ; consequently the statistics 
quoted above include goods passing to the Northern Protectorate. These transit goods 
(including rail materials) were valued at about half a million sterling in 1911, or 
say equal to one-tenth of the whole of the imt>orts entering Nigeria. As you are aware. 
the development of trade in Northern Nigeria has hitherto been checked owing to want 
of cheap land transport to serve the districts well away from the Niger river. But now, 
with the railway running to Kano, the probability of trade developments in the north 
should be taken seriously into account by our British manufacturers and merchants. 
I may state, by the way, that the population of Xrth<-rn Nigeria was estimated last year 

300,000. 

9. It would apj>ear from the figures given in paragraph 7 above, that there was a 
difference of 5 per cent, between the share of total imports obtained by the Mother 
Country in 1907 aa compared with 1911, but owing to m<iiv careful Customs classifica- 
tion of transit tobacco, &c., during the last two years, the real difference against the 
United Kingdom may more fairly be stated as about 3 per cent. Whilst an apparently 
satisfactory increase < L' ' S 7,000 in the United Kingdom's exports to Nigeria has been 
made (1911 as compared with 1907), this increase ought, in pro[M>rtion TO the relative 
trade done five years ago, to have been about L' l.'.o.oou more still. 

10. As lam invited to otter suggestions gem-rally. I would here incidently remark 
that our British manufacturer- and merchants will be well advised in not being satisfied 
with an increase on their individual turnover, so far as any particular colony or foreign 
country is concerned, units* such - /.- proportionate to the advance in the totnl 
imfork by thnt <<>/</// <>r mntri/ / tohtCA tin ;i <ir< int> r, -tul. This may possibly 
strike yo -TV elementary and ob\i< >n, l>ut I can a--urc you from my 
personal knowledge that many of the merchant- judge their progress solely by a com- 
parison with their own sales in former years. I need scarcely say this is often a very 
misleading basis to work upon, especially with regard t<> markets such as Nigeria, in 
which the total volume of trade i- rapidly expanding. Superficially it might apjicar to 
these firms that they were doing very well, when M- ;i matter of fact they were actually 
losing ground in comparison with their old proportion of the total business of the markets 
to which they were shipping. 

11.' '/ Competition. A close examination of the whole of the Customs statistics 
di-closes the fact that Germany and Holland have gained more than their proportionate ihaTC 
of the increased business which has been passing in Nigeria. With a view to ascertain ing 
the lines of trade in which these foreign ooin|H-tit..r- are making greater progress than our 
own people, I enclose herewith a statement (Appendix B) showing the classes of goods 
in which our OOmpetHon appear to have L-i-n more particularly active. In preparing 
this summary, I have omitted classes of imjMirt- in which our present jxjsition is satis- 
factor v. and also the large lines such as trade spirits, unmanufactured tobacco and kerosene, 
and other goods in which the I nited Kingdom is not in a position to compete. I have also 

obliged to omit two or three lines owing to alterations in the Customs classification 
which render comparisons with former years misleading. I will, however, refer later in 
the report to some of the classes which do not appear in Appendix B. but which I think 
merit attention. 

12. Appendix B referred to in the previous paragraph, covers a dozen classes of 
goods, and shows : 

(a) Total imports of each class ) For each of the last 

(b) Imports from United Kingdom f five years, viz., 

(r) Do. Germany t 1907 to 1911 in- 

('/) Do. Holland ) elusive. 

ready reference I may state that the total imports of these particular classes 
,11 I'm: were valued at 1,429,000, the shares obtained by the United Kingdom, Germany 
and Holland being as under: 

1907. 

United Kingdom 1,318,000 

many 71,000 

Holland :;.'.,ooo 



8 



SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 

By 1911 the total value of imports of the same lines from all sources had increased 
to 1,867,000, the shares obtained by the respective countries being 

1911. 

United Kingdom .. 1,545,000 

Germany ... ... ... ... ... ... 230,000 

Holland ... ... ... ... ... - ... 72,000 

It will thus be seen that although Germany and Holland together in 1911 obtained 
only one-sixth of the total business in the classes specified, as compared with five-sixths 
taken by United Kingdom, they have nevertheless very appreciably improved their 
position since 1907, when their combined imports of the 12 classes was equal to 
only one-fourteenth of the total. 

The percentages of increase between the two periods are as follows : 

United Kingdom 17 per cent. 

Germany ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 

Holland ... ... ...... ... ... ... 

13. The progress made by Continental competitors in the classes shown in Appendix 
B, may be broadly divided between (a) transit goods, and (6) articles manufactured in 
or near the country from which they are consigned to Nigeria. With regard to transit 
goods, which in the list immediately under notice comprises fish, flour and rice, it will 
be seen that the total value of shipments of these classes from the United Kingdom in 
1907 was 67,000 as compared with 114,000 in 1911, this increase being equal to 
70 per cent. Germany, however, shipped only 12,000 in 1907 as against 86,000 in 
1911, the advance in this case being equal to 600 per cent. Holland is for all practical 
purposes not at present interested in the transit goods in question, her shipments amount- 
ing to only 1,600 in 1911. 

14. With reference more particularly to the transit goods referred to in the 
preceding paragraph, it is said that the dock dues and shipping charges generally 
are more favourable to the merchants at Hamburg than at Liverpool. I have 
unfortunately no means of comparing these charges, but I would venture to suggest that 
the question is a vital one well worthy of the serious consideration of the authorities at 
home, not only as regards goods shipped outwards, but also in respect of inward con- 
signments. With regard to the latter, viz., the comparative charges on transit merchandise 
such as I have mentioned entering Hamburg or Liverpool, respectively, for re- shipment, it 
will be recognized that this is a factor which needs to be taken into serious consideration, 
as well as that of the respective dues on consignments leaving the ports named. The 
question of freights from Norway, United States and India to Hamburg or Liverpool, 
respectively, also naturally enters into the calculation, so far as fish, flour and rice are 
concerned. 

15. To go into the question of the comparative freights and shipping dues on raw 
materials arriving at United Kingdom or Continental ports would carry me far beyond 
the scope of the enquiry you desire, although those charges might have a material bearing 
upon the selling price of the manufactured article, but there is one point concerning this 
phase of the question to which I think I might pertinently direct your attention. It is 
with reference to the dock dues, &c., charged on the principal staple product of Southern 
Nigeria, viz., palm kernels, which I was a few years ago given to understand were lighter 
in Hamburg than Liverpool. I quote below the kernel export figures for your informa- 
tion, should it be considered desirable to investigate this problem. They are as follows : 





Total Value of 










Palm Kernel Export 


Shipped to 


Shipped to 


Shipped to other 




from 


United Kingdom 


Germany 


Countries 




Southern Nigeria 






















1907 


1 658 000 


286000 


1 334,000 


38,000 


1908 ... 


I 425 000 


231000 


L 093 000 


101 000 


1909 


1 816 000 


179 000 


1,500,000 


137,000 


1910 


2 450000 


300000 


2072000 


78000 


1911 


2.574,000 


319,000 


2,166,000 


89,000 



The total tonnage of palm kernels shipped from Southern Nigeria last year (1911) 
was 176,390. 



SOUTHERN NIGERIA cnnf. 

My own impression of the matter is that the kernels go to Germany in preference to 
the United Kingdom because there are at present only a few crushing mills near Liverpool, 
ami. consequently, a very limited market, as compared with Hamburg, it is also probable 
that the manufactured products, refined oil, butter substitutes, and cattle cake can be 
more economically distributed to the large consuming countries from Hamburg than from 
Liverpool. How far the Continental mills are fostered by more favourable shipping dues 
I am unable to say, but the figures I have quoted above would seem to indicate that some 
early enquiry on the subject was needed. 

If there are insuperable reasons against the United Kingdom being able to materially 
enlarge her share of our palm kernel export business, could not something be done in 
Canada? One would think there would be a field there for the distribution of the 
commodities manufactured from these kernels, although I suppose cotton-seed products 
from the States would compete with some of the manufactured articles. I may state, l>y 
the way, that three cargoes of palm kernels have been shipped from Nigeria within the 
last 18 months to Durban, where they were consigned to the branch of a United Kingdom 
firm. This is a step in the right direction, and if mills could also be started in Canada 
to deal with the produce, we might in the near future find that our own j>eople were 
benefiting far more than at present by the Nigerian kernel trade. 

Athough the destination of our kernel exports may seem foreign to a report on the 
I'nited Kingdom share of the Southern Nigerian import business, it really has ;( marked 
indirect bearing upon it, for without the large return trude in palm kernels the steamship 
i-om]>anies would never offer such facilities for shipping goods from Hamburg and 
Rotterdam as I have referred to in paragraph o, although the Continental spirit trade 
would necessitate a limited service. What is j>erha| more important is the fact that our 
principal German comjjetitors came out here primarily for palm kernel?, for which they 
had a better market in Hamburg than our own merchants jxissessed in Liverpool. When 
once established in Southern Nigeria the German firms very naturally took up the sale of 
trade spirits, tobacco, &c., and also general mtinni<i>-turl </""</ v '" competition iclth the 
British merchants. The point of my apparent digression is that if it hud not been for 
the more favourable market for jlm kernels on the Continent, the foreign competition 
here to-day in the sale of goods would not be nearly so pronounced as it is, nor would 
the Continental shipping tin -ilifie- In- on a parity with those to and from the United 
Kingdom. 

It is to be hoped, in view of the probable development of a large export trade in 
shea-nuts frmn Northern Nigeria within the next few years, that mills may be available 
in the United Kingdom to deal with the produce, so that further special inducements are 
not afforded to tempt foreign competitors to embark in business in Nigeria. 

] 6. Commenting upon the manufactured goods which appear in the list of selected 
articles (Appendix B) and which comprise cotton, woollen and silk manufactures, guns, 
gunpowder, coopers' stores, earthenware, furniture and smoking pipes, a few general 
observations may not be out of place. The total value of imports from the United 
Kingdom in the nine manufactured classes referred to above was in 1!)<)7 \1 1,250, 000 
as compared with l, 431,000 in 1911, this increase being equal to 14J per cent. In the 
same years the imports from the Continent (viz., Germany and Holland together) were as 
follows : 

1907. Imports from Germany and Holland 92,000 

1911. Do. do. 214,000 

equal together to an increase of 132 per cent. In total value the imports from the 
Continent, even of these selected classes, may not appear very formidable, being equal in 
1911 to only one-seventh the total value received from the United Kingdom, but if 
Continental shipments go on increasing during the next ten years as they have during the 
last five, we shall in 1U22 find that Germany and Holland together are securing almost as 
much of the trade of Nigeria as the United Kingdom in the classes quoted. 

17. The most striking illustration of Continental activity in manufactured goods is to 
be found in a class where one would least expect it, viz., textiles. Here, taking 
cotton, woollen and silk goods together, we find that the trade of Germany and Holland 
with Nigeria has risen from :><l,000 in 1907 to 135,000 in 1911. An appreciable 
proportion of this increase may be attributed to cheap velvets, plushes and velveteens, and 
to Dutch and German prints. In plain white or grey cloths, and also in woven 
coloured goods and the majority of prints, the Lancashire manufacturers are holding 
their own, and I would attribute the, success of Continental makers in velvets, &c. to 
cleverness in dyeing and finishing, and, as in the case of prints, to skilful blending of 

B 



10 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA 

colours and originality of design, rather than \ any weakness on our part in the 
manufacture of the unfinished cloth. In the course of my enquiry I was, by the way, 
gratified to learn that some of our largest firms in Lancashire and Yorkshire are giving 
serious attention to the above points, and that they hope to regain (heir position in the 
trade of Nigeria, which, iu certain branches of the textile business, is at proem 
seriously threatened. 

18. In Appendix C, I submit a memorandum dealing with certain articles which are 
not included in " B," but in which 1 think our British manufacturers should be able to 
secure a larger share of the business than they are doing at present. In view of the 
aggressiveness of foreign competitors in classes of goods which were originally shipped 
from Great Britain, prudence would appear to demand that our own people should 
do more than simply protect the trade they have already secured, and that they should 
retaliate by attacking the foreign suppliers in some lines which have for one reason or 
another been hitherto regarded as Continental specialities. In particular, I would direct 
attention to the notes in Appendix " C " under the headings of enamel ware, implements 
and spirits. 

19. The success of forejgn competitors in Nigeria during recent years, so far as 
manufactured goods are concerned, would appear to be mainly due to lower prices 
combined with cheaper qualities put on the market in an attractive form, and in a lesser, 
but distinctly appreciable degree, to certain articles being of good quality and more 
popular design than the styles imported from the United Kingdom. 

I am not in a position to speak as to Government bounties in the country of 
production, and none of the merchants here know of any which affect their trade. 

Foreign commercial travellers are practically unknown here, and any increase of 
business cannot be attributed to their representations. 

20. To sum up my views with regard to this large question as it affects manufactured 
goods, I would say from all I have been able to gather from the local merchants, combined 
with my personal knowledge of the trade, that the progress made by foreign manufacturers 
is largely due to the fact that they are in some classes of goods, but certainly not in others, 
more enterprising than our own makers, and that they often display more initiative and 
resource. Whilst the " enterprise " of foreign suppliers very frequently takes the question- 
able form of reducing qualities, it would be unfair to suggest that this method of competition 
accounts for the whole of their success, or indeed that the reduction of qualities was 
peculiar to foreign makers. Some of the increased business done by the Continent with 
Nigeria is clearly well merited by suitable patterns and good qualities, and it would be 
taking altogether too narrow a view to look upon this as otherwise than perfectly 
legitimate and healthy competition. 

British makers have, in several classes of merchandise, shown that they also can 
reduce the grade of goods very materially, and especially in cotton piece goods are our 
own people adepts at bringing out lower qualities to compete with a better cloth 
established by a rival British firm. In this particular respect, therefore, I fear we are not 
in a position to make much capital out of the reduction of qualities practised by German 
and other foreign competitors. Our own manufacturers of all classes of goods need, 
however, to grasp the fact that the general conditions under which business is done in the 
tropics are very different from those applying to European countries, where the bulk of 
the consumer's purchases are made from responsible dealers. Here in Nigeria practically 
the whole of the goods for native use are not sold by the European merchant to the actual 
consumer, but to native middlemen who are always on the look out for cheaper qualities 
which they can pass off in the open markets in competition with goods of better quality, 
and, of course, higher price. It is not a pleasant feature of the trade, but, as it exists 
and will continue, British manufacturers might as well cater for the demand for low grade 
goods, which will certainly be met by foreign competitors if our own people decline the 
business. But there should be no loose application of trade marks, and the brand which 
has been used on standard qualities should not on any account be applied to cheap 
substitutes. Whilst there is undoubtedly a large demand for low priced articles in 
Nigeria, there is also, I am glad to say, a steady business done in standard qualities of 
certain classes of goods, which the natives continue to buy in preference to cheaper ones 
because they know from experience that the trade mark indicates good quality. The 
discriminate use of trade marks is of the very first importance to our merchants, and is a 
question which they will do well to take seriously to heart. 

Continental suppliers of certain classes of goods are said to be far more willing than 
the British to put themselves out of the way to execute small trial orders of new patterns 
or cheaper qualities, or to alter the packing to suit a particular market. They have 



11 

SOL'THEKX XlGKKIA COllt. 

evidently learnt from experience that useful repeat orders often follow, and that new 
staple lines are established as a reward for their more painstaking efforts. They are 
especially strong, in comparison with the average British maker, in putting up their 
smallwares in an attractive manner which appeals to the native buyer. The Continental 
makers have looked upon the buyers' wishes as of the nature of a command, realising 
that in thr long run ir pays them to do so. It would also appear as if the Continental 
suppliers took a much wider view of the possibilities of trade expansion in these markets, 
<-[>< -dally in the way of cheap but attractive looking goods, and that they were more 
ready to supply small trial shipments of new styles to test the market. 

21. In conclusion, I would remark that whilst the position of the United Kingdom's 
trade with Nigeria may, on the whole, be considered fairly satisfactory, British suppliers 
are undoubtedly losing ground in certain classes of goods. Although such loss has been 
more or less obscured in the general expansion of trade, it is evident that if shipments 
from the Continent continue to increase as they have done during the last few years, they 
will, in the course of the next decade become very formidable indeed, and the United 
Kingdom will not secure anything like the share of the total trade to which she is 
entitled. 

I have, etc., 

C. A. BIKTNVISTLE, 

Commercial Intelli<irm-r Officer 

in Smtthtrn rfi 
The Assistant .Svrrtary 
(Commercial I)<-|>artiii' 
of Trade. 



mn 82 



12 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 



APPENDIX A. 



STATEMENT showing the quantity and value of goods which are imported into Southern Nigeria 

the years 





Total Imports from all Sources. 


Imports from United 


Class of Goods 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


1909. 


1910. 




Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


f Ale, Beer, Porter, &c. : 



























Dozen Quarts 


23,041 


4,769 


28,151 


5,869 


32,268 


6,744 


6,275 


1,375 


8,165 


1,789 


Imp. Galls, (in wood) 


543 


69 


464 


57 








18 


2 


18 


2 


Beads Ibs. 





85,712 


618,648 


37,701 


925,983 


48,090 





5,126 


121,611 


7,246 


JCheese 


Other 


wise 


40,734 


1,407 


41,678 


1,651 








15,735 


652 




class! 


fied. 


















"Cigars Number 


1,564,230 


4,192 


1,680,629 


4,249 


1,632,128 


4,336 


111,725 


334 


390,055 


722 


cEnamel Ware Pkgs. 


5,182 


13,845 


9,337 


29,413 


11,140 


32,661 


1,135 


3,215 


2,854 


9,823 


iFish Cwts. 





18,366 


21,205 


34,952 


46,295 


68,131 


, 


4.238 


3,782 


3,859 


/(Guns, Dane Number 


2,779 


876 


11,137 


3,792 


18,667 


6,450 


1,493 


440 


2,845 


1,006 


'Kerosene** ... ... Imp. Galls. 


1,663,684 


59,277 


2,791,829 


86,447 


3,181,324 


73,861 


22,342 


887 


121,565 


3,913 


(Matches Gross Boxes 


403,488 


15,510 


324,545 


14,906 


272,097 


13,460 


163,980 


6,400 


57,577 


2,725 


ftPipes, Smoking Number 


552,224 


4,650 


8,344,066 


8,253 


10,295,158 


9,542 


247,708 


3,306 


5,089,533 


4,962 


Spirits : 






















Gin Imp. Galls. 


2,573,953 


252,752 


4,093,085 


395,936 


4,242,558 


385,201 


28,163 


7,679 


30,277 


8,231 


Rum ... ... ,. 


438,030 


27,539 


584,602 


31,744 


515,412 


24,934 


104,950 


7,097 


109,773 


7,032 


Starch and Blue 'Pkgs. 


Other 


wise 


4,344 


2,408 


2,644 


1,879 








964 


836 




classi 


fied. 


















'Tobacco, Unmanufactured** Ibs. 


6,042,225 


187,855 


5,956,604 


182,938 


3,048,846 


154,173 


5,502,207 


171,734 


617,904 


19,138 


*Wines : 






















Claret Imp. Galls. 


15,997 


2,334 


11,752 


1,792 


15,133 


2,987 


6,419 


1,326 


3,513 


803 



* United Kingdom not in a position to compete in classes marked with an asterisk. 

r Explanatory notes re beer, enamel ware, matches, and spirits will be found in memorandum in Appendix " C." 
No reliable information obtained as to why United Kingdom does only one-third of the starchland blue business, 
but a very small line. 



13 

SOUTHERN NIGEKIA font. 



APPENDIX A cont. 



in appreciably larger quantities from Foreign Countries than from the United Kingdom dnring 
1909, 1910, and 



Kingdom. 


Imports from Germany. 


Imports from Holland. 


1911. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Qnan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Value. 




: 
































7,95 


1,774 


15,666 


| I:,.'. 


H Ml 




21,394 ! 4,398 


1,100 


M 


1,195 


in 


2,798 


549 








478 


60 


Ml 


H 


_ 





14 


3 





_ 








166,757 


''. J7J 





I'v7"_' 


MMH 


MyOH 


44'i "."'i 


MM 


_ 


1.107 276 


62 


2,681 


156 


ll.l'.'7 


469 








7,304 


111 


3,606 


168 





17,224 


618 


25,891 


993 


163,766 


433 


mjm 


1,711 


.:(>- 9 


i. -'.r, 


448,789 


1.429 


MM 


2,090 


940,672 


-' L'.-.S 


1,012,626 


2,444 


:< MM 


11,068 


3,610 


.Mr-; 


5,611 


!' ''"'4 


MM 


19.310 


428 


1,249 819 


MOT 


694 


2,290 


8,736 


8,176 





lit.- 1 17 


I4U4M 


.'". '.''..' 


35,713 


57.695 


100 


68 ' 100 


166 


179 


453 


7,011 


MM 


100 


7.1 506 


186 


i -;" 


619 


1.080 


357 6,631 


1.893 


9,373 


3.161 


i.v...-,:.: 


4,000 


mfot 


i'i'. Ml 


1,151.030 


^i.-L''.' 




H.IM 


1,042 


28 10,160 


368 








7K.917 


3,764 


i - >' 'j~ - 


7 -I . 


111,167 


I".:f7J 


itym 


SJMl 


U.TM 


1.246 


MUM 


1,013 


24,448 


1,055 


' i " t ' '"*** 


3.350 


I.'-'. .;:." 


416 


I - i - ' ^ t 


1,178 


4 ,.,,..,.' 


4,476 


178,008 


. *> 


MMM 


387 


1.-<M,:.*'> 


1,322 
































86,113 8,657 


519,018 


1VJI7 


] :v..< 


86,113 


.. ,<i ,;>'.i 


79,347 


1,016,757 


186,837 3,131,381 


302,585 


3,397,740 


297,196 


47.M! 


MM 


M 7.1- 


1 ". J - 7 


:!i' OH 


16,161 


.....-.(. 


14,491 


71.408 


4,967 139,965 


7,977 


155,834 


7,222 


639 


'"" 








1,046 


889 


406 


461 








1,116 


167 


30 


19 


819,883 


mjaa 


', I'.'-!'-' 


16,115 


1X8,019 


8,316 


tlOfltt 


6,540 








40 


S 










1,409 


.' V..:i 


460 


1,374 


M 




787 





13 


4,088 


461 


:>7 


14 



























i Explanatory note* m finh. Dane fun*, and *muking pipe* will be found in memorandum in Appendix " B." 
J Small import* from United Kingdom doe to preferenoc for Dutch cheew. which is wholesome and cheap. 
In thew earn there are large imporUtion* from the United Kingdom. 



II 

SOUTHERN NIGKKIA rout. 



APPENDIX B. 



MEMORANDDM concerning classes of goods shown in the appended Table which gives the separate 
imports for each of the last five years of the following lines from United Kingdom, Germany, and 
Holland, respectively : Pish, flonr, rice, Dane guns, gunpowder, coopers' stores, earthenware, 
furniture, cotton, woollen and silk manufactures, and smoking pipes. 






Total 
Imports 
of the 
12 Classes. 


Imports from 
United Kingdom. 


Imports from 
Germany. 


Imports from 
Holland. 


1907 



1,429,000 



1,818,000 92-2 per cent. 



7 1 ,000 5 ' per cent. 



33,000 2 3 per cent. 


1908 


1,342,000 


1,216,000 90-6 


75,000 5-6 


40,000 3-0 


1909 


1,465,000 


1,255,000 = 85-7 ., 


143,000.= 9-8 


61,000 = 4-2 


1910 


1,856,000 


1,589,000 85-6 


172,000 9-3 


74,000 = 4-0 


1911 


1,867.000 


1,545,000 82-7 


230,00012-3 ., 


72,000 3-9 













fish. The trade in dried fish has expanded to a remarkable degree during the last few years, 
viz., from 8,000 in 1907 to 68,000 in 1011, and in the latter year Germany obtained 85 per cent, of 
the whole business. Bulk of imports said to be dried stock fish, and the source of origin Norway, 
although a small quantity comes through from the Canary Islands. Possibly the geographical position 
of the German port permits of lower freights from main source of supply, but it also suggested that 
f be shipping dues, &c., are less favourable to the merchants at Liverpool than at Hamburg. Query : 
Can the British merchants land Norwegian produce in Liverpool as cheaply as the same stuff can be 
delivered in Hamburg, and, if not, is it the freight from source of supply which is driving the trade 
to Hamburg, or our port dues ? Also cannot our own merchants do something with fish from Canada 
to compete with the Norwegian ? The dried fish industry is a very important one in Nova Scotia, and 
one would think something might be arranged for mutual benefit of United Kingdom and Canada. 
If freights to Nigeria via Liverpool are prohibitive, probably the fish could be shipped cheaply from 
Halifax to New York, and thence to Nigeria by the special joint Elder Dempster arid Woermann 
service which has sailings once a month from New York to West Africa. The fish, by the way, is 
shipped in canvas (? "hessian") trusses or bales. 

I understand that a small trawling company has recently been formed to exploit the waters off the 
West A frican coast, with a view to establishing a cured fish industry on the spot. In the event of this 
venture proving successful and it is undoubtedly a sound proposition if only suitable trawling grounds 
can be found imports from northern countries will, of course, be checked, but in my opinion it will 
be many years before appreciable supplies of local factory dried fish will be available for sale in 
Nigeria. 

Flour. Imports from Germany have risen from 200 in 1907 to almost 8,000 in 1911. Although 
a small quantity of Hungarian flour may come through via Hamburg, I am advised that the bulk of 
that shipped from the German port is really of Canadian origin, the flour being forwarded via New 
York to Hamburg and thence to Nigeria. It is singular, but a fact, that the largest turnover in flour 
in Lagos, the principal centre of business in Nigeria, is bandied by a Hamburg firm, and one wonders 
why a commodity such as this, and which I have the best of reason for believing is the product of 
Canada, should be traded in to almost as large an extent by a German firm as by the combined British 
houses in Lagos, several of which have their headquarters in Liverpool. I can scarcely imagine that 
freights Canada or New York to Hamburg are any lower than to Liverpool, and certainly there is no 
difference between the tariff Hamburg to Nigeria, and Liverpool-Nigeria. British millers have made 
several attempts to obtain a fair share of the trade, but with only a small measure of success. I am 
informed that the Canadian flour is moderate in price and that it keeps in good condition for a reason- 
able period in this climate, which is a very important point. 

Rice. A very marked advance by Germany in her share of the whole trade is to be noted here. 
The imports of rice from Germany in 1907 were valued at 7,800, and they remained at or below that 
figure until 1910, when the receipts from Hamburg rose to 11,300 to be followed in ] 311 by 21,000. 
One reason suggested to account for this large increase, is that on some occasions last year the British 
merchants trading in the Eastern province of Southern Nigeria found it more convenient to ship rice 
from Hamburg to certain ports than from Liverpool, a saving in time being thereby effected. Another 
reason is that the German firms trading in Nigeria have during the last few years found competition 
in the produce business keener, and in consequence they are laying themselves out more for the 
trade in staple imports such as rice. 

Dane Guns. These are very cheap flint locks. A relatively very small line of trade, the total 
value of all imports in 1911 being only 6,400, of which one-half was shipped from Holland. The 
real source of origin of the foreign guns is, I believe, Belgium, from which country they are sent to 
Kotterdam and shipped therefrom. As I suggest, it is a small line, but I include it because whilst 
shipments from the United Kingdom in 1907 and 1908 were double the values of those from Holland, 
the latter country now sends us about one-third more than we receive from the United Kingdom. 
The only information 1 can obtain here as to the apparent growing preference for the guns shipped 
from Rotterdam is that a cheaper article can be obtained on the Continent than in the United Kingdom. 
I his is corroborated by the declared value of cost at the Customs, the 1911 imports from the United 
Kingdom averaging 7s. Id. per gun as compared with 6s. 9d from Holland. 




15 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 

" Trade " Gunpowder. Owing to higher Customs duties, which have checked the trade, the total 
imports from all sources were almost 3,000 less in 1911 than in 19Ti7. On the returns for the two 
years, the whole of this loss has been borne by the United Kingdom, Germany still shipping as 
much as she did five years ago. Rather singularly, whilst almost the entire imports of powder into 
the Western (Lagos') Province come from Germany, only a very small quantity finds its way from 
Hamburg to the Central and Eastern Provinces. I can only attribute the popularity of German 
powder in Lagos and its hinterland to the fact that the two large German houses engaged in business 
here made a speciality of powder many years ago at the time they ran their own ships, and that the 
natives then became accustomed to the coarse grained quality, which resembles blasting powder. 

At the same time I think enterprise and perseverance on the part of our British merchants might go 
far towards supplanting the German powder, which is chiefly importer! here in small kegs containing 
only 2 Ibs. and 4 Ibs. each in bnlk. Possibly 10 Ib. kegs containing 10 1-lb. or 20 -lb. cotton bags (water- 
proofed and non-inflammable if possible) of British powder wonld be found as economical a form of 
packing as the German, in which the cost of small kegs must be an important item. French powder 
sold in the adjacent colony of Dahomey, and smuggled over into the Western Province of Southern 

hi, is imported in kegs containing a number of bags, and that is a form of packing for this 
article which I think would appeal to the native buyers. Each bag should bear the standard trade 
mark of the British importing firm, and it wonld be an advantage if a small wax plug could be 
inserted in the mouth of the bag, and the neck fastened with a lead disc bearing the importing firm's 
mark, similar to the seals used on bags of salt, hut, of course, much smaller. Some years ago I had 
tests made by native "hunters" with British powder, as supplied to the Central and Eastern 
Provinces, and they agreed that tin- llriUsh was the Iwtter quality, but our natives are very conserva- 
tive, and it is often difficult to move them even with a better article when once they have become 
accustomed to a certain l.rand. Still, if gone about in the right way, I believe we could successfully 
introduce common or " trade " British powder into the Lagos markets. 

Cooper*' Stores. Chiefly the staves and heads of palm oil casks sent out here in bundles, and 
locally known as " shocks." These shocks are received either new or second-hand, the latter having 
already done service, and being really returned empties \vhi--li Uave been overhauled by coopers in 
Kiin>|x> am! put in good condition. From the statement attached to this Appendix it will be seen 
that Germany and Holland together shipped only :\ little more than a quarter the value of consign- 
ments from United Kingdom in I'.XiT. lint that they now .!. half as much. In addition, shocks to the 
value of 5,900 were received here from United States of .\mrrira last \ . ir. So far as I am advised, 
a large proportion of the staves and heads coming out here from the Continent and Unit.' I States of 
America are second-hand. It is not unreasonable to suppose that with the increased shipping facilities 
from Holland and the United Stated, the co<>|-rs in those countries should find a market in Nigeria or 
other parts of West Africa for any empty oil casks they can collect. Large quantities of palm oil are, 
of course, exported to the Continent and also to America, and it is not improbable that a good deal of 
the business in returned and repaired -n\. ..\\ .|..u.- direct from the countries in question 

Instead of ri>! Liverpool, where the patch iiur up of second-hand casks is an important branch of the 
coopers' business. 

Earthenware. In 1907 the combined share of this business taken by Germany and Holland was 
boat one-ninth of the whole, as compared with one-quarter in I'.'li. Reason ytven by local 
merchants' is that Continental suppliers show more originality in shape, design ;m<l colouring than the 

nil run of makers in the United Kingdom. In this particular business, my personal opinion 
is that the Continental designs and shapes have appealed more to the natives than the 
old stereotyped patterns with the crudest of colourings shipped from the United Kingdom, and that it 
is not a question of lower prices. About one-half the total Southern Nigeria imports of earthenware 
are handled at Lagos, which may be fairly described as the most progressive business centre in West 
Africa. Ten yean ago the receipts of earthenware at that port from Germany averaged under 400 
per annum. "'i</ '!/,,,<:; came from Holland. In I'.Un II the average receipts per annum at Lagos 
from Germany was 2,000 and from Holland :i,7oi>. Putting it another way, Germany and Holland 
together secured '.\'> \-r o tit. of the whole earthenware trad' in I'.'Hl 11, as compared with 

iifht I*T cent, only ten yean ago. It is figures such as these which bring home to one the activity 
of foreign competitors in classes of goods in which \ve formerly did nine-tenths of the trade, and in 
which our position was considered fairly se< 

liturt. In this class the increase made by Germany is about proportionate to that secured 
by the United Kingdom. About one-quarter of the whole of our imports are of Continental origin, and 
one wonld think we should be able to obtain a greater share. Of course suppliers on the Continent 
are much stronger than those in the United Kingdom in the way of bent wood chairs, Ac., but that does 
not account for the whole of their business by any means, although it forms an appreciable share. In 
the course of my enquiries here, I have been told that the Continental manufacturers seem to go in 
more largely than the British makers for what 1 am informed is known in the trade as " knock-down " 
and collapsible furniture. This chins of furniture (mostly chairs) is so constructed that it can be easily 
taken to pieces or folded up and packed in an economical form for shipment. The German firms also 
do a fairly large business in canvas deck chairs, which are much cheaper than those generally 
obtainable in the United Kingdom. But I think the great secret of their success lies in the freight saving 
goods they supply, and this is a very important factor which our own manufacturers not only in this 
but in other businesses, need to pay most particular attention to. 

Textiles. In l'.K)7 the proportion of our total imports of cotton, woollen and silk manufactures 
secured by Germany and Holland was equal to only 4-3 per cent, of the whole, their combined 
business then running to 50,000 only. In I'.'ll their share had risen to 136,000, equal to almost 
10 per cent. These are somewhat disquieting figures, concerning, as they do, the principal 
manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. A large portion of the increase, as I am informed, 
is due to velveteens, figured velvets, silk-faced velvets, and plushes. Some of these goods are 
classified as cotton manufactures and the remainder as silk, although the proportion of pure silk is, 
generally speaking, very slight. The reasons given by the local merchants for the increasing trade 
with the Continent in velvets, etc., is that for the same money a more attractive looking article can be 



16 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 

obtained than from the United Kingdom. I concluded from what I was told, and from the samples 
shown to me, that the pile cutters, dyers and finishers on the Continent can turn out a cheap cloth to 
look equal to a really better quality of British manufacture. Richness of colour in the cheaper 
qualities from the Continent and " lustre " are more particularly spoken of by the local merchants as 
being superior to that found on the same quality of cloth produced in England. There is no 
suggestion that our Lancashire and Yorkshire manufacturers cannot produce the plain uncut cloth as 
cheaply as the Germans, and it would appear as if the success of Continental manufacturers was more 
particularly due to their skilful finishing processes, and I have been informed that the grey cloth for 
some of the velvets which are imported here from Hamburg is really manufactured in Lancashire and 
sent over to the Continent for dyeing, &c. 

Another class of textiles in which the imports from the Continent have very appreciably increased 
during recent years is Dutch and German prints. These goods are of excellent quality throughout, 
and the successful business done by foreign competitors in such goods may be attributed to the 
originality of the designs and to the effective blending of fast colours, in which latter respect the 
Continental printers seem to excel. I am informed that until quite recently nothing to match some of 
the Dutch and German styles could be obtained in the United Kingdom, but that now the British 
printers seem to be mastering the colouring, and that there is a reasonable prospect of the United 
Kingdom getting back some portion of this particular trade. 

With regard to woollen goods, so far as I can learn here the increase in imports from Germany is 
mainly due to Berlin wool, shoddy rugs, blankets and shawls, and to a very minor extent to low 
quality suitings. 

Smoking Pipes. We have here, in a very small class of goods, another illustration of progress 
made by foreign competitors at the expense of British makers. In 1907 Germany and Holland together 
did about one-quarter of the whole business in smoking pipes ; to-day they are securing 60 per cent. 
The local merchants attribute the loss of the United Kingdom's trade to cheaper pipes obtained on the 
Continent. Tt is regrettable that in a trade such as this, where labour forms a very large proportion of 
the cost of the finished article, we should find the trade falling into other hands. If the shipments 
from United Kingdom had increased in proportion to the total pipe trade in Nigeria, the business in 
British supplies of these goods would be double what it is to-day. The bulk of the pipes imported, 
are, by the way, clay ones (white and terrified), and I believe the industry for the West African export 
trade is more particularly carried on at Glasgow and Manchester. 



17 



SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 







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2W77 



18 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 
APPENDIX C. 



MEMORANDUM concerning certain classes of goods not included in Appendix B, but in which 

the United Kingdom might secure a larger share of the total trade. 

Enamelware. Whilst a comparison -with 1007 is not possible, owing to these goods being included 
under the general head of Hardware until 1909, the following figures show the comparative imports 
for 1909-11 : 








1909. 1910. 


1911. 





















From United Kingdom 


3,215 


9,823 


11,058 






Germany 


9,376 


16,954 


19,310 






Holland 


1,249 


2,487 


2,290 





In this particular instance, it would appear that we had gained proportionately more than the 
Continent since 1909, but my object in referring to the figures is to show that the total import from 
the United Kingdom in 1911 was only half that from Germany and Holland together, viz., United 
Kingdom 1J,00() as against the Continent 21,500. It has also been suggested to me that a certain 
proportion of the enamelware shipped via Liverpool is really of continental manufacture. 

The merchants here are agreed that the quality of British made enamelware is far superior to 
that received from the Continent, but state that the latter is much cheaper, and that there is here a 
demand for low priced qualities which apparently the British makers do not care to touch. 

As enamelware furnishes a suitable illustration, I do not think I can do better than enlarge 
somewhat upon the question of supplying cheap qualities of goods to markets in which there is a 
demand for such stuff. In that respect our British manufacturers seem often to lag behind, being content, 
for at all events a time, to lose the business rather than reduce their quality.' On the other hand 
foreign competitors, and especially the Germans, appear to be always open to supply down to a 
certain point, of course cheaper types of goods if asked to do so. Generally speaking, the attitude 
of British and Continental manufacturers towards cheap qualities would seem to indicate that the 
latter anticipated demands for low grades in tropical markets, where a large proportion of the 
purchasers are more impressed by appearance and cheapness than by the real worth and wearing 
qualities of an article. 

I have already indicated that so far as good qualities are concerned, the British manufacturer 
can, with a few exceptions, hold his own, but he certainly does not in certain departments get his share 
of the cheaper lines which are going, and I think he should not despise this class of business which 
in rapidly expanding markets like Nigeria would mean, in the course of time, a very useful addition 
to his turnover. It would appear in certain classes of goods that the " lowest possible" quality was 
looked upon from a different standpoint in Germany than in the United Kingdom, but, strange to say, 
not in other classes. In cheap tinware and buckets, for example, we do practically the whole of our 
business with the United Kingdom, and also by far the greater trade in cheap galvanized roofing 
sheets. Had not the British makers of these goods reduced their qualities, it is probable that the bulk 
of the existing trade in them would have passed ere this to the Continent. Perhaps mention of what 
has happened in the galvanized sheet business will help towards a clearer understanding of my point. 
Twenty years ago in Lagos the regular type of roofing iron sent out here was 24 gauge, then 26 guage 
was introduced and cut out the 24, and subsequently 28, 30 and even a thinner gauge still xvas brought 
out, and to-day practically the whole of the business, so far as the native trade is concerned, is done 
in Lagos in this last named very thin quality. The result of the British makers keeping pace with 
the competition which rules here is that in roofing iron they have kept four-fifths of the total trade, 
the imports from the United Kingdom in 1911 being of the value of 84,000 as compared with total 
receipts from all sources of 103,000, and I have reason to believe that a quantity of roofing iron 
shipped to the local German firms from Hamburg was really manufactured in the United Kingdom. 

Implements and Tools. Total imports in 1911 were valued at 51,000, of which the United Kingdom 
secured 29,000, Germany 18,500, and Holland 3,000. The large imports from the Continent may 
to a great extent be accounted for by the fact that British makers cannot or will not produce a cheap 
" matchet " suitable for this country both as regards quality and- price. These matchets, or cutlasses 
as they are sometimes termed, are used by farmers and others throughout Southern Nigeria, and 1 
believe in the tropics generally, and a large trade is donein them. Some time ago, when pursuing 
enquiries on this particular subject, I learnt that the business was practically confined to a wealthy 
ring of rolling mill firms in Germany, but I have never been able to understand why the British 
makers could not compete, and I would suggest that the matter is one well worthy of attention. I 
would press the point because four-fifths of the cheap cutlery is imported from the United Kingdom, 
and in that branch of trade we seem to be holding our own. If we can compete in cheap tinware, 
roofing sheets, and cutlery, it seems odd that we should not also be able to do so in the matchet 
business, which is very well worth having. 

A relatively small quantity of tools is also imported from Germany, but the bulk of the business 
secured by that country under the head of " implements and tools " is undoubtedly transacted in 
matchets. 

Sugar. Total 1911 imports 20,700, of which 11,500 came from the United Kingdom, 6,700 from 
Germany, and 2,000 from Holland. The imports from Germany are practically confined to the 
Western (Lagos) Province, where 6,000 worth was received last year as compared with only 2,000 
from the United Kingdom. The local merchants attribute the preference for German sugar primarily to 
cheapness, and to some extent to forms of packing which are more convenient for distribution to 
small retailers. 

With regard to the question of price, I find that the declared value of sugar received from 
the United Kingdom in 1911 (exclusive of freight) was 20s. per cwt., whilst that from Germany cost 



19 

SOUTHEKX NlGEKIA antt. 

15s. per cwt. only. It is not suggested that the sweetening qualities of 20*. worth of English sugar 

is not fir more than 15*. -worth of German, but our natives like to see a good deal in the way of bulk 

heir money, and it would be difficult to convince them that with a piece of British sugar 

h iv--, | uarters the size of the German they would get the same amount of true sweetening 

matter. 

Concerning (tacking, which is always an important factor in these markets, a dozen years or more 
ago cube sugar was im]>orted from the Continent in .">() kilo, cases, say approximately 1 cwt. Sub- 
sequently the packages were cut down to about 56 Ibs., then to 28 Ibs., and now there is quite an. 
appreciable trade done in small wooden boxes of sugar weighing only 14 Ibs. or less. Of course, 
1 cwt. of sugar put up in one package must be cheaper than the same quantity made up in eight 
small boxes, but sugar is retailed hern by very small traders, and these small shopkeepers or hawkers 
of limited means, who can afford to buy only 10 to 20 Ibs. at one time, are now getting the sugar in 
tin' small boxes at a cheaper price direct from the actual importer than they were formerly able to 
buy from the first middleman. This question of packages suitable for the small retailer is a very 
important one, as I feel sure yon will understand from the above illustration, and it is one which our 
own people need to bear well in mind, not only as regards sugar but other goods sold by hawkers 
and small traders, in which the usual packages are at present large but which lend themselves to 
splitting up. 

Matches. Total value of 1911 imports 1.V>00, of which 3,700 from the United Kingdom, S,-,'txi 
from Germany, and U >"><> fn>in Holland. To the best of my knowledge the real source of origin of the 
bulk of continental sui N nm. fr.> in which countries safety matches 

tiii'l tln-ir ria in Ian:.- quantities either via Hamburg or Rotterdam. The British matches 

whi. . out hen- an- practically all of -ike anywhere" vari.-ty. The import of 

theS' ;s rather singularly confined to tin- Western (Lagos) Province, where they form 

practically one half of the t>tal import. the value of such matches received at Lagos being .3.. r >30 in 
l.'ll aft compared will: .: port of 7,4<XI. Tli- i I'.ritish matches imported into the 

r two provinces of Southern Nigeria is negligible, being nly 21*0 all told in 1 .'II. whilst the 
total importations in the Central and Kast-rn l'r\ inces wer<* of the value of 6,000. Efforts have 
been ma ! by the merchants to introdu< safety matches into the Central and Eastern 

ves in those districts show a very decided pn -Terence for safety matches, and 

practically no progress has been made with the other kind which is so popular in Lagos. One 

if our I5ri:ish match makers could not produce a safety to compete with the type received 

via the Continent. Thesi- i" relial.le quality and are cheap, although I notice 

fron. ;hat th- latches is slightly higher than the British. Th. > 

. however, are put up in very ch-a> it for the purely native trade I do not 

think this form of packi: ; necessarily kill th- lMi,iness, so Ion*,' as the Kritish safeties were 

good and cheap, and if tho stri king Blips were affixed in such a manner as to serve properly to the 

the box in this climate. ThN \* an imp int, especially to the poorer consumers who 

ain strikes for their mem. . I' wmild also v. ri:illy help on the popularity of the 

-h safeties if the makers c<>uld afford to put say half a ! /. n mure matches in each box than are 

found in the I*- Ixjxes, and \\:. 7(> matches, although there are 

some lens popular kinds h' re nhich have on u matches in the box. If it can be managed, I 

5 as a suitable numb. r. 'I .-< limit, by the way, for boxes of this size is 

:. itches t . so suppliers must be careful not to exceed that number. If they do, an extra 

3d. per grom boxes will be demand. . I, th .r\ duty for boxes not exceeding 80 being Gd. 

per gross. 

n, as to the feasibility of British makers competing with the 

Norwegian, Swedish, and I'.-lifian matches which are Bent out here from the Continent, on the 
n that th'- freight on suitable m.iteh making timber to Liverpool would not be more, and 
probably would be much lesn. than the cost of transporting matches from Norway or Sweden in 
Hamburg. The freight from I.iverini.. the same ?H from Hamburg. I also assume that 

our own people have the very latest labour saving machit. 

Hal- .The total imports of these two classes from all sources in 

I'.Ml war- .,f which t;r in the United Kingdom, 8,200 from Germany, and :!,:;< N> 

from Holland, ('hea; ; design are said to account for the fact that practically 

half the goods imported in these classes are from the Continent. 



nd Porter. The imports mainly consist of light bottled beers. Total imports 

of beer in Ix.ttles in i'.'ll was lt'-,L(K). of which 8,200 came from the United Kingdom, 7,300 

from 'I'ermatiy. , ' fn.m lli>lh >om Appendix "A" it will be seen that a much 

r quantity of U-er /;* / from Germany than from the United Kingdom, but in pints 

j.osition is r rwo-thirds of the total supply coming from the United Kingdom. The 

imports of licer in /,int* <\\t shown in Appendix "A") was 9,500 in 1911, of which 

iV.,li x> came from th. I'nitcd Kingdom, 3,000 from Germany and ^U HI only from Holland. Generally 

peaking, the continental brewers do not appear to find so great a demand for their light beers in pint 

bottles, and several brands can only !> 1 in quarts. It is only a relatively small line, and as 

we have practically one half of the whole bottled trade, I personally consider the position in this class 

fairly satisfactory in face of the well deserved popularity of some continental brews. Our own people 

ship quart Lotties as well as pints to this market, and no pertinent suggestions strike me as to means 

by which their trade can be enlarged. 

" / .This is the last class of merchandise to which I desire to call attention, but so 

far as imports from the Continent are concerned it is the most important. The total value of Gin and 

Run . was 4 ,1 110,000, of which less than 12,000 came from the 

d Kingdom. The bulk of the total trade was secured by Holland and Germany whose respective 

shares w- i and ^'.'.'J.iMKi. Im|x.rts from the United Kingdom (apart from Whiskey which is 

'irludod in the above total) chiefly consist of Old Tom or Plymouth Gin for Kuropean or better 

claw native con-umpi!'.n. and a certain quantity of barrel Rum (3,000) which is almost entirely 

hipped to the Eastern Province. 

wm os 



20 

SOUTHERN NIGERIA cont. 

For all practical purposes it may be stated that the distillers in the United Kingdom do not at 
present cater for the demand for cheap bottled spirits in these markets, and in some quarters there 
would appear to be very strong prejudice against the business in what is commonly termed " trade " 
spirit, this description being held in contempt as implying that the liquor sent out here from 
Rotterdam or Hamburg is generally of the worst possible type. This has been proved to be 
altogether too sweeping a view, but even assuming that ''trade " spirits are of low quality, why should 
not the British distillers endeavour to place upon the market a better brand to drive the continental 
stuff out ? There would not appear to be anything discreditable in making pure grain spirit in the 
United Kingdom, guaranteeing it as such, and shipping same to these markets to replace the Dutch 
or German liquor against which charges have so freely been levelled on account of the alleged low 
quality. 

During the last two decades a considerable change for the betier has been noticeable in the quality 
of spirits received from the continent. In the early nineties, although good quality Hamburg and 
Dutch Gin was even at that time being imported to an appreciable extent in the Central and Eastern 
Provinces, the whole of the liquor received in the Western (Lagos) Province was cheap Hamburg 
spirit. Towards the end of the nineties, one or two important firms of Dutch distillers attacked the 
Lagos trade with a better and dearer quality of spirit than that commonly shipped from Hamburg, 
and they have been so successful as to now supply over nine-tenths of the \vhole of the gin entering 
Lagos, viz. 117,000 value in 1911, as compared with only 10,000 from Hamburg. Is it not possible 
for the United Kingdom by the same methods, i.e. better quality, to secure some share of this trade ? 

A few years ago efforts were made from here to interest British distillers in the question of 
supplying cheap but sound grain spirit to these markets, but nothing came of it. We were given to 
understand that the exorbitant prices asked by the British glassmakers for bottles was in itself a very 
serious handicap, and that the restrictions placed upon the export spirit trade by the Revenue 
authorities and Dock Boards further tended to place our distillers at a disadvantage. At that time I 
gathered that there was no question as to the British distillers being able to produce a true grain 
spirit immature, perhaps, but nevertheless genuine at a reasonable figure, and the evidence given 
before the Whiskey Commission in 1908 would seem to bear this out, for it was then stated that 
Patent Still " silent " spirit was sold in the United Kingdom at so low a price as Is. l^d. per gallon. 

Given equal facilities by the Revenue authorities and Dock Boards, it is difficult to understand 
why an up-to-date distillery could not be worked as economically at Liverpool as at Rotterdam, for 
the freights on maize and other raw materials would be approximately the same in either case. And 
glassmaking is one of the chief industries at St. Helens, only a few miles away from Liverpool. 

I have shown that the Dutch distillers were able to break into the trade with a spirit of better 
quality and higher price than the ordinary run of German liquor, and that being the case one would 
think our own distillers might now have a chance even if their supplies were fractionally higher than 
those from Holland. Much can be done to popularise a slightly dearer article by some new flavour- 
ing matter, always provided the spirit is sound to commence with. 

There is one point in connection with this spirit trade which I should like to mention, but I am 
not certain if I can make my meaning quite clear. It is with regard to the Customs Duty, which in 
1802 (when all the Lagos " trade " spirits was imported from Hamburg) was only Is. (one shilling) 
per proof gallon. To-day the duty levied is 5s. 6d. per gallon of a strength of 50 degrees Tralles, with 
an addition of 2^d. for every degree above 50, and a rebate of l^d. per degree below, and with a 
minimum charge of 4s. 6d. per gallon. With so low a duty as Is. per gallon twenty years ago, it will 
be understood that the first cost of " trade " spirits in Europe was the principal factor dominating the 
selling price to the natives, and that a variation of 3d. or fid. per case on the then local selling price 
made a much more appreciable difference than it does to-day with the duty at 5s. 6d. per gallon. My 
point is that the higher the duty, the more favourable the opportunity of introducing better quality 
spirits which may cost a little more. On the face of it, this may seem rather paradoxical, but I think 
you will agree that an increase of, say, &d. per case (1 gallon) on 5s. would be enough to place the 
cheaper article completely out of court, whilst a difference of Gd. per case on selling values of 10*. to 
to 12s. might not prove an insuperable obstacle in the introduction of some better quality with a 
guarantee behind it. 

The whole question would appear to be well worthy of consideration, and if anything can be 
accomplished by British distillers to secure (with a guaranteed pure grain spirit) a fair share of the 
South Nigerian liquor trade, which is now passing to the Continent to the extent of 400,000 per 
annum, it will make a useful addition to the trade of the United Kingdom. 



GOLD COAST. 



Colonial Secretary's Office, 

Accra, Gold Coast. 

SIR, Hth October, 1912. 

IN accordance with tin- request contained in your letter of the 6th June, I have 
the honour to transmit to you, herewith, a report on British :i> c. .m pared with Foreign 
trade in the Gold Coast. Attached to it are three statements of trade. 

1 have, &c., 

C. H. HARPER, 

A'-titi;/ CnUniidl Secretary. 
The A"i-tant >eiTetary. 
(Commercial Departme 
Board of Trade. 



Memorandum on British as compared with Foreign Imports into 

the Gold Coast Colony. 

-The total value, at jx.rt of miry, of all goods imported into the 

: C..:i-t Colony during I'-'l I amount. ,1 t.. L - : .> l.i'.V'. Of this total, goods imported 

from tin- I "nited Kindlon, ,v--n- valued at t' J.M _.^'.'"), or 7") ]>cr cent, of the whole; 

It from British Colonies a 1 j>er cent, of the whole, and goods 

from Foreign Countries at t>- Kin i' I per cent, of the whole. 

_. Good-* imjxirtc.l during tin- |K-rio<| on behalf of Government and Government 
Railways wen- valued at i! I I".-':.'! : al L' s *l .'>'.'l : and commercial imports, 

;-tve of specie, at L'i'.7i;i'.!i46. 

1 >f commercial imports the |>rinci|>al -ubjert of the present inquiry those from 

:gn Countries were valued at L'7"ii..") |."> or i's |,i-r cent, of the whole ; from Brit Uh 
- I |HI- .-rnt. of tlie whole; and from the United Kingdom at 

fl.'.M'.M 1! or 7ii [XT <vnt. of the whole. >ince our statistics were classified in 1!>11 (for 
the first time) according .to "countries whence consigned," the last figure may be 
taken ax showing correctly tin- commercial irnj>orts that have been actually manufactured 
in the I'nitcd Kingdom, or have passed through the P-riii-h markets. 

1. "if commercial imjKirts from the United Kingdom, I estimate the value of 
those of British origin at 1,7X5,362 or 64 per cent, of the total commercial irni>orts. 
This figure I coupler indicates as nearly a* possible the true position of British 
manufacture- in the markets of the Colony. 

". F"i;i,,n Comjiititl^n.- The accompanying three statements show the principal 
commercial imports in which articles of foreign origin have competed to any considerable 
:it with the corresponding article- of Briti>h oriirin during 1909, 1910 and 1911. 
Minor ini|x>rts ; classes of ini|x>rts in which British goods practically enjoy a monopoly ; 
imiorts on behalf ot < ..,. , -rnment (which were nearly all of British origin), and goods 
such as Hour, cork\v<xxl, rice, kerosene oil, lumber, rum, wines and unmanufactured 
tobacco, which do not compete with any British manufacture are excluded from these 
statements. These will be found in detail in the Blue Books of the Colony. 

6. The following note> show in each case the nature of the competition : 

(a) AaricvUunu and Gardtnmg Implement*. Impart* from Germany and Holland 
an- prolrtibiy all of German oriin. and con-i-i principally of matchets and native hoes. 
The- : intei-i.-i- ijiiality aii-l cheaper than the corresponding British articles. They 

are imported more largely from Germany than from England solely because the principal 



22 

GOLD COAST continued. 

importer is a German firm. The British articles when imported generally lind a ready 
market, and that they are losing ground is due only to the neglect of the trade by the 
local British firms. The remedy is obvious, but the British manufacturer must not forget 
that particular types become popular or unpopular for no apparent reason, and that in 
order to capture and hold the trade, he must satisfy the requirements and very often the 
caprices of the local purchasers. 

(b) Ale and Beer. The only beer consumed in this Colony in any quantity is 
" lager." The stronger British beers do not keep well, and are too heavy for 
consumption in the Tropics. A British Lager is struggling for a place in the 
market, but it is not nearly so popular as the Munich and Pilsener varieties. British 
firms as well as German firms import their " lager " from Germany. If British 
manufacturers are to capture this trade, they must imitate the German article more closely 
than they do at present. 

(c) Beads. Practically all the beads imported here are of Austrian and Italian 
origin even those imported from Germany and the United Kingdom. Austria succeeded 
Venice many years ago as the principal manufacturer of this commodity for the African 
market and so far no rival has seriously challenged her supremacy. Her manufacturers 
now have the advantage of long experience in the industry, but that they have any 
advantage from labour conditions, supplies of raw material, or any other condition 
incidental to the manufacture of beads is certainly far from obvious. Close touch with 
the market so as to be able to supply beads of the latest and most popular patterns 
is essential to success in this trade. " Fashion " rules the market and is quite as 
capricious here as it is in Europe. Birmingham beads, as far as I can ascertain, are not 
sold in this Colony. 

(d) Bags and Sacks. The imports from Germany correspond with the proportion 
of our cocoa crop that is sent to the German market. 

(e) Blue. Indigo. .That imported from Germany has no advantage either as regards 
price or quality over the corresponding British article, and local British and German 
traders import from their respective countries. It will be noticed that Britain is gaining 
in this trade. 

(f) Bread and Biscuits. British biscuits maintain their supremacy, but during the 
last two years a cheap coarse biscuit imported from France, originally introduced by the 
local French traders, has taken a wonderful hold on the popular taste. British traders are 
now importing it, but they are also importing a very successful British imitation a 
course they might pursue with advantage in several other directions. 

(g) Building Materials. The principal article imported from Germany is cement. 
This is of inferior quality and is imported only by German traders, who find it necessarv 
to import also the superior and more popular British commodity. Foreign competition 
in this need not be feared. In the current year (1912). owing to the labour unrest in 
England, a considerable amount of German cement has been imported. Imports from 
Holland are probably of German origin. 

(h) Candles. Imports from Belgium, Germany and Holland are of cheap inferior 
varieties which are generally made up in fancy colours, and are introduced almost 
exclusively by German and other foreign traders. The competition in this article is 
declining and need not be feared. 

(i) Coopers 1 Stores. Those imported from Holland .are probably of German origin, 
and with those imported from Germany make up a total that corresponds only to the 
proportion of our palm oil exports sent to the German market. 

(j) Cotton Yarn and Twist. Imports from Germany consist principally of coarse 
yarns used in the Quittah district for the manufacture of " Quittah cloths." They are 
introduced ^almost exclusively by German traders. Britain is gaining ground in this trade. 

(k) Cotton Manufactures. 'British cottons retain their supremacy and are imported by 
German as well as by British traders. There is a coarse German cloth, however, that has 
become very popular on account of the stability of its colours. It is imported by British 
as well as by German firms, and is generally printed after English designs. A still more 
popular cloth of somewhat finer texture, made and printed in Holland, is also imported 
here by British as well as by foreign traders. It has attained its popularity too on account 
of the stability of its colours, and like the German cloth it is generally printed after 
English designs. 

It is quite impossible to advise the British manufacturer as to how he should 
protect his designs so as to prevent his foreign competitors from using them. Registra- 
tion in the Colony would riot be sufficient, as a given .merchant might easily be selling at 
one and the same time a British, a Dutch, and a German cloth, all of the same pattern, 



23 

GOLD COAST continued. 

and as most of his competitors would be doing likewise, nobody would be likely to 
invoke the assistance of the law on behalf of the British manufactured article. Even if 
the law wen- invoked, the forger could escape by making a few immaterial alterations in 
the original design. 

(1) Dru : /.< ami Chtmirals. The principal import from Germany consists of patent 
medicines, introduced almost exclusively by German traders. This trade is well worth 
the attention of British manufacturers. The native is an inveterate consumer of patent 
medicines, and a large trade might be obtained in any medicine that succeeded in 
acquiring a local reputation. 

(m) Furniture. Imports from Germany consist principally of bentwood chairs and 
sofas. These are imported from Germany by British as well as by foreign traders, and I 
understand their manufacture is a German speciality. In the trade as a whole Britain is 
no more than maintaining her position. 

(n) Hardware. Imports from Germany and Holland consist largely of enamelled 
iron vessels the manufacture of which seems to be a German speciality. At present 
practically all the enamelled vesst-U in this market are imported from Germany. Cheap 
cutlery ami cheap sowing machines also are largelv imported from Germany, but almost 
entirely by German traders. Both those lines are well worth closer attention from British 
manufacturers. 

(o) Musical Instruments. Imports from Germany con-i-t principally of portable 

us, concertinas, mouth cheap band instruments and such goods. Those lines 

an- Herman s|*ecialities and local British trader- are Unved to import them from Germany. 

The trade as a whole i- developing rapidly, and British goods are more than holding 

their own. 

(p) Minrrtil ]\ 'tiler-. Imports from France consist principally of the well known 
' IVrrit-r," and those from Germany largely of the equally well known Imt less popular 
mrhruii' These are imputed \>y British as well as by foreign traders. Germany 

also supplies a very popular lemonade which i* iinjorted by firms of all nationalities. 

Britain is losi; >nd in thi- -id sip. can regain it only by imitating t lie 

_rn lines that are already |>opular in the market, or bv inventing new lines of her 

to -nit the |M>|,nlar taste. 

(q) Perfumery. -Imjjort- from Germany and Holland consist of very cheap and 
interior . and water, coloured, -rented and made up in most attractive looking 

packages to catch the |*>pnlar fancy. Briti-h traders import these largely from Germany. 
This trade is expanding rapidly, and while Britain has secured the greater pro] mrtiori of 
the increase, she could easily do letter. Attraeti\e looking receptacle- arc e.-sential to 
success, and in making up these th- n manufacturer is easily first. Again British 

manufacture^ do not imitate successful German lines, while Germans very ^uickly imitate 
successful Briti-h ones. 

(r) Provisions. Importations from Germany and Holland consist principally of 
sausages, tinned meats and che-. . M-r of these are German ami Dutch sjH'cialities. A 
rural milk" from Germany ha- l>ecoine very popular lately, and is imported by 
Briti-h as well as by German firms. "Natural milk "generally i- growing in favour, 
but I have not seen an English brand on the market. Tinned butter, too, is getting a 
hold on the |H, pillar taste. 

(s) Salt, Coarse. French salt enjoy- no advantage over the English variety, either 
in price or quality, Imt is preferred in di-tri'-ts where it has been long established. 
British as well as foreign merchants ini]>orf it for those district^. 

(t) i'lint A--/ 'run*. Holland and lielgium are the principal suppliers. I cannot 
di-cover any adequate reason for this. The trade i- worth the attention of British 
manufacturers. The apparent decline in the imports from the United Kingdom is due to 
the classification of im|>orts in 191 1 according to " countries whence consigned " instead 
of "countries whence irii|orted " as was the case in previous years. 

(u) Spirits Gin. Probably !0 per cent, of the gin imported here is of the "trade" 
variety and is manufactured almost exclusively in Holland. It is a Dutch speciality and 
baa held the market here for many years, but it is gradually losing hold on the popular 
taste which has turned lately to American rum. British manufacturers have never 
shown any inclination to compete in this commodity. 

(v) >'</</'"' German sugar has some advantage in price, if not in quality, over 
Briti-h sugar, and it has a considerabl" hold on the popular taste. British as well as 
iders imjx.rt. The Briti-h manufacturer is losing ground in this trade, 
and is likely to lose still further unless he can supply a cheaper article. 



24 

GOLD COAST continued. 

(w) Tobacco, Manufactured. Imports from Germany and Holland consist exclusively 
of cheap inferior cigars, of kinds that are not manufactured in the United Kingdom. 
The trade in manufactured tobacco as a whole is expanding rapidly, and it is satisfactory 
to note that nearly the whole of the increase of the last three years has gone to the United 
Kingdom. 

(x) Wearing Apparel. Imports from Germany and Holland consist principally of 
cheap singlets, shirts, collars, underwear and ready-made clothing : lines which are very 
popular here and which are well worth closer attention from British manufacturers. 
British traders import them from Germany, which they would not do if they could 
procure similar lines in England. 

7. Samples. I have purchased a number of samples of the foreign goods referred 
to in the foregoing notes, and I will send them in due course to the Board of Trade, 
labelled in each case with the retail price in the local market.* These may be useful to 
present or prospective British competitors. I shall be glad at any time to send given 
samples of other foreign goods if asked to do so, and to give any further available 
information as to any particular feature of foreign competition. 

8. Commercial Travellers. As far as can be ascertained here, none of the foreign 
competition is induced or supported by bounties in the countries of origin. Neither has 
it any advantage from superior representation by commercial travellers. Of course com- 
mercial travellers both British and foreign visit the Colony, but the amount of trade they 
obtain is a negligible fraction of the whole, and is likely to remain so. It is carried on 
as a rule through a bank with petty traders a class with an abnormally low standard of 
commercial morality and any supplier who takes it up must do so under substantial 
guarantees, or at considerable risk. It must not be inferred, however, that local 
canvassing by commercial travellers is useless. A keen traveller can always obtain useful 
information for his principals and keep them in touch with local requirements ; and there 
are several small traders prepared to give all necessary guarantees, and to carry on a 
profitable trade with any manufacturer who can supply them with good selling articles. 

9. The bulk of the canvassing for trade for this Colony is done in Europe where 
nearly all our important trading firms have their headquarters. These headquarter 
branches are nearly always the buying branches of their firms, and they are generally 
managed by men who have full experience of West African trade, and who would be 
likely to give every encouragement to any manufacturer who could put up a suitable line 
for their market. The best advice I can give to British manufacturers is to introduce 
their wares in the first instance to one of these buying branches.* 4 

10. General Remarks. It has been stated that British trade in this Colony suffers 
because the British trader keeps up a more elaborate and expensive establishment than his 
foreign competitor, and because his headquarter branch in England invoices goods to him 
at too high a rate in order to cut down his commission. I cannot find the least evidence 
of this, and the best answer to it is that notwithstanding such supposed handicaps the 
British trader more than maintains his ground, and places his goods on the market at 
least as cheaply as his foreign competitor. 

11. It has also been said that British trade suffers from the reluctance or tardiness of 
principals in England to take the advice of their Agents in the Colony as to the supply 
of new lines or the variation of old ones. While this may be true in individual instances, 
there is not the least evidence that, on the whole, the British trading firm is wanting 
either in foresight or in enterprise. 

1 2. Taking the Import trade of the Colony as a whole there is not the least reason 
for the British supplier to be dissatisfied with his position. He has held his ground in 
all his staple commodities, and he has taken the lion's share of all important increases. Of 
the strength and enterprise of his most formidable rival, the German, who incidentally is 
the Colony's next best customer, he seems fully aware and appreciative. In this lies the 
hope of the future. For every pound the German has gained in the last three years he 
has gained seventeen, and there is every reason to believe that, in the future, he will 
increase rather than lose his advantages, 

0. MITCHELL, 

Acting Comptroller of Customs. 

' These samples may be seen by British manufacturers and shippers of British goods on applica- 
tion to the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall Street, London, E.C. 
A list of the principal British firms in the Colony, and where possible the names and 
addresses of their representatives in England may be obtained on application to the Commercial 
Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade. 



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SIERRA LEONE. 



COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 

SIERRA LEONE. 

9th July, 1912. 

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th June 
requesting to be furnished with certain information in regard to the present position of 
British trade in this Colony and the Protectorate, and the means by which that trade 
may be developed in the future. 

2. In compliance with your request, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of 
a report which has been prepared by the Collector of Customs, at my request, which, 
together with the tables attached to it, will, I hope, furnish the information desired on the 
various points mentioned in your letter. 

I have, &c., 

E. EVELYN, 

Acting Colonial Secretary. 
The Assistant Secretary, 

(Commercial Department), 
Board of Trade. 



MEMORANDUM. 

I submit the following statement on the .several points raised by the Board of Trade. 

2. From Appendix A, showing the Direction of Import trade with this Colony for 
the last three years, it will be seen that in the aggregate the United Kingdom enjoys an 
enormous advantage. 

3. In various articles, the manufacture of which is common to the United Kingdom 
and to certain Continental Countries, the latter to a great extent command the market. 
Appendix B gives a list of such articles with the countries from which they are consigned. 
As the country of consignment is not necessarily the country of origin, it follows that it 
is not always the country which competes in manufacture. This is illustrated by the 
item " beads." 

4. Beads. Samples and catalogues appear to indicate that beads suitable for the 
West African Market can be obtained at considerably less cost from Austria, 
through Germany, than from the United Kingdom. The large extent of their 
trade in beads enables the Continental Shippers to grant better terms to West African 
Traders than can possibly be conceded by British Manufacturers. Hamburg is the 
principal port of shipment for goods from the whole of the Continent to this place and the 
small cost of transit by the large waterways in Germany no doubt exercises a considerable 
influence in determining the ultimate cost of many Continental manufactures. In the case 
of beads, it is cheapness of production rather than the popularity of a showy but inferior 
article which enables foreign made goods to hold the market. 

5. With regard to Cutlery, Jewellery, Glassware and Perfumery, in all of which the 
importations from Germany largely exceed those from the United Kingdom, there are for 
these goods two distinct classes of customers, one consisting of Europeans and the 
superior natives, the other, which is much the larger, wholly of natives. The former 
derives its supply mainly from the United Kingdom, which provides goods of generally 
better quality. The latter demands goods which are attractive in appearance and low in 
price and in order to meet this demand quality must perforce be sacrificed. Particularly 
is this so in the case of Perfumery. By reason of its extremely low cost the strong 
spirit made in Germany enables the German Manufacturer to produce certain kinds of 
perfume at a price with which a Manufacturer of the United Kingdom cannot possibly 
compete. It is stated that none of the cheap classes of the above-named articles can be 
manufactured in the United Kingdom at an equally low cost as in Germany and other 
Continental Countries. 

6. Matches. As is well known, Norway and Sweden are very large sources of supply 
of this article and these countries are responsible for the great bulk of importation which 
is credited to Germany, the country of consignment. 






29 

SIERKA LEONE cont. 



7. Figures showing the importation of Tobacco and certain Spirits have been included 
in Appendix B as it is thought, the information may possibly be of use. Tobacco 
imported into Sierra Leone is entirely of American origin, the various countries shown in 
the Table being countries of Consignment. 

8. Commercial Travellers have probably not had much to do 'with the success or 
otherwise of firms doing business in Sierra Leone. A few who on their first entrance to 
the Colony were simply Travellers have remained as Local Agents of the Firms they 
represented, others have appointed Local Agents. In their adopted positions they are 
enabled to send to their head-quarters a continuous stream of reliable information regard- 
ing local conditions and requirements. Each new agency established naturally extends 
the ramifications of trade with West Africa. The Commercial Travellers who visit the 
West Coast of Africa in many instances represent firms which already do business on the 
Coast and seek to increase their connexion. The new agencies previously referred to 
represent foreign firms, and in this respect the foreign manufacturer has been better 
represented in the Colony of Sierra Leone than his British competitor. 

9. I am not aware of the existence of any Government bounties which in any way 
affect the trade of any foreign Country with this Colony. 

10. France and <iermany are well represented in the Commercial life of the Colony 
and it may be assumed that business is fairly equally distributed between firms of these 
two countries and firms of the United Kingdom. The trade of one firm is almost exactly 
similar to that of another. Similar goods are stocked and sold by each and it would be 
commercially suicidal for any one firm to try to carry on business successfully while 
confining itself to the exploitation of the manufactures of its own country to the exclusion 
of those of otln-r nationalities. 

11. The Compagnie Fran<;aise de 1'Afrique Occidentale, which is one of the leading 
firms of the Colony, goes jierhaps further than any of its rivals in encouraging the sale of 
ite nation's manufacture. Several times a year their own trading steamer brings to the 
Colony a cargo of goods consigned to tin nisei ves and consisting almost entirely of goods 
produced or manufactured in France. 

12. Generally the opinion of local Merchants is that the catalogues and price lists of 
goods of Don-Brnuh (notably of German) origin are much more informative than those 
emanating from the United Kingdom. N~<> detail is omitted which may be of use to the 
possible customer. It is even stated that when goods^re ordered from a Continental price 
li-t the jiun'liaser knows beforehand exactly what he will receive and that this is seldom 
possible when an indent is made from a British price list, owing to insufficiency of detail. 

A. P. VIRET, 

Collector of Customs. 



APPENDIX A. 



TAHLB showing the Import Trade of the Colony of Sierra Leone for the Three Years ending 

lW.-ml-.T. I '.Ml. 



Imports. 



v/oumry wnence imponeu. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


Unifeil Kingdom . . 




700 ':'.:; 




s7 1 943 




'..">( 1 815 


Hritish West African Possessions 
British Possessions (Other) 


52,580 

M 
3795 


30,654 
33 
" 't56 


56,043 

:57 

11,221 


Germany ... ... ... . . 


95,155 


134,629 


142,169 


Holland 


28,061 


44,12.') 


57,39:5 


Other European Countries .... 
United States of America 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries ... 


1,969 

48,116 
9,357 


2,52!) 
4,589 
47,530 
20,482 


i,6o;t 

10,705 
27,825 
29,414 










Grand Total 


974,581 


1,162,470 


1,267.231 



NOTE. The above figures include "specie." 



SIEUKA LEONE cont. 
APPENDIX B. 



TABLE showing the Countries whence certain articles were imported into the Colony of Sierra Leono 

in the Three Years ending 31st December, 191.1. 



1909. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



1910. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



1911. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



Beads. 

United Kingdom 

British West African Possessions 

France 

Germany 

Holland 

Other European Countries 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 

Total 

Cutlery : 

United Kingdom ... 

British West African Possessions 

France 

Germany 

Holland* 

Other European Countries 

United States of America 

Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 

Total 



Glassware : 

United Kingdom ... 

British West African Possessions 

France 

Germany 

Holland ... 

Other European Countries 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 

Total 

Jewettery : 

United Kingdom ... 

British West African Possessions 

British Possessions (Other) 

Germany 

Holland 

Other European Countries 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 

Total 

Matches : 

United Kingdom 

Germany 

Holland 

Other European Countries 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 

Total 





416 
5 
8 

5,800 
756 

17 

8 



7,010 



879 

2 

31 

3,453 

384 

6 

30 

4 



4,789 



764 
8 

129 

605 

138 

61 

18 



1,725 



84 



178 
45 

1 
22 



330 



110 
1,715 

128 



1,953 




484 

7 

8,753 

931 

86 

33 

140 



10,434 



1,510 
5 

20 

3,796 
1,029 



26 



6,386 



661 

8 

15 

535 

205 

40 

17 



1,481 



474 
1 

1,289 

57 

1 

13 
23 



1,858 



35 

2,397 
13 
32 



2,481 




527 

1 

8,220 
814 

102 
40 



9,704 



1,285 

32 

3,189 
1,627 

1 

18 



6,152 



542 

lf> 

3 

1,070 

332 

38 

10 

1 



2,012 



399 

2,93(! 
253 

18 
13 



3,624 



194 

2,146 

74 



2,415 






31 

SIERRA LEONE cont. 
APPENDIX B cont. 





190< 


\ 


19K 


). 


191 


1. 




Quantity. 


Value. 


Quantity. 


Value. 


Quantity. 


Value. 


Tobacco, Un man ufactu red : 
Tinted Kingdom ... 
British West African Possessions 
Germany 


Lbe. 
1,487,742 

62,720 



40.519 

1 706 


Lbs. 
1,842,236 
l.VJ 
9 8213 



50,601 
8 
925 


Lbs. 
1,785,297 
23 
116347 



48,487 
1 
3,192 


Holland 






7 l"> 


..,,.) 






United States of America 
Foreign West African Possessions 


403,200 
4,480 


12,3H7 


20,272 
686 


138 

33 


68,805 
5,011 


1,809 
147 


Total 


1,958,142 


54,715 


1,898,987 


52,207 


1,975,483 


53,636 


Perfumery : 
United Kingdom 
British West African Possessions 
France 





2,786 
5 
178 




2,797 
20 

1 





3,298 
37 
50 






:', r,< i:. 




5704 




4,788 


Holland 




743 




1 983 




1,640 


<)th.-r Ktiropean Countries 
United States of America ... 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 





> 
11 
96 
2 





27 
19 





2 
2 
52 


Total 





7,42S 





10,557 


. 


9,869 


> it: 
Brandy : 
United Kingdom 
British West African Possession- 
France 


Imp. 

Galls. 
909 

1 


757 
1 
252 


Imp. 
Galls. 

91X 

9 


796 
8 


Imp. 
Galls. 
1,458 

166 


1,174 
163 


Germany 

Holland 




Uf 


171 


783 

28 


3,322 
18 


690 
3 


Other European Countries 
Foreign West African Possessions 


62 


2 
66 


42 


40 


2 


1 


Total 


2,595 


1,490 


4,5:56 


1,655 


4,966 


2,031 


Genera . 
I'nited Kingdom ... 
British West African Possessions 
Germany . . . .. 


6,879 
1 

67,111 


1,919 
1 

104:i<> 


9,210 
94695 


SJM 

14,685 


7.1% 
1 
'072 


2,535 
I 
22654 


M. :..tn -1 


80.216 


11 P'l 


123,879 


17826 


161,959 


':> 974 


Foreign West African Possessions 

r Coniitriex 






2 
174 


1 
E5 


5 


2 


Total 


143,211 


23.471 


227,'.60 


34,834 


261.533 


49,166 


' : 
I'niN-'l Kingdom ... 
British West African Possessions 
France 


61,579 

7u 


4.778 
40 


60,543 
126 


4,611 
66 


67,100 
1 
94 


:..(i;i:', 
1 
52 


Germany 


41961 




77n-:', 


S :' ( Ki; 


63880 


6956 


Holland 


16008 


1 til.'i 


10,895 


1 171 


16905 


2 186 


United States of America 
Foreign West African Possessions 
Other Countries 


108 
62 

2,468 


si 

136 


366 

1.7-.'.s 


91 
119 


67 
3,141 


34 
222 


Total 


122,256 


11,613 


150,681 


14,647 


151,188 


14,544 



32 
GAMBIA. 

RECEIVER GENERAL'S OFFICE, 

BATHURST, GAMBIA. 
SIR, 21st August, 1912. 

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th June, 
relating to the present position of British trade in Crown Colonies and Protectorates, 
and the means by which that trade may be developed in future. 

In reply, I beg to transmit herewith an extract from the Government Gazette Extra- 
ordinary, of 23rd July last ("Appendix A), which contains a comparative statement of the 
quantities and values of Imports from Great Britain and the principal Foreign Countries. 

It will be seen from this return, that those articles of any importance in which the 
importation from Foreign Countries exceeds that from Great Britain, are : 

(1) Wine, 

(2) Sugar, 

(3) Rice, 

(4) Spirits. 

1. The bulk of the wine imported would probably in any case be exported from 
France, that being the country of its origin. 

2. The sugar is of an inferior quality, but it is cheap. 

3. The rice imported comes originally from the East Indies, and the quality is very 
inferior. 

The importation of rice from Germany during 1911 exceeds that from Great Britain 
and France put together, and it is worthy of notice that the quantity imported from 
Germany during the past three years has increased 300 per cent., while that from Great 
Britain shows an increase of little more than 100 per cent, during the same period. 

4. The excess in the importation of spirits from Germany is due to the fact that 
cheap trade gin made in Germany is the principal spirit consumed. 

The only imports into this Colony from Great Britain which exceed those from 
Foreign Countries are : 

(1) Cotton Goods, 

(2) Gunpowder, 

The importation of the latter commodity is a very small asset, from a commercial point 
of view. 

The former is by far the largest and most important importation into the Colony. 

The figures on the extract transmitted herewith, show that the importation from 
Great Britain is larger than the aggregate quantity derived from all other sources, but it 
is a significant fact that while the importation during 1911 from Great Britain shows a 
decrease of more than 10 per cent, from that of 1910, the importation from France has, on 
the other hand, increased more than 60 per cent, during the same period ; and Imports 
from both France and Germany show a constant increase during the past three years. 

Roughly speaking the whole of the decrease in the importation of cotton goods from 
Great Britain during the last year has been captured by France and Germany, and were 
it to progress in the same proportion the cotton goods trade with the Colony would, in 
very few years, be entirely in the hands of the two latter countries. 

Generally speaking the tendency to success of foreign competition is principally due 
to the facts that : 

1. There is only one English firm in this Colony, and that the remaining European 

firms are French. These latter are really branches of French houses which 
have their headquarters in France, from whom they receive the bulk of their 
merchandise. 

2. These firms employ, to a large extent, chartered boats which bring their imports 

and take their exports at a cheaper rate of freight than could be obtained from 
the one British line of steamers (Elder, Dempster & Co.) which runs from the 
United Kingdom to this port, against whom there exists no competition, 
whose service is not regular as to date of arrival, departure, &c., and whose 
freights have recently been raised 10 per cent. 

3. To the inferior goods at cheap prices to suit the purse and taste of the consumers, 

who are mostly natives. 

4. To the fact that the bulk of -the staple product of this Colony (ground nut) is 

taken by France, a factor which has no doubt probably facilitated commercial 
relations between merchants here and in that country. 



33 

GAMBIA cont. 

I enclose a statement (Appendix 15.) showing the proportions of certain articles 
obtained from (in-at lrit;iin in 1S ( .)9 as compared with 1911. 

I have, &c., 

CLINTON GREIG, 

For Receiver Genera/. 
The Assistant Secretary, 

(Commercial Department), 
Board of Trade. 



APPENDIX A. 

EXTRACT FROM GAMBIA GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 
RETURN of Principal Articles of Imports, 1907-1911. 



Quantity. 


Value. 








lUlMMI an 1 ! i < 1 1 1 : i n - . 


1907. 


Ml 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


1907. 


1908. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


Cotton Goods- 


pkg*. 


pkgs. 


|,k.-. 


pkgs. 


pk 

















Great Britain ... 


J,~'.i7 




3,467 







72,939 


.'.7.262 


74,409 


114,781 


105,540 


Sierra I^eone 




85 


ID 


13 





69 


53 20 


18 





France ... 


n :; 






743 


1,171 


7,746 


9,661 


2,749 


11,263 


18,527 


Germany 


51 






221 




1,026 




1,516 


4,057 


5,790 


Belgium ... 





9 














98 





> 





ich Colonies 


1'.' 




29 


3 





286 


'.'11 


227 


17 





- .. 


1 


:>, 


5 








7 


' -l\ 


65 








Spanirli 














17 











_ 


288 


Holland 





1 





1 


5 





6 





119 


77 


Miiri-i-,i ... 








3 




12 








42 


856 


152 


Total 


3,449 


3.256 


3.S18 


5,968 


5,826 


82,023 


68371 


7'.l,028 


130,611 


130,324 




Ibs. 


Ibs. 


n,-. 


Ibs. 


Ibs. 












Great Britain .. 


83 


in, .MI; 




l.V 


."--'.746 


5378 


8,709 


2,905 


778 


1,350 


ra Leone 








2 














1 








France 






107,031 




14,420 


1,663 


88 




1,446 


522 


Germany 


1,473 




560 


36,: 


1 "i,384 


89 


L30I 


70 


1,570 


1,433 


America... 


25. 


in.i it', 




921 


If,d..;>i 


613 


333 


5,795 


3433 


4,937 


.'ich Colonies 




s 


20,706 


LO 





11 




610 


4 





Portuguese 


50 




1 > 







14 


8 


40 


27 





Spanish 








__ 


- -- 


iv, 





_ 


- 


--, 


8 


Holland 





M. 


158 


T-... 










16 


^_ 




/Hand 











50 














6 





Total 


294,.;.; i 


185,26(1 


403,720 


3311,976 


253,260 


8*248 


5,937 


12,433 


6,964 


8350 


Kola Nut* 


Ibs. 


Ibs. 


Ibs. 


Ibs. 


Ibs. 












Sierra Leone 


1,015,474 


905)042 




1,112,565 


1.2S7.290 


39,942 


39,724 


45339 


65,534 


72,598 


'a 


galls. 


trails. 


nib. 


galls. 


galls. 












Great Britain 


6391 


1,753 


5495 


8464 


I.'.' 17 


1,576 


1,215 


1,410 


1,223 


1,637 


ra Leone 




_ 











1 


__ 











France ... 


i. :.-_>:; 


2,700 


2,820 


4,469 


4,648 


630 


812 


862 


1,326 


1,245 


Germany 


I. -.,156 




17.1 is 


34,351 




) ' l| 1 < 

-, , 1 . * ' " 


1,900 


2,053 


3,766 


5,119 


Holland 


1,302 


7306 


6,598 


5,783 


.'.->.") 


212 




809 


731 




America ... 




213 




739 


2,625 


17 


17 


454 


83 


276 


1- r.-iich Colonies 


71 


97 


2 








38 


36 










Total 


2;, 175 


27334 


35,484 


48,506 


62,775 


4,872 


5,247 


5,590 


7,129 


8,518 


Wins 


galls. 


galls. 


galls. 


galls. 


galls. 












Great Britain ... 


1,691 




1,032 


2,178 


1438 


401 


l.v.i 328 


5M 


152 


France ... 


1 ,097 


11.117 


l f.:'i'.'.s 


16,906 


.117 


1,513 


1,278 1,738 


1,851 


2,761 


Germany 


128 


101 


231 


72 


M 


30 


21 


39 


21 


86 


French Colonies 


2,555 


3,115 





1,727 





199 







116 





1'ortngaese .. 


is 


16 


62 


198 


4 


13 


11 


9 


89 


4 


Holland 














20 













14 


Total 


18,514 


20,065 


18,723 


21,081 


2:5,703 


2,156 


2,002 2,114 


2,527 


3,267 



19977 



34 

GAMBIA cont. 
APPENDIX A. cont. 





Quantity 


Value. 


Articles and Countries. 


1907. 


1908. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


1907. 


1908. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 


Sugar 


cwts. 


cwts. 


cwts. 


cwts. 


cwts. 

















Great Britain ... 


659 


253 


602 


632 


986 


700 


286 


677 


787 


1,143 


France ... 


4,388 


5,025 


5,503 


7,883 


10,722 


3,850 


4,354 


5,013 


8,682 


11,120 


Germany 


128 


170 


150 


232 


364 


96 


158 


148 


239 


348 


French Colonies 


1 


44 











1 


40 











Holland 

* 


5 














8 














Total 


5,181 


5,492 


6,255 


8,747 


12,072 


4,655 


4,838 


5,838 


9,708 


12,611 


Gunpowder 


brls. 


brls. 


brls. 


brls. 


brls. 












Great Britain 


235 


242 


212 


395 


199 


501 


608 


512 


739 


462 


France ... 





17 














40 











Germany 








50 


9 











92 


18 





French Colonies 


1 














1 














Total 


23G 


259 


202 


404 


199 


502 


648 


604 


757 


462 


Salt 


tons. 


tons. 


tons. 


tons. 


tons. 












France ... 














1 














2 


Portuguese 


2,622 


1,526 


2,326 


1,420 


1,546 


2,211 


1,250 


1,954 


1,642 


1,545 


Colonies. 






















Germany 





101 














128 











Spnish Colonies 














3 














6 


Total 


2,622 


1,627 


2,326 


1,420 


1,550 


2,211 


1,378 


1,954 


1,642 


1,553 


Rice 


cwts. 


cwts. 


cwts. 


cwts. 


cwts. 












Great Britain ... 


61,718 


28,141 


16,599 


27.686 


36,161 


32,*'.!'.) 


12,890 


8,242 


13,969 


18,790 


Sierra Leone 


127 


204 


269 


147 


162 


76 


105 


132 


80 


100 


France ... 


35,435 


35,739 


32,270 


49,956 


22,827 


17,233 


17,668 


14,002 


21,802 


10,584 


Germany 


41,695 


14,311 


19,311 


23,304 


60,515 


20,304 


7,101 


9,340 


10,235 


29,726 


French Colonies 


1 








6 





1 








1 





Portuguese 


10 














6 














Holland 


2,894 











6,178 


1,370 











3,259 


Total 


141,880 


78,395 


68,44'.) 


101,099 


125,843 


71,889 


37,764 


31,716 


46,087 


62,459 



APPENDIX B. 

RETURN of Articles the Importation of which from Great Britain has during the past ]2 years 

decreased in proportion of total importation. 



Articles. 



Proportions obtained from Great 
Britain of the total Importations. 



Flour 


189! 
60 per 


). 1911. 

sent. ... 18 per cent 
80 
50 
44 
54 
50 
50 
33 
6 
50 ., 


Cotton Goods 


92 


Woollen Goods 


66 


Cutlery 


90 


Machinery 


83 


Boots and Shoes 
Candles 


66 
95 


Umbrellas 


66 


Beads 


50 


Apparel, Wearing 


75 



35 

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 



Import and Export Office, 

Singapore. 
SIR, 9th September, 1912. 

Ix reply to your letter of the 6th June, I now have pleasure in forwarding you a 
Report on British and Foreign competition in the Straits Settlements on the lines set 
forth therein. 

I have, &c., 

A. STDAKT, 

AY-//W/W <>f Import* und Export*. 
Th A-- > .:, S< retary, 

(Commercial I )e|iartment), 

Board of Trade. 



British and Foreign Trade in the Straits Settlements. 

* 

In (submitting a report on the principal articles of trade where the values of 
foreign iiii|)orts into this Colony exceed those of British origin it seems necessary to give 
tome preliminary explanation. 

Colony im|H>rt.i goods not only for local consumption amongst a ]>opulatioii 
which, including La'ouan and Chri-rtnas and Cocoa Islands, numbers about 715,000, as 
well as for the requirements of shipping, Imt the jiorts of Singapore and Penang are 
dvtribatmg dflpdtl collecting agricultural and mineral produce from surrounding places 
which is sent dii.-Hy to Kurope and America, and distributing the manufactures of 
western countrie- throughout the numerous places of South-east Asia. 

The porta being free no customs exist, and considering the large number of Chinese 
ami Native trailer-, the trade returns cannot claim the same full and accurate statistics 
which Colonies with custom houses and a large European population are in a position 
to provide. 

Thu-. it U pp.LiMe that a certain amount of goods of American and Continental 

'ii are credited to the United Kingdom, being shipped from British ports, and as the 

known |N,rr <>f -hipment is taken as indicating the country of origin, goods ship|>e<l 
! times of German and Dutch manufacture, while Switzerland having 
no place in the returns, the goods of that country are credited generally to France 
or Italy. 

The tendency t . . *hip goods through London by Continental merchants has been a 
dwindling one since these were required to be marked with the country of origin, and 
the great increase in the means of din i communication having also helped to discourage 
indirect shipment*. I do not think this is now a serious factor. 

The imports from the Tinted States shipped from home ports and declared here as 
from Liverpool and London are few and not of much account, and would not detract 
from the deduction* on the l>nad result*. 

ue of the classes of manufactured goods given in the trade returns are very 

.rehen-ive, and although the whole may show preponderating British or Foreign 
values, I have, where necessary, commented in the Appendix on the more important items 
that are include* 1 in the class, especially in hardware and cutlery, and apparel, hosiery, 
millinery, haberdashery and draj>ery. 

Another point is the overlapping that must take place where an article may quite 
correctly be described under two or even more classes, according to the purpose for which 

to be used. This I have endeavoured to meet by showing the totals of two or 
kindred classes where such is likely to occur, or commenting on the matter in 
more detail. 

A. Itnir M if- ri'il*. The raw materials including gums, spices, sago, tapioca, tin and 
tin ore, ranes, shells and produce generally are collected and shipped without being locally 

inied to any extent. exvj>t in one or two cases, and may therefore more properly be 
treated as exjK.rt- which lie outside the scope of this report. 

la represented in value in 1911 over 46 per cent, of the total imports. 

21377 E * 



36 

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 

Included in it are coal, linseed oil, turpentine, pig iron, pig lead, and copper slabs, in 
each of which British values predominate. 

Lubricating oil, liquid fuel, benzine and petroleum are now mostly the products of 
the United States, Sumatra and Dutch Borneo. 

B. Foods, Drinks, Live Animals and Narcotics. The class live animals, foodstuffs, 
drinks and narcotics excluding spices, tapioca, and sago, valued loj millions in 1911 or 
over 34 per cent, of the total imports of which roughly not more than' 5 per cent, or 
6 per cent, is European. 

Over 70 per cent, of these total imports were re-exported. Approximately, the 
United Kingdom furnishes 4 per cent, of the class, British Possessions over 40 per cent., 
and the balance is foreign. 

In all cases, except the lew articles she is known to produce, I have taken the Colony 
of Hongkong, which is a mere distributor of Chinese and Japanese goods, as a foreign 
country, as the enormous imports from that place increase British Possessions' percentage 
by about 10. 

Imports of Asiatic produce included in (B) in which British values chiefly 
representing India and Australia exceed the foreign, are : Horses, sheep and goats. 
currystuffs, isinglass, sharks' fins, ghee, crushed cattle food, dhall, gram and other grains, 
wheat flour, opium, sago, corriander seeds, bran, and onions and garlic, and of European 
produce imported chiefly from the United Kingdom and Australia are : Biscuits, butter, 
confectionery, drugs and medicines, fresh fruits, whisky, porter and stout, provisions 
tinned and bottled and fresh and salted, excluding milk, hams and bacons, fresh meat, 
cigarettes and tobacco. 

Asiatic foreign import values exceed British in cattle, swine, beche-de-mer, birds' nests, 
chocolate, medicines, fish, dry and salted and fresh, dried fruits, beans and peas, rice 
husked and unhusked, lard, native liquor, provisions dry salted and in jars, cigars, raw 
sago, salt, sugar, tea, tobacco, vegetables, and mineral waters, and European and American 
values of goods exceed British in milk, spirits, except whisky and wines, and beer excluding 
porter and stout. 

In treating of these articles of Asiatic origin in which the largest imports are from 
foreign countries, it will, I think, be sufficient to show the total values for the three years 
and the value of British imports, and indicate in order the principal sources of supply 
(see Table I.). 

TABLE I. 
STATEMENT shoeing in thousands the QUANTITIES where stated and VALUES in POUNDS 

STERLING of LIVE ANIMALS, ARTICLES of FOOD, DRINKS and NARCOTICS where 

FOREIGN IMPORTS exceed those from BRITISH SOURCES. 

(Hongkong treated as a foreign country.) 



Articles. 


Year. 


Unit 
of 
Quan- 
tity. 


Total. 


United Kingdom 
and British 

Possessions. 


Other Principal Sources of Supply in 
order of importance. 


Quantities and 
values 
in thousands. 


Quantities and 
values 
in thousands. 


Cattle 
Swine 
Bcche-de-mer 
Birds' nests 
Chocolate and cocoa ... 
Drags and medicines... 


190!) 
1910 
1911 


No. 

J 

n 


Quan- 
tities. 
26 
35 
30 



133 

189 
185 


Quan- 
tities. 
6 
11 
12 



44 
65 
85 


Siam. 


1909 
1910 
1911 


No. 

J> 


82 
100 
109 


166 
205 
231 


3 
3 
3 


6 
6 
7 


Dutch Indies. Siam, French Indo-China and 
China. 


1909 
1910 
1911 


Cwts. 




6 
6 

7 


15 
15 
20 


1 

1 
1 


3 
3 
3 


Dutch Indies, Philippines and Sulu. 


1909 
1910 
1911 







71 
56 
64 


__, 


13 

7 
9 


Dutch Indies. 


1909 
1910 
1911 


Cwts. 

) 
t 


10 
15 

8 


31 

40 
26 


2 
2 

2 


7 
7 
5 


Dutch Indies. 


1909 
1910 
1911 







286 
252 

305 





33 
38 
46 


Hongkong and China. 


1909. 1910. 1911. 


1,000 'g 


United Kingdom ... 26 SO 35 
Continent 3'5 3 4 
United States ... 3 3 3-5 



37 

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 
TABLE I. continued. 



Article*. 


Unit 

Y ~ Qu'an- 

tity. 


Total 


United Kingdom 
and British 
Possessions. 


Other Principal Sources of Supply in 
order of importance. 


Quantities and 
values 
in thousands. 


Quantities and 
values 
in thousands. 


Finn, dry and salted ... 
Fi*h, fresh 
FraiU 
BemiM and pea* 

Rice, hacked and on- 
hoiked. 

Natire liquor 

Spirit! (excluding 
wbifky and native 
liquor). 

Win*. 

Beer and ale (ezcln iing 
porter and itout). 

Milk. Condensed and 
Sterilised. 

Provision*, drr and 
alted. and in tin*, 
bottle* and jam, 
(excluding bswnibi. 
milk and batter). 

Mineral waters 
Salt 
8x*r 
T*. 
Tobacco 

Bran 
Wheat floor ... 

Urd 


1909 
1910 
1911 


Cwts. 
it 

w 


Quan- 
tities. 
1,164 
1,229 
1,283 



1,029 
1,114 
1,169 


Quan- 
tities 
210 
204 
223 




138 

141 

m 


Siam, French Indo-China, Dntch Indies, 
and Hongkong and China. 


1909 
1910 
1911 




. _ 


30 
34 
40 





4 

17 
19 


Dutch Indies. 


1909 
1910 
1911 







138 
173 
194 





41 
58 
62 


Hongkong and China. 


1909 
ItlO 
1911 


Cwto. 


tt 


519 

M 
463 


901 

126 
906 


45 
73 
79 


20 
33 
34 


Hongkong and China. 


.;,.,, 

1910 
1911 


Cwta. 



* 


IUH 

n."--. 

\Mjrn 


4.6H 

f .;:.; 
5,760 


4,024 
6,157 
7,4*4 


urn 

9,044 

8,015 


Siam and French Indo-China. 


1909 
1910 
1911 


Gallon* 

n 






691 


45 
101 
99 


^^ 





Hongkong and China, Java. 




!. ... 
1910 
1911 


Gallon* 

n 


HI 
491 
417 


167 
945 
172 


13 

41 
48 


12 





Brandy from France, gin from Holland. 


MM 
1910 
1911 


Gallon* 

* 

M 


M 

n 

M 


32 
46 

41 


7 
24 




12 
15 

15 


France and Continent of Europe. 


1909 
1910 
1*11 


Gallon* 

H 

f 


Mi 

711 
776 


85 
130 


111 
M 

m 


21 
17 
34 


Germany and other Continental countries, 
Japan. 


P.. | 
1910 
1911 


CM* 

M 
ft 


HI 

967 
989 


218 
940 
9M 


4 

19 

;.( 


4 
11 
11 


Italy, including Switzerland, Germany, 
Holland, Norway. 


UN 

1910 
1911 







S01 
IM 
479 





78 
86 
96 


1,000 '*. 


United United' Oer- Bel- "H" 51 " V. n 
Kingdom. States, many. gium. ^^ 


M 16 1? 7 14 

63 1'.' 12 9 22 
71 18 18 9 19 


Hongkong and China principal sources of 
ntpply. 


,,,, 

1910 
1911 




~~ 


1 

6 
10 





1 
1 


Japan and the Continent. 


1909 CwU. 
IMO 
1911 


1.317 
799 
1,062 


58 
S8 
51 


56 
106 
" 100 


8 
6 
1 


Egypt, Arabia, India and Siam. 


1B09 
1910 
1911 


CwU. 

tt 


! 991 
LJM 
I.SM 


772 
774 
831 


i H 
176 
96 


60 
89 
47 


Java (Hongkong here included in British 
Possessions). 


1909 
1910 
1911 


Owt*. 

ft 
It 


64 
64 
82 


189 
194 
249 


5 
7 
8 


29 
86 
40 


China and Hongkong, Japan. 


I .. 
1910 
1911 


GwU. 

t 
n 


138 
140 
144 


629 
IH 
653 


16 
21 
18 


88 
109 
101 


China and Hongkong, Java and Sumatra. 


im 

1910 
1911 




^_ 


174 
179 

M 


" 


24 
22 
30 


Java and China. 


INI 
1910 
1911 


Cwt*. 
tt 
n 


1,156 
1,067 
1,293 


181 
247 


494 
476 
691 


86 
79 
126 


Siam, French Indo-Chinc.. 


II I 

1910 
1911 


Cwts. 

tt 


640 

IM 


380 
321 
392 


140 

MM 
403 


85 
129 

m 


Hongkong and United States. A jiortion of 
the Hongkong supplies not here included 
in British Possessions, estimated in 1911 
at 8,000 owts., was from Australia, tin- 
balance from America. 


1909 Cw*. 
1910 

IV1I 


M 


82 


114 

131 
17'.' 








Hongkong and China, French Indo-China 
and *mall imports from United States of 
America. 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 

C. Manufactured and Partly Mannj/n-tnred Goods. It may be interesting to show 
the value in thousands of pounds sterling of imports of all classes of yoods from Europe 
and America, excluding only the raw materials, coal and petroleum, in 1891, 1901, 1911, 
and also in 1909 and 1910. 

Almost without exception goods from Europe and America have undergone some 
process of manufacture however slight, though classed as foodstuffs and drinks, &c., 
in the trade returns here. 





1891. 


1901. 


1909. 


1910. 


1911. 








1,000 's. 






From United Kingdom 
Continent of Europe .... 
United States 


2,387 
965 
12 


2,839 
1,562 
92 


3,657 
1,543 

317 


4,469 
1,887 
399 


4,654 
2,010 
359 














United Kingdom excess over Continental 
and United States imports. 


1,410 


1,185 


1,797 


2,183 


2,285 



The Continental countries detailed show as follows in thousands of pounds sterling 
{'or the last three years : 







1-J09. 


1910. 


1911. 










1,000 's. 








Austria-Hungary 


133 


154 


181 






Belgium 


187 


279 


285 






Denmark ... ... ... ... ... 


12 


9 


30 






France 


186 


224 


223 






Germany 


523 


632 


718 






Italy 


252 


310 


317 






Netherlands... 


223 


241 


225 






Russia 


3 


7 


3 






Spain 


10 


11 


10 






Sweden 


13 


17 


10 






Norway 


1 


3 


7 

















The goods imported classed as manufactured and partly manufactured (excluding 
all foodstuffs, liquors and raw materials) valued 6,718,000 in 1909, 8,157,000 in 1910, 
and in 1911 8,623,000 or about 20 per cent, of the total imports in that year. 

The following shows the approximate totals of the class according to sources of 
supply : 





1909. 


1910. 


1911. 










1,000 


's. 














ft 


Per cent. 





Per cent. 


Per cent. 


From United Kingdom ... 


3,133 


or 


46 


6 


3,769 


or 


46-2 


3,890 


or 


45 


1 


British Possessions excluding 


822 


or 


12 


2 


963 


or 


11-8 


1,055 


or 


12 


.0 


Hongkong. 
























Total British 


3,955 


or 


58 


8 


4,732 


or 


58 


4,945 


or 


57 


3 


Foreign Countries including 


2,763 


or 


41 


1 


3,425 


or 


42 


3,678 


or 


42 


7 


Hongkong. 
























British excess 


1,192 


or 


17 


7 


1,307 


or 


16 


1,267 


or 


14 


6 



It is to be kept in view that under Foreign Countries and British Possessions 
come articles, some of them of purely and others largely of Asiatic origin. 

British import values of goods predominate in the following articles : 

Textiles. Canvas, cotton piece goods, yarns, sewing thread, cotton handkerchiefs, 

coir rope, manilla rope, jute gunnies, hats and caps, silk thread, woollen cloth, woollen 

blankets, twine, unenuinerated textiles. 




39 

STRAITS SETTLE MEXTS contin ned. 

I/- tls : Arms, electrical machinery, engines, boilers and parts, other machinery 
unenumerated, sewing machines, anchors and chains, brassware, cycles, motor cars and 
accessories, iron bar and nail rod, corrugated iron, ironware, sheet lead, leadware, steel 
mimiitiirtures tin plates, tinware, tools, instruments and implements, wire rope, yellow 
metal sheathing, zincware, manufactured metals unenumerated, gas materials, telegraph 
and telephone materials, tramway and railway materials. 

Miscellaneous : Detonators and fuse, dynamite, gunpowder, books and maps, bricks 
and tiles, candles, cement, chemicals, coke, toys, games and fancy goods, glass bottles, 
boots and shoes, saddlery, oilman's sundries, paints, photographic materials, soap and 
soda, stationery and tar. 

Foreign import values predominate in the following articles chiefly for the reasons 
given, but for particulars, see Appendix : 

Hosiery and haberdashery with small wares (lower prices, greater adaptation, want 
of enterprise or effort), towels (lower prices), cotton blankets (lower prices, greater 
adaptation), woollens of sorts, excluding woollen cloth (greater adaptation), cooking 
utensils (lower prices, greater adaptation), hardware (lower prices, greater adaptation), 
hoop iron (lower prices), wire nails (want of enterprise or effort), zinc sheathing 
(lower prices and want of effort), beads (want of enterprise or effort), cabinetware 
and woodenware (greater adaptation), clocks and watches (lower prices), earthenware and 
crockery (lower prices), glass and glassware, excluding bottles (lower prices), india-rubber 
goods (lower prices), synthetic indigo and aniline dyes (want of enterprise or effort), 
lamps ami lampware (lower prices, greater adaptation), musical instruments (lower prices, 
want of enterprise or effort), paper (lower prices, greater adaptation), perfumery (lower 
prices, greater adaptation), roofing and building materials (want of enterprise or effort), 
cinematograph materials (want of rntorprise or effort), and the Asiatic predominating 
foreign articles .ilk piece goods, umorellas, copj>erware, bamboo and rattanware, 
jinrickshas, Japanware, firework-, ']><* Mirk- :md joss paper, matches, mats and mattings, 
these being more adapted to local requirements. 



40 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 





. 




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1 1 1 


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to 


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STATEMEK 






p, 

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s 

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4. Cooking utensils ... 


i 




! 

g 


in 

^ 

a 


* 


S. Zinc sheathing 


3 

s 

H 


10. Cabinetware and 
wood en ware 




41 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS cfmtimied. 



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1 1 1 


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1 1 1 


1 1 1 


1 1 1 


1 1 1 


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1 1 1 


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1 1 1 


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558 


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SL- 
5-. 


82 = 

f. r. r. 


12 S 

* 3> 


5 5 3 


2= 




S2 = 

$ a j> 


to- 
ss 


5 5 S 


S2 = 

S 3> S> 


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| 
1 

vl 


a|3 

o 

i9. 

jiii 

j 


13. OlaMwarr and glat* 
bottle..' 


t 

1 

e 

1 

^ 


1 

1 

! f 



pi 


IS. Leatherwarr, ex- 
cluding boots and 
hoe* and sad. 
dlerjr. 


17. Mniioal instrument* 


T3 

a 
* 

K 

*- 

- - 

o S 
'- 
* o 

> 

OB 


1 

1 

I 1 




10. Roofing and build- 
ing materials un- 
enumerated. 



i 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 



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21. Umbrellas 


22. Silk piece goods 


23. Copperware ... 


24. Carriages and carriage 
materials, including 
Jinrickshas and parts. 


25. Bamboo and rattanware... 


26. Japanware, unenumerated 




b 

& 

a 



g 
1 

i 

1 


a) 

1 

06 


29. Mats and mattiugs 


30. Fireworks 




i:; 
SETTLEMENTS cuiitinucd. 



APPENDIX I. 



(A.) GENERAL REMARKS. It will generally be found that the Continental articles which 
compete in the markets of the United Kingdom with British, are the same class as meet with success 
in this market, only the qualities are, where possible, inferior to suit Eastern requirements and the 
pockets of the comparatively poorer populations of Asiatic countries. 

In leading staples, foreign competition is not of much account, but in the numerous miscellaneous 
articles which are capable of novelty in design and finish, and where quality is not of the first 
consideration, the Continent especially leads. 

Perhaps it is not to be expected of British manufacturers to produce a class of goods of such 
inferior makes as to endanger the commercial reputation of their leading productions, but it is this 
class, showy, attractive and cheap more than enduring, that meets native requirements. Even in the 
more prosperous ranks of the Chinese and native populations it is often considered foolish to purchase 
say expensive glassware, belts, crockery, or cooking utensils which are to be roughly handled and 
carelessly preserved, when there can be purchased several new, equally useful articles of the same 
kind, for the amount that would have to be paid for one. , 

Yet the tendency to buy a superior article is becoming obvious and some of the lowest grades 
are now 1-ft unnoticed, this being especially seen in body and neck wear. 

Japanese produr'.ions. except in towels, glass and brnshwure, as well as caps and a few makes of 
singlets, all at prices unapproachable by European manufacturers, are not in favour, and sell only to 
the poorest classes to whom price is everything. 

I have never heard it disp>. all classes of natives and Chinese much prefer British goods, 

and are even willing to pay a little more for the* . but the Continent and Japan send goods to 
thirt market with English letterings and marks, tie- niimry of pnnlm-iion lining conspicuous by its 
absence, which frequently misleads the buyer though well known to the dealer who has purchased 
from the importing firms. 

These dealer* are anxious to have goods appear of British make, and the foreign manufacturers 
meet them as far as possibl. . 

I am of opinion, and this is shared in by others who have knowledge and experience in the 
market, that all goods which are capable of being sold singly and which would not lose in utility or 
appearance should have on them in English the country of production whether British or foreign. 

I was exceedingly surprised to find that there is still complaint at the conservative attitude 
adopted by many British manufacturers who decline to alter their designs, colourings and sixes 
at the request of importers here, stoutly maintaining that experience has shown the goods they 
have produced for so many years are the moat suitable for the peoples of whose habits and tastes 
they know little. 

large British firms here with well established lines who are also exporters of produce, do not 
require to shew the same anxiety to provide new attractions for the bazaar as the small import firms, 
and I partly attribute the extension of Continental trade to the number of small importers, mostly 
foreign, bat cannot say that foreign goods would be favoured by them if British goods equally 
attractive as regards design and price were available. In fact they must supply market demands, 
and they will go where the prices are lowest. 

Some of the large British firms here look askance at Continental goods, and will not take these up 
if they can get British agencies, ami, likewise, one or two of the larger foreign houses prefer to stock 
foreign goods. Japanese merchants, however, confine their custom to their own country's manu- 
factures, and at intervals Japanese goods, hitherto not imported, are sent down to see how they will 
be received. 

r.ritish manufacturers are not represented at all in certain goods, and some of these I will 
comment on later. In other cases they seem to make no effort to compete, sometimes because 
manufacturers will not at first make a stand and incur some loss in warding off a foreign article 
which has been cut- down to secure the market, prices being gradually raised after the elimination 
of the British competition, but more generally the reason is they will not manufacture the low 
grades desired. 

Credit is a question of some importance, and Continental firms are less strict in extending the 
<M!S of payment and delivery, resulting in heavy losses in times of stress. The larger British 

houses give from two to three months credit, while it is not uncommon for foreign firms to extend 

credits for much longer periods. 

By nearly every mail foreign price lists, accompanied where possible by a wide range of samples, 
showing prices c.i.f., are received by firms here, so that importers can see at a glance the actual goods 
and cost laid down in Singapore so great a convenience that it undoubtedly leads to trade. 

The great commercial waterways of northern Europe no doubt facilitate and cheapen the export 
trade, placing the British manufacturers of the Midlands and places far removed from the principal 
seaports at a distinct disadvantage in competing for the export trade, especially in the heavier and 
more bulky classes of goods. 



44 

STRAITS SETTLKM ENTS continued. 

(B.) DETAILED OBSERVATIONS. The following comments refer to goods sold in the native 
market and not to those retailed in the large European stores and shops which are mainly British 
productions : 

1. Apparel, Hosiery, Millinery, Drapery and Haberdashery are classes of much importance, 
aggregating a value of over half a million pounds sterling. 

German productions are largely singlets, socks, belts and numerous sinallwares. The German 
singlet has always monopolised the market, except in the very cheapest description, which are 
Japanese. There is nothing to touch them in the quality and finish at a like price. In fact, the 
whole structure from beginning to end is attractive at a price averaging 9s. to 12s. a dozen. The 
British imports are for the restricted European market and are not seen in the bazaar, though some 
of this class finds its way into Penang for export, chiefly to Rangoon. 

Japanese supplies, direct and through Hongkong, appeal only to the poorest class of native, but 
there has recently appeared quite a well-finished article which gives some promise of success. 

Socks are chiefly German and cheaper than British, Japan cutting in with fancy designs at prices 
as low as 2s. 5d. a dozen. 

There is, however, at present in this business a growing demand for cheap cashmere and thin 
woollen socks of British make. 

Belts represent a large trade as every native and Chinese wear these, the tendency now being to 
import from the Continent the elastic webbing and buckles for local make up, and as the mother 
country has had the business in elastic belts and Germany in woven web there seems no apparent 
reason for this growing trade being lost to the United Kingdom since it has proved itself able to meet 
all competition in the finished article. 

A movement is observable to use braces instead of belts, and these of fancy designs are coming 
from the Continent. 

Another new demand by the Chinese is for collars, which are supplied from the United Kingdom, 
but Germany is moving to try for the trade at lower rates. 

Buttons of acceptable fancy designs are low-priced German or Austrian ; metal, bone and linen 
for making up purposes being generally British. French pearl buttons are giving place to Japanese, 
who manufacture these from trocas shells. 

Needles in cases are generally of British and German makes, but packets, of which there are 
enormous sales, are entirely from the Continent. 

Drapery of a miscellaneous description is of British manufacture. 

There is no trade to speak of in ready-made clothing outside Chinese coats and trousers via 
Hongkong, which is a dwindling import. 

Although hats and caps form a class in the total of which British goods predominate in value, 
over 90 per cent, of the imports of soft felts are of Italian make, meeting with a little competition 
from Japan with descriptions in English. British manufacturers have largely lost the trade owing 
to the refusal to engage in cutting rates for a time. 

Turkish Fez caps are from Austria. All other hats, including helmets, straws and caps, are from 
the United Kingdom, except pith sun topees, which are from Calcutta ; and Japan has captured the 
market in cheap imitation Panamas. 

In all these articles enumerated above, price and get-up are the two factors, but principally price, 
that militate against British goods. 

2. Towels and Napery. This is a comparatively new class heading, formerly having been 
included under 1. 

Japan monopolises the market in towels, producing these at one-third the price of European 
makes, and though the quality is poorer this is not so marked as to explain anything like the great 
difference in cost. 

Napery is from the United Kingdom, being a special line appealing only to the richer classes. 

3. Cotton Blankets. The days of the old wick blankets, which were entirely British, have gone, 
and coloured articles chiefly of Dutch manufacture are in favour, selling at 18s. Sd. to 21s. per corge 
of 20 pieces, but it is probable that customs regulations in the once free port of Macassar and the 
Celebes have given a fillip to the Dutch article which can afford to sell cheaper here in consequence 
of the profitable trade done there. 

English rugs or shawls with fringes are now coming into vogue, displacing blankets, and 
manufacturers should study this market. 

4 and 5. Hardware, Cooking Utensils, Tools, Instruments and Implements, Ironware, and 
Steel. Angles, tees, girders, iron rollers, joists, beams, stanchions, pillars and structural works, &c., 
are included under ironware or steel, and it is necessary to show, according to countries of supply, 
the European classes which are likely to overlap : 





United 
Kingdom. 


Germany. 


Belgium. 


Austria. 


Nether- 
lands. 


France. 


United 
States of 
America. 


Articles. 








1,000 's. 
















1909. 








Hardware 


37 


SO 




16 


7 


2 






!i 


j 




g 


3 


j 




Tools, instruments and implements 
Ironware 


28 

r/o 


4 


4 
.g 


2 


4 

5 




3-5 


Steel 


30 


1 


jj 



























45 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 



Article* 


United 
Kingdom. 


Germany. 


Belgium. 


! Austria. 

i 


Nether- 
lands. 


France. 


United 
States of 
America. 










1,000 's. 
















1910. 










54 


63 


12 


21 


12 




4 




5 


| 


6 


4 


3 


1'5 




Tools, instruments and implements ... 


4:. 

M 


3-5 

in 


S 
18 


4 


5 

s 




12 
12 


Steel 


59 


3 


15 


































1911. 










54 


61 


19 


2."> 


1" 




4 


Cooking ntensili 


-. 


7 


7 


7 


3 


1-5 




Tools, in-trum.-nt- and implemeiit- 


4 

HI 


3 

17 


4 

n 


3 


4 

In 




9 
6 


Steel 


48 


2 


12 


























Total* 1909 
1910 
1911 


M 

.196 
391 


44 

-1 1 

M 


33 
56 
M 

1 


24 
32 
35 


19 
28 
29 


3 
1-5 
1-5 


7-5 
28 
19 



ft knives ar i-nt. German, fancy handled and easy opening designs finding favour. 

Razors are also German, but the trade in this article is losing ground owing to the Chinese 
growing their hair in European fashion. 

Tapping and pruning knives, flaws, files and edge tools are fairly divided between British and 
Continental makes. 

Scissors are brought from America in good finish and apparently fair material at from ."..s. to 
4. Gd. a dozen, but hair clippers is a Continental trade and this is growing. 

Shovels and changkol or hoe heeds are British. In axe heads, however, American are preferred, 
being a superior article, and German makers iniitati- Yankee " ;ixe heads. 

Brnshware of the best is English, but (iermany and Austria are most in evidence, though Japan 
is now ousting these, and more British are also coming in. 

Padlocks of white iron and brass and the best brass locks are generally British. Imitation 
German brass locks with English lettering and marks such as " Royal Letters Patent, &c.," as well as 
cheap iron are largely sold, but the latter class of padlocks are losing ground, American coming in 
with much U-:i.-r qualities at lower than English )>ri< 

Kii'i'i "Iware, much of which comes under cooking utensils, of the lightest descriptions are 
Austrian, German and Dutch, British productions being generally confined to heavy cooking pots 
with white enamel. The great trade is in saucepans, bowls, fry pans, dinner sets, jugs and basins, &c. 
of thin metal, bright coloured enamel, frequently flowered and chequered, which it is stated require 
poisonous chemicals in their prejKiration, against which there may be restrictions in the United 
in. The United Kingdom does not touch this class of trade. 

Bail pots or saucepans with round wire handles nf thin metal for native use is almost entirely 

trn, comparing with the heavy cast-iron pots of Wolverhampton and West Bromwich unfavourably 
as regards quality but much cheaper. Probably Ilritish makers do not care to cater for the class. 

Continental rice bowls ron*h thin semi-circular cast-iron pans with two handles cost sixes 
_' to :> inches, c.i.f., about lu ;;.. _>,/. ,,,. r cagfe o f 50 pieces, and 8 to 12 inches 7 3*. 5</. or 20 per cent, 
ch.-aper than English founders are prepared to quote. 

//, The heavy goodo enumerated are nearly all British with a little from Belgium and 

Germany. 

Under this head come bedsteads which are of Birmingham make exclusively, but, the Federation 
having just raised prices more than the increased cost of the raw material or increased wages seem 
to warrant, trial orders are now being given to Continental manufacturers. 

Ijiiwn ni' i^hing machines and copying presses are English or American, and gahanised 

l.u.'ketH entirely British. 

|:.ir!>e<l wire in cheaper from Belgium ami Austria, ami now America is making a bid for the 
trade, of which an important feature is packing, the bulkier reels being the better for native tastes. 

Safe.- of Ail-trim make are pouring into the market These are got up with fancy tops, single 
doors, straight bar handles, novel lucks anil wooden stands and are much cheaper though not so good 
as British safes. They are said to be both fire and burglar proof, but though the evidence of this is 
wanting, appearance carries all before it for native demands. 

6. HI><II Iron is another Belgian article, the thin hoops for packing cases are quoted at home at 
7 to 7 2s. per ton while British a superior metal and of more substantial finish was 8 5s. on 
same date. Belgian bar iron was quoted 5 15s. to 6 and Scotch bar 7 15s. to 8. 

7. Wire Nails. Although some wire nails are credited to the United Kingdom I am informed 
these are nearly all American. Belgian, German and Austrian wire nails sizes to 7 costing X*. to 

/. at the rat*' of 112 Ibs. per keg are now losing ground before American nails of a distinctly 
sniHTtor quality though slightly dean-r. 

In these goods kegs ha\ fallen to i'>o II*. weight in answer to unscrupulous demands. England 
has never entered the market, which was originally American. 

^iifithiny is entirely a liclgian trade, the cost of standard quality at time of writing being 
about 30 per ton. 

BflOdtj This with spangles and gold and silver thread is a fancy trade such as the Continent 
ems to defy competition in. 



H; 

STIJAIT s SKTTLKM KXTS continued. 

10. Gabinetware. There is a large business done locally iu teak and hard woods, Shanghai 
r;ti-\rrs lieing employed, so that it is principally fittings and mirrors that describe the class, except in 
the case of Austria, which sends the well known bentwood furniture highly popular and largely 
selling among all classes. 

Mirrors are principally from Holland and pictures and mouldings from Germany. 
Ice chests and refrigerators are imported from America. 

11. Clocks and Watches. Clocks for offices and warehouses are either American, Japanese or 
German, while over 90 per cent, of the watches are Swiss, all at prices that cannot be touched by 
British makers. 

12. Eartlienware and Crockery. The cheapest and roughest class of crockery comes from 
China (cups, saucers, bowls and plates), besides large quantities of bathing jars in blue enamel and 
fancy outer designs and earthen pots and jars at low prices. 

European cups, saucers and plates are low-priced German, but plates from England arc now 
being imported in larger quantities in response to the demand for slightly superior qualities. 

A quarter of the total United Kingdom import values was earthenware drain pipes, &c., of which 
not much is received from the Continent. 

13. Glass and Glassware. Bottles for aerated waters and druggists, &c., are from the United 
Kingdom almost entirely, the value in 1911 reaching over 13,000, compared with a little over 
1,000 value from the Continent, but Japan sends water bottles and decanters to the value of 
nearly 12,000. 

Window glass is of Belgian make, also lamp chimneys, which represent a considerable business, 
while Germany sends cheap glass lamps, probably often declared as glassware. The Continental 
trade is being cut into by Japan, which sells goods comparing favourably with the cheapest German 
makes as low as Id. a dozen for half -pint tumblers, and others in proportion. 

The fancy class of vases and flower holders are mainly Austrian. 

The same reason, viz., price, curtails sales of English glassware, which is bought only by the 
European and richest, class of Chinese. 

14. India Rubber Goods comprise not only tyres for cars, carriages and rickshas, but rubber 
soled shoes which sell largely here, and heel pads as well as toys, piping and rubber belting, &c. 

There is a local factory producing all kinds of rubber goods and exporting some to Europe. 

Some tyres, nearly all shoes, and toys are Continental, the great trade being in Austrian shoes of 
grey cloth and hard rubber soles, which however are going out in favour of white and grey canvas, 
soft and hard rubber soled shoes of British make. 

Japan sends tyres for jinrickshas and also tyres for cycles and cars, manufactured there by a 
British company. 

15. Lamps and Lampivare. The Continent, especially Germany, has always controlled the 
market in this class of goods. The prices are low and the designs fancy, while the quality of the 
better classes of hanging lamps with central draught are on the whole good. Brass hanging lamps, 
except those of one English maker, are nearly all German, and the prices much cheaper, but it is 
gratifying to see British manufacturers are now making a bold attempt to push brass and iron 
lamps of qualities a little better than the foreign and not much different in price. 

Glass lamps are also German, sold at such prices as British manufacturers would not care 
to touch. 

16. Leatherware (excluding Boots and Shoes, Saddlery and Harness). While boots and shoes are 
entirely British, it appears strange that polished leather for uppers, imported on behalf of Chinese 
shoemakers, who do a large business, is entirely from the Continent, American efforts to compete not 
meeting with success, but Australian material is coming in. American hoods for carriages are on 
the increase. 

17. Musical Instruments and Accessories. This is a business where the United Kingdom import 
figures include Continental and American goods. 

Except in pianos British manufacturers do not count. 

The trade in gramophones and records an enormous business is done with German anil 
American makers, while accordions, musical boxes and mouth organs are of Continental origin. 

America also sends organs. 

The United Kingdom has never done the trade, which even in the home market is, I believe, 
largely foreign. 

18. Perfumery and Cosmetics. The best class of perfumery and cosmetics is French and British, 
but the cheaper kinds ara Continental and Japanese. Continued attention has to be paid to get up, 
and complaints are made that those engaged in the trade in the United Kingdom are slow to give 
effect to suggestions from this end, which they are compelled to do after they see they are not getting 
their proportionate share of the market a very large one in this place. 

19. Paper and Paperware and Stationery. Paper and paperware is a class that in European 
imports is doubtless not always carefully discriminated from stationery. 

The value of imports in both classes shows from Europe and America as follows : 



Years. 


United 
Kingdom. 


Germany. 


Belgium. 


Holland. 


Austria. 


France. 


United 
States of 
America. 










1,000 's. 








1909 


85 


10 


5 




39 


4 


I'l 


1910 
11)11 


97 
86 


11 
12 


5-3 
II 


1 "7 


47 
47 


4 

^ 


2-fi 

>- (; 



















From China, coarse packing paper comes in large quantities, paper artificial flowers, &c. 
English foolscap and writing paper and envelopes, as well as packing paper, rule the market, 
followed by cheap Austrian. 







47 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS continued. 



is is a clam of goods in which the very inferior qualities are not 1'avonred. 

Printing paper is largely Austrian in all but the best qualities, and strawboard Japanese, 
but English printing paper is becoming more largely used. 

The cheapest pencils are Japanese, the best American, while Germany has the largest sales in this 
and paper bindings. 

School stationery, including exercise books, pencils and slates, are practically all Austrian and 
German ; ink, however, of a well-known British make is much preferred to the cheap Belgian 
imports. 

The well printed office ledgers and journals are practically all British, as well as the best class of 
pocket-books, diaries, &c. 

20. Roofing and Building Materials. This is a comparatively new class, and several kinds of 
preparations of asbestos, sawdust, and other materials are used to prepare the various kinds that go 
under different fancy names ; the trade seems to be on the increase. 

REMARKS ON COMPETITION IN CERTAIN GOODS. 

Motor Cars and Cycles. Up to the end of 1911 the United Kingdom had much the largest share 
of the motor car business, but makers have apparently not made a special study of the requirements 
of the majority using cars, with the result that the United States is now sending cars of several makes, 
one especially (Ford), which is fast gaining favour owing to its cheapness and lightness, which means 
greater economy. A five-seated car of this sort is retailed at 195 Ss. ltd., and a three-seated at 175, 
thi- weight being only a little over one-half a British car of the same seating capacity weighing a ton 
ami costing 400 and 350 respectively. 

({.-placements are easy in the case of American cars, a crank shaft for instance being got for 3, 
a British article costing three or four times more. 

The American car is rougher and machined up only where required in the bearings, while the 
British car is largely hand done, heavy and substantial. . 

What is required here and in th- Federated Malay States is a car of light structure, low priced, 
and parts easy to replace at reasonable cost. 

Motor cycles are nearly all British, and ordinary cycles entirely so, no others being looked at. 

Iron and Steel Oood$ of Heavy Material. Regarding the trade in steel and iron of the heavier 
description there is exhibited a tendency to purchase from Belgium mild steel sections in larger 
quantities because these are cheaper and delivery has lately been quicker than from the Unitfii 
loin, where the delay owing to the unsettled state of affairs between capital and labour has 
militated against despatch. It is found in constructional metal, however, which has to be t worked up 
here, that Continental iron is more brittle and less easy to manipulate. 
in freights, if any, is now slight. 

I 'hut n nnd Cinematoij ' iterials. The trade in photographic materials is British, except in 

inferior mounts sent from Germany which British manufacturers will not touch as the class of article 
would not be looked at in Europe. 

Cheap rough cameras of Chinese make at less than a third European prices have been seen in the 
market, but do not promise any increase. 

Cinematograph films, Ac., are French only, no efforts apparently being made to do a British trade. 

Cotton Quod*. Sarongs, slendangs, and kains are a large business, and it is alleged that in these 
and also in muslin prints British manufacturers will not pay sufficient attention to suggestions 
from this side. 

There are classes of Dutch cambrics and black Italians that English manufacturers and dyers 
cannot touch, but Manchester goods more than hold their own over the whole class. 

Chemicalt. While disinfectants are British, acids such as acetic used for rubber coagulation, 
snlphuric acid and acids for dyeing are from the Continent and Japan, Australia also coming in. 

/,//'/// Cufut. There has sprung up a business in cups of metal, glass and porcelain for the 
collection of the latex of the Para rubber tree, and Japan is rapidly taking front rank in porcelain and 
glass caps, beautifully finished, without that roughness inside which characterises the same class of 
British porcelain, and in much superior packing, while the price is nearly 10 per cent, lower. 

Woollens. The United Kingdom keeps a hold on this trade but Germany leads in a class of cheap 
fancy tweeds of mixed materials or unions, and also sends a large quantity of Berlin wool, shawls, &c. 
finest cloths are English, chiefly Bradford and West of England. 

The whole trade is expanding as the following figures, which include woollens and mixed goods 
(except blankets, which are entirely British), shew : 







United 
Kingdom. 


Germany. 


Other irt of 
the Continent. 






TMR. 














1,000 *'. 






1909 17 


12 


4 






1910 4S 


M 


7 






1911 58 


SI 


13 





48 



BRITISH GUIANA. 



CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, 

GEORGETOWN, DEMEKARA. 
SIR, 9th August, 1912. 

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 6th June relative 
to the present position of British Trade in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, and 
the means by which that trade may be developed in the future. 

2. In the letter above mentioned you desired me to furnish you with certain 
information with regard to the trade of the Colony with a view to the vitalization of 
inter-empire trade. 

3. I beg to enclose a statement (Appendix I) shewing the imports of the principal 
classes of articles imported into the Colony during the last three trade years, larger 
quantities of which are received from foreign sources than from British sources, together 
with the quantities received from each principal country of origin. 

MANUFACTURES, OTHER THAN TEXTILES. 

4. With regard to the list of manufactured goods contained in the attached 
statement, I beg to point out that it is not as complete as I would have liked, and for the 
following reason. There are numerous grades of articles, chiefly textiles, which are 
mainly secured from foreign sources, and which have no distinctive head in our statistical 
accounts, being classed under a comprehensive head such as " Linen, Cotton, and Woollen 
Goods," and consequently no data are available to shew the quantity or value of such 
goods imported from (a) British territory, and (6) foreign countries. I shall first deal 
with the manufactured articles in the list attached, and shall return to the question of 
textiles later. The manufactured articles in the list which are mainly obtained from non- 
British sources are as follows : blue, cement, matches, shooks, medicinal preparations 
(unofficial), motor cars, lamps and lanterns, paper and paper manufactures, machinery 
and wire for electric lighting, and sewing machines. 

5. The imports of blue into this Colony are unimportant, but Germany furnishes 
about 70 per cent, of the total quantity imported. The United States and Denmark 
collectively supply larger quantities of cement than the United Kingdom. The two 
former countries have been making headway in supplying cement, the article furnished 
by them being less expensive than the cement made in che mother country. The 
countries of origin of imported matches are chiefly Norway and Sweden, where suitable 
woods and cheap labour place these countries in a pre-eminently favourable position for the 
economic production of matches. There are two match factories in the Colony which are 
highly protected, the Customs duty on imported matches being Hi per cent, greater than 
the excise duty on the locally produced article, but the foreign match can be landed here 
so cheaply, that even with substantial protection the local factories cannot do more than 
appropriate a portion of the local trade in matches, and neither of the factories does any 
export trade. 

6. Shooks, principally of oak for making rum casks, are chiefly got from the 
United States, where supplies of suitable woods are more abundant than in the United 
Kingdom or any other part of the British Empire conveniently situated geographically to 
this Colony. The cost in the United States is rising rapidly and other sources of supply 
are badly wanted. 

7. The United States supply the Colony with the major portion of patent and 
proprietary medicinal preparations. 

8. The lamps and lanterns which come from the United States are of a cheap class 
made to sell among the lower classes. Donkey carts are a common means of transport 
with the masses and by regulation all such carts must carry a light between sunset and 
sunrise, and a lantern made in the United States called the " Dietz " is in great demand, 
because of its cheapness. The United Kingdom furnishes most of the finer classes of 
writing, printing and account book papers, but there is a class of straw paper largely used 
by small shopkeepers, which has during the past financial year (ended March 31st, 1912) 
been coming entirely from Holland. I enclose a sample of the paper which is of the 
cheapest kind obtainable.* 

* See note on next page. 



49 

BRITISH GUIANA cont. 

9. Greater quantities of machinery and irire for electric liylitlmj come from the 
United States than from the United Kingdom. The Electric Light Company in 
Georgetown was created and is maintained by Canadian capital, and it is possible that 
purchases of their electric light plant are made in the States as a matter of convenience, 
especially as there is a varied and cheap supply of such articles to select from in that 
country. It may be, however, that some of such articles are of Canadian origin, but, 
being consigned through New York, may be credited in the Customs Statistics to the 
I 'HP It is very difficult, and in fact impossible, to get absolutely correct 
information at all times with respect to countries of origin, and the statistics of this Colony 
from the commencement of the financial year 1912-13 are being kept according to the 
countries of consignment. Supplies of seicintj machines come mainly from the United 

*. Germany has also been making headway lately, the machines supplied by the 
Germans being cheaper than either the American or British makes. 

10. A greater number of motor cars are imported from the United States than from 
British sources, but the American cars are considerably cheaper on the average than the 
British cars, which arc generally too heavy for a flat country like this. The two principal 
makes imported here are manufactured in Detroit, U.S.A.. and as the companies making 

are wealthy and well organized it will not l>e an easy matter to successfully compete 
with them in the matter of cheap cars in the West Indian markets. 

TKXTILES, ETC. 

11.1 enclose samples* of certain classes of ti Inch an- procured from foreign 

countries, bur the annual imjxirt quantities and values of tin- various classes are not obtainable 
for the reiixm given aU.vc. The sample- of cotton trousering forwarded are of American 
manufacture, and this article i- being imjxirtoHl from the United. State* in larger quantities 
ever; \hil-t its importation from the United Kingdom has dwindled to a negligible 

quantity, U-cause the American article can In- purchased at less cost. Germany too has 
been successful in securing orders from this market for this class of goods, and although 
the or I. -r- an- -mall it helps to accentuate the fact that British manufacturers are losing' 

ings are concerned. Khaki drills are chiefly imported from the 
United States on account of their cheapness. It may be of interest to note that the 

im|Mination.- ol "linen, cotton and woollen g 1- " from the United States of America 

during the year* I'.'ti'.i IM and I'.MO 1! .7i'7 and $39,144 respectively. Such 

goods were made up almost exclusively of khaki and other drills ami cotton trouserings. 
Several classes of manufacture': :ian origin rind their way into this market 

to the prejudice of similar gixls manufactured in the United Kingdom. Of these goods 
haberdashery, toys, glass beads. iled wares, glass ornaments and drinking glasses 

are the principal items, but a> they are not separately enumerated in the statistics of the 
department the quantities ami value- of ini|>"rt- from each country cannot be furnished. 
I enclose a few samples* of cloths imported by local firms from foreign sources. 
The sample marked " A2" is unbleached cotton twill of American make. The importer 
states that although the selling pr:< i- the same as that of a similar British make the 
American article is in vastly greater demand, and has almost entirely displaced the British 
production. Samples - B " and "C" are cloths exclusively manufactured in and 
obtained from the United States. Sample "B" is known as "dungaree," and is 
sold locally at If! cents p.-r yard. Sample "C" is a cheap print sold at 5 cents per 
yard : it is claimed that, this print is a fa.-t colour, and that British manufacturers are 
unable to produce a similar article (fast colour) at the price. 

li'. A study of the situation in general leads me to the conclusion that the factor of 
price has a most important bearing upon supersession of British trade in certain classes 
of goods, and it would seem that it is generally in the cheapest grades of articles that 
foreign countries are able to extend business to the detriment of British manufactures. 
There is a jx >pular impression amongst many people that British manufacturers arc averse 
to manufacturing articles of an extremely cheap and tawdry nature, but apart from this 
they may be reluctant to turn out articles that can only have perhaps a sale limited to 
particular parts of the tropics, but at the same time there is money to be made in this 
way, otherwise German and American business men would cease to produce a line of 
goods that proved non-productive. 

13. The following points have also a bearing upon the matter which forms the 
subject of this report. 

* Thene aamples may be seen by British manufacture and shippers on application at the 
Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Baainghall Street, London, E.G. 

" O 



50 

BRITISH GUIANA cent. 

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. 

14. It cannot be said as a rule that British commercial travellers handle their 
samples to the utmost advantage in this market. Travellers frequently represent upwards 
of six houses each, and consequently carry a numerous variety of samples, with many of 
which they are not infrequently entirely unacquainted. On the other hand, travellers 
from the United States specialise, so to speak, and each traveller carries with him the 
lines with which he is thoroughly conversant. It naturally follows that such intimate 
knowledge, well applied, helps to secure orders which might otherwise be lost. 

FREIGHT AND EXCHANGE RATES. 

15. Freight rates naturally have a direct effect upon the selling price of imported 
goods. Britain's only competitor in this Colony in certain classes of manufactured goods 
which has an advantage in rates of freight is the United States. From enquiries made 
amongst importers it would appear that freight on most goods from the United States 
averages twelve cents per foot as against twenty-one cents per foot from the United 
Kingdom. Reducing these rates to a basis of value as far as it is possible to do so, it is 
reckoned that the Americans have an advantage in freight rates equal to an average of about 
one per cent, of the value of the goods. The rates of exchange are also in favour of 
the United States, bills being obtained on New York at a half per cent, discount, whilst 
a bill on London is at a premium of one and a half per cent. 

PACKAGES AND PACKING OF GOODS. 

16. American manufacturers, I am told, seldom or never make any charge for 
packages or for packing of goods, and the absence of these charges it would appear 
further reduces the landed cost of goods from that country. It may be, however, that 
the American manufacturer includes the expense of packing in the wholesale cost of 
the goods. 

PRICE LISTS AND CATALOGUES. 

17. Complaints are made that the majority of British houses do not pay sufficient 
attention to detail, and to keeping their catalogues and price lists up-to-date, the 
Americans and Germans being ahead of them in these respects. Most British firms are 
said to supply the same catalogues year after year with very few if any additions thereto, 
whereas the American and German firms are always issuing new and up-to-date lists 
profusely illustrated with drawings, photographs, &c., and containing minute descriptions 
of even the smallest articles. 

FINISH AND APPEARANCE OF GOODS. 

18. Another matter in which the British manufacturer is said to show to disadvan- 
tage with the foreign firms, especially the American and German, is in the manner in 
which certain articles are prepared for sale. Such things as trunks, canisters, travelling 
bags, toilet requisites, perfumes, soaps and even tools are as a rule very attractively got 
up and packed by American and German houses, so that, given two articles of the same 
kind and selling price, the smart and attractive appearance of the foreign-made one will 
usually result in its being taken in preference to the article of British manufacture. 

GENERAL. 

19. In conclusion I may say that I consider British trade would be assisted by the 
sending of fewer catalogues, and more commercial travellers. I quite realise the value of 
the catalogue as an advertising medium, particularly in certain lines of business, and no 
doubt it yields profitable results, otherwise British manufacturers would not continue the 
distribution of catalogues, but as a method of creating openings for British trade I 
think it is overdone, and a smart traveller with a good knowledge of his business, and 
all other things being equal, will do more to extend British trade in a week than 
advertising by catalogue will do in twelve months. 

20. American and German manufacturers will go to quite a lot of trouble to suit 
their customer's tastes, and this obliging disposition not infrequently secures for them a 
certain amount of trade which otherwise might have remained with British traders. 



51 

BRITISH GUIANA con/. 

21. As previously pointed out in this report, it is mostly in the cheaper classes of 
certain kinds of goods that Britain is losing ground. Where quality is a prime con- 
sideration she can still hold her own, but in nearly all the Crown Colonies and 
Protectorates situated within the tropical belt the large majority of the population has no 
great amount of wealth for disbursement, and cheap articles of clothing and household 
utility naturally find a ready sale amongst them, so that the British manufacturer cannot 
afford to despise the production of articles of cheap and low-grade quality, even although 
he may feel disinclined to engage in such a trade. 

--. I enclose a list of articles (Appendix II.) which are entirely (or nearly so) 
procured from foreign countries, and which I did not include in the statement asked for 
by you. The articles enumerated in the list are mostly agricultural products, and the 
reason that they are mostly secured from non- British sources requires, I think, no 
explanation. 

I have, etc., 

J. M. REID, 
The Assistant Secretary, Comptroller of Customs. 

(Commercial Department), 
Board of Trade. 



APPENDIX I. 

STATEMENT showing the PRINCIPAL ARTICLES imported into the Colony for Home Consumption 
daring each of the last three trade years, and which are chiefly imported from Non-British 
source*. 



Articlm and 
Countries. 


1909-1910. 


1910-1911. 


1911-1912. 


Quantities. 


Value*. 


Quantities 


Value*. 


li'u.'intitie-;. 


Values. 


Blue 
United Kingdom 
Germany 


Lbs. 

8,012 
77,000 
5,000 
21,000 




66 

17 

i:r, 


Lbs. 
19,620 
40,000 

15,000 



168 
354 

124 


Lbs. 
29,120 
106,048 
15,000 
9,500 



236 
980 
120 
83 


Holland" 


Other Countries .. 
Total 

Bran and Pollard 
United Kingdom 
British Possessions 
United State* 

Total 

Bread and Biscuits, not fancy, in tins 
United Kingdom 
British Possessions 
United States 
Other Countries 

Total 

Butter 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions 
France 


111,012 


958 


74,620 


i;it; 


159,668 


1,419 


56 
45,700 

17'.i,196 


162 

6M 


46,168 
91,496 


137 
326 


62,888 
68,960 


215 

262 


m9u 


792} 


137,664 


463 


131,848 


477 


10,027 
17,658 
41,181 

1 


403 
178 

991 

I 


9,575 
14,399 
42,350 


255 
411 
1,123 


18,472 
12,969 
39,184 


462 
341 . 
859 


68,870 


1.872J 


66,324 


1,789 


70,625 


1,662 


7,450 
37,m4 
118,428 

." >:. 


IS] 

2,442 
17, 

1,'Jl! 
'.Ml 


:,'.'.:;.;_' 
81,532 
297,6*0 
52,299 
13, 1ST 
7,463 


2,869 
2,045 

12,911 
3,671 

>S| 

445 


45,473 
20,371 
314,963 

85,:',* i 
13,033 
2,970 


2,517 
1,299 
14,566 
5,582 
603 
174 


Denmark ... ... ... . 


Holland 


19498 
&V489 


Other Countries 
Total 

Butlrr Substitutes 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions 
United States 
Holland 


524,769 


24,499 


462,793 


22,825 


482,194 


24,741 


224 

32.' 
61,920 
11,800 


6 
711 

1,383 

237 


2,500 
90,200 
11,110 


62 
2,068 

281 


200 
2,000 
88,508 

28,:',.:i; 


2 
46 
1,796 
551 


Total 


1(10,572 


2.340 


101,110 


2,411 


119,044 


2,395 



MJ-: 



a 2 



52 



BRITISH GUIANA cont. 
APPENDIX I. cont. 



Articles and 
Countries. 


1909-1910. 


1910-1911. 


1911-1912. 


Quantities. 


Values. 


Quantities. 


Values. 


Quantities. 


Values. 


Cement 
United Kingdom 
United States , 


Barrels. 
8,199 
3,562 

100 

1,4(10 



2,757 
1,083 
40 
615 


Barrels. 
6,873 
1,301 
332 
1,736 



2,948 
421 
64 
709 


Barrels. 
3,721 
2,575 
2,160 
868 



1,731 

878 
924 

:>>36 


Other Countries 
Total 

Cheese 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions... 
United States 
Holland 


13,261 


4,495 


10,242 


4,142 


9,324 


3,869 


Lbs. 
13,170 
37,152 
4,001 
192,728 
29 


532 
1,256 
144 

5,825 
1 


Lbs. 
17,333 
33,140 
2,694 
161,376 
3,128 


684 
1,078 
104 

4,978 
102 


Lbs. 
18,230 
46,188 
11,533 
159,490 
2,389 


839 
1,640 
438 
4,941 
73 


Other Countries 
Total 

Hams 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions... 
United States 
Other Countries 

Total 

Lard and Lard Compounds 
United Kingdom ... 
United States 

Total 

Matches 
United Kingdom 
Norway 


247,080 


7,758 


217,671 


6,946 


237,830 


7,931 


45,892 
1,191 
214,026 


2,033 
40 
7,041 


39,343 

204,955 
12 


2,079 
6,779 


46,712 

232,870 


2,186 
8,391 


261,109 


9,114 


244,310 


8,858 


279,582 


10,580 


1,070 
320,654 


32 
8,163 


5,083 
312,523 


150 
7,999 


480 
337,378 


16 
7,514 


321,724 


8,195 


317,006 ! 8,149 

i 


337,858 


7.53Q 


Gross of 
boxes. 
33 
51,806 
3,905 
2,160 


3 
4,231 

299 
151 


Gross of 
boxes. 
900 
10,860 
4,690 
180 


74 
1,054 
278 
11 


Gross of 
boxes. 
1,140 
16,560 
13,580 
2,160 


89 
1,699 
1,038 
176 


Sweden 


Other Countries 
Total 

Meats (Canned) 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions... 
United States 
Other Countries 

Total 

Oats 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions 
United States 
Holland 


57,904 


4,684 


16,630 


1,417 


33,440 


3,002 


Lbs. 
29,045 
12,649 
58,620 
1,199 


1,361 
365 
1,843 
83 


Lbs. 
29,685 
2,445 
50,922 
1,556 


1,288 
98 
2,096 
117 


Lbs. 
36,547 
1,128 
87,148 
673 


1,694 
27 
3,568 
37 


101,513 


3,652 


84,608 3,599 


125,496 


5,326 


738,392 
402,776 
699,328 
3,690,860 
264,000 
25,084 


3,384 
1,876 
2,673 
16,412 
1,329 
.117 


403,852 
424,576 
668,512 
2,590,352 
593,280 i 
59,840 ; 


1,698 
1,485 
2,274 
10,991 
2,470 
238 


649,152 
1,009,840 
1,873,936 
1,354,180 
423,364 


2,795 
4,131 

7,193 

5,727 
2,019 


Russia 


Other Countries 
Total 

Shooks 
United Kingdom 
United States 

Total 

Medicinal Preparations, containing 
spirits (not Official) 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions... 
United States 
Other Countries .. 

Total 


5,820,440 


25,791 


4,740,412 


19,156 


5,310,472 


21.865 


Packs. 
531 

328 


592 
470 


Packs. 
757 
925 


724 
1,043 


Packs. 
1,295 
3,524 


1.004 
3,627 


859 


1,062 


1,682 


1,767 


4,819 


4,631 


Gallons. 

66 
90 
991 
10 


178 
65 
2,390 
3 


Gallons. 

122 
45 
1,219 
10 


315 
77 
2,573 
2 


Gallons. 

112 
105 
1,024 
2 


232 
128 

2,389 

7 


1,157 


2,636 


1,396 


2,967 


1,243 


2,756 




53 
BRITISH GUIANA cont. 

AlTENDIX I. Cunt. 



Article* and 
Countries. 


1909-1910. 


INO-lfll. 


1911-1912. 


Quantities. 


Values. 


Quantities. 


Values. 


Quantities. 


Values. 


Motor Cars 
United Kingdom 
British Possessions 
United States 

Total 

Lamps and Lanterns 
United Kingdom 
United States 
Other Countries 

Total 

Paper and P(ij#r Manufacture 
United Kingdom 

I'.ritirih Possessions... 
Holland 


No. 
7 4.542 

2 553 


No. 

5 938 
2 662 
:> 727 


No. 
17 

26 



5,533 

5,341 


1 5,095 


12 2,327 


43 


10,874 


__ 


1,035 
1,159 

229 




S22 
1,170 
102 





674 
750 

KK; 


2,423 


2,094 


i. :.:',o 


1.4.Y.I 



i.MTt; 







J.C.s 

871 
324 

320 


2,613 

->\-2 

3,989 
919 
435 
317 


France 


"<nnany 


Other Countries 
Total 

Fruits find Vegetables (Fresh} 
United Kingdom ... 
British Possessions 
Dotted total 
Spain... 


3,3<;:> 


4,561 


8,485 





i.:;-j| 

l.V, 





110 
328 
1,163 

195 




17s 
262 
1,597 

220 

IS 


Other Countries 
Total 

Machinery find Wire for Electri<- 
Lighting 
United Kingdom 
I'.ritiah Possessions 
United States 
Other Countries 

Total 

Sewiny MarltinfS 
lorn ... 

Germany 





1,087 


2,119 





2,275 




12 





i.2:.d 

1,192 





:',.;;,:> 

4,988 
46 







2,442 





S,689 





'.17:', 

l.Uf- 
276 


No. 
258 
631 
103 


.-,.;. 
1,309 
2dl 


No. 
401 
622 
353 
8 


687 
1,340 

556 
18 


Other Countries 
Total 




992 


2,079 


1,384 


2,601 







APPENDIX II. 



LIST OK ARTICLES IMPORTED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY PROM NON-BRITISH SOURCES. 



A rrowroot. 

Be Culture, supplies for. 

Beef, picklfl. 

Brimstone and Sulphur. 

Coffee, raw. 

Corn or Maize. 

-umeal. 
'toleue. 

Crushed and ground feed. 
Currants. 
Garlic. 
M-iles. 

Oils, Cotton Seed. 
Lard. 



Oils, Petrolenm. 

Opium. 

I 'itch. 

Pork, pickled. 

Quicksilver. 

Sago. 

Sheep. 

Spirits, Brandy. 



Staves and Headings. 
Stearine. 
Tobacco, in Leaf. 
Wine, in bulk. 



54 
BERMUDA. 

Colonial Secretary's Office, Bermuda. 
S IB) 14th February, 1913. 

I AM directed by the Governor of Bermuda to transmit to you herewith, for the 
information of the Board of Trade, the accompanying Report, with a Statistical Table, on 
the trade of Bermuda with especial reference to the position of British trade. 

I have, &c., 

R. POPHAM LOBB, 

Colonial Secretary. 
The Assistant Secretary, 

Commercial Department, 

Board of Trade. 

REPORT ON BRITISH TRADE WITH BERMUDA. 

Table A gives the total value of the imports into Bermuda for ten years (1902 
to 1911). 

The principal sources from which the imports were derived were the United States, 
the United Kingdom, Canada, other British Colonies and other Foreign countries, in the 
order named. 

The high figures during the four years 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905 were due to 
exceptional and temporary causes, viz. : the presence of the Boer prisoners of war, with 
two additional regiments in garrison and the large Imperial expenditure on the improve- 
ments to the Dockyard. 

The average annual value of the imports from each of the above sources during the 
ten-year period 1902-11 was as follows : 

Xi 

United States 261,044 

United Kingdom ... ... ... ... ... ... 158,056 

Canada ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 73,948 

Other British Possessions ... ... ... ... ... 9,271 

Other Countries 3,036 

Table B compares the annual value of the total imports from British and Foreign 
sources for the same period and shows the annual difference between them. 

The average annual value of the total imports from British sources was 241,275 
and of those from Foreign sources 264,080 ; the average annual difference in favour of 
Foreign sources being 22,805. 

In seeking a standard of comparison for the growth of British and Foreign trade with 
Bermuda in recent years, it is more satisfactory to take the figures for the year 1899, 
when the temporary causes mentioned in paragraph 3 had not begun to affect the 
imports. 

These figures were as follows : 

Imports in 2899 and 1911. 





From 
United Kingdom. 


From British Possessions. 


From United States of America and other 
Foreign Countries. 


1899... 
1911... 



104,408 

153,867 



40,558 
(Canada, 33,119) 
92,322 
(Canada, 84,129) 



249 640 
(United States, 246,447) 
299,351 
(United States, 297,681) 



It will be seen that the trade with the United Kingdom increased by 47 per cent., 
that with Canada by 154 per cent., and that with Foreign Countries by about 20 per cent. 

The most important fact brought out by this comparison is the large growth in the 
imports from Canada. These consist largely of articles such as flour, hay, and other 
agricultural products, which twenty years ago were imported principally from the United 
States. 

Table C gives the quantities and value of the principal imports into Bermuda 
from the United Kingdom, British Possessions, the United States of America and all 
Countries, for each of the years 1910 and 1911. 



55 

BERMUDA con/. 

In the following Table these imports are placed under the heading of the source 
from which they are principally imported : 



United Kingdom. 



Clothing. 

Confectionery. 

Cotton goods. 

Fancy goods. 

Fruit and Meats (canned). 

Hardware. 

Jewellery. 

Linen goods. 

Oilmen's stores. 

Oils and paints. 

Silk goods. 

Tea. 

Woollen goods. 

Bicycles. 

Cigarettes. 

Malt liqnor. 

Whiskey. 

Wine. 



British Possessions. 



Butter. 

Bran. 

Box material. 

Cheese. 

Fish (preserved). 

Flour. 

Hay. 

Jewellery. 

Oats. 

Potatoes. 

Tea. 



United States. 



Beef-quarters. 

Building materials. 

Cement. 

Carriages. 

Coffee and cocoa. 

Corn. 

Drugs. 

Electrical goods. 

Fertilizer. 

Furniture. 

Groceries. 

Leather, manufactured. 

Metal, manufactured. 

Machinery. 

Oil, Kerosene. 

Paper. 

Meats (smoked and 

salted). 

Poultry and meats. 
Sugar. 
Cigars. 
bgt 
Horses. 

Oxen and cows. 
Tobacco. 



Before dealing in detail with the reasons for the success of foreign competition, it is 
desirable to consider the general factors which affect the trade of Bermuda. 

The first of these is the steamship communications with other ports, which at present 
are : New York, a weekly service by two lines of steamers ; Canada, a service by 
steamers for the West Indies, arriving at Bermuda fortnightly ; England, a service by 
a freight steamer of the Cayo Line, leaving London every six weeks for Gulf Ports and 
touching at Bermuda. 

Tin- steamer* from Xew V..rk bring all American imports, a portion of the Canadian, 
and about half of the English ; the Canadian Steamers bring the greater part of the 
imports from Canada ; and the English Steamers bring about one half of the imports 
from I .mil l<m. 

Secondly, the freight charges on American and Canadian goods are reasonable, but 
those on English goods, whether shipped vid New York or by direct steamer, are high, 
those by the latter oeing kept up by the high cost of the alternative route. This, as will 
be pointed out later, afferts British trade adversely in the case of some at least of the 
articles which are now imported principally from the United States. 

Thirdly, the large floating population of American Tourists and Winter residents, 
averaging in all about 26,000 annually, affects British trade favourably by increasing the 
market for English clothing and other goods. , 

The imports from Canada mentioned in that Table will also continue to increase, 
esjKi'ially if the proposed new weekly steamship service between Canada, Bermuda and 
Jamaica materialises. If, as is probable, a market can be found in Canada for Bermuda's 
agricultural produce which requires chill-room accommodation, that service will result in 
a substantial increase in the imports of other articles from Canada instead of from the 
United States. 

An important factor in the maintenance of the trade with Great Britain is the fact 
that the Colony is frequently visited by English commercial travellers, who appear to 
achieve considerable success, especially in the following lines : Soap, Toilet articles, 
Spirits, and Provisions (canned). 

Imports from the United States which are greater in quantity and value than 

similar goods of British Origin. 

A list of these imports is included in the Table given earlier in this report, and the 
<|u;mtitie8 and values during the two latest years for which details are available are 
shown in Table C. 



56 

.BERMUDA cont. 

To deal with them in detail : 

Beef (Quarters], valued at 11.981 in 1011. Although the United States is not 
the cheapest market it is at present the only possible source from which meat may be 
imported, owing to the lack of chill-room accommodation in other steamship connections. 

Building Material, valued at 2,819 in 1911. This includes ready-made doors, 
blinds, and sash of American pine. The United States is the cheapest source of supply 
for the class of goods required. 

Cement, valued at 1,343 in 1911. At present the United States is the cheapest 
source. But the uncertain and infrequent sailings and high freight of the direct steam- 
ship communication with London diverts this trade from the United Kingdom to a 
considerable extent. 

Carriages, valued at 2,772 in 1911. The bulk of the carriages imported are used 
for the conveyance of American tourists, and the type of carriage preferred by the trade is 
of American manufacture. High rates of freight preclude any British trade in this 
article. 

Coffee and Cocoa, valued at 2,485 in 1911. The grade of coffee which satisfies the 
local market is South American coffee, which can be imported cheaper from the United 
States. The same reason applies to cocoa. 

Corn, valued at 5,927 in 1911. This is Indian corn for poultry and cattle. The 
United States is the only source of supply. 

Drugs, valued at 5,556 in 1911. These are chiefly American patent medicines, 
which are extensively advertised and find a large sale among the poorer classes of the 
population. 

Electrical Goods, valued at 7,270 in 1911. There is only one electrical concern in 
the Colony. The fact that the Superintendent of this Company, until recently, was an 
American, accounts largely for the imports of these goods from the United States. There 
seems to be no reason why British firms should not obtain the principal show in this 
trade. The motive power used by the Company is producer gas, of which they have 3 
units, 1 American and 2 English. The latter I am informed are greatly superior to, and 
cost considerably less than, the American. 

Fertilizer, valued at 6,389 in 1911. The fact that all the agricultural produce of 
Bermuda is exported to New York, with the resulting trade connections, accounts for the 
trade in this article with the United States. High freights would prevent the importation 
from Great Britain of any large quantity. 

Furniture, valued at 9,273 in 1911. The furniture imported from the United 
States is of uncured wood, badly constructed and of poor design. It is also expensive as 
compared with the cost in England of the style of furniture in demand among a similar 
class of people. The freight rate per cubic foot from England, which is very high on 
articles which bulk so largely as furniture, prevents any trade. It is suggested that 
English furniture which could be shipped in " Knock-down " form might find a good sale. 

Groceries, valued at 6,624 in 1911. Owing to quick shipping connections, the 
United States will probably always retain the greater part of this trade, especially in 
articles which are perishable. 

Leather, Manufactured, valued at 12,680 in 1911. This consists principally of 
Boots and Shoes, and Harness. The grades of shoes imported are inferior to and much 
cheaper than English goods, but are imported to meet" the local demand for a smart- 
looking, cheap shoe. The same remark applies to Harness. 

Metal, Manufactured, valued at 3,356 in 1911. This includes Stoves, Kitchen 
ware, and numerous other articles. The class is too mixed to enable any opinion to be 
formed as to the causes, other than propinquity, of the preponderance of these imports 
from the United States. 

Machinery, valued at 4,982 in 1911. Steam engines and boilers, motor boat 
engines of a cheap grade, ice and electric light machines. High freight from England 
and cheapness in the United States are the determining factors in this case. 

Oil, Kerosene, valued at 5,095 in 1911. The United States is the natural source 
of supply. 

Paper, valued at 1,867 in 1911. This is nearly all used in newspaper work. The 
importers state that they cannot obtain a similar grade in England. 

Meats, Smoked and Salted, valued at 13,950 in 1911. These are Ham, Bacon and 
smoked and salted Beef. As compared with English products they are much inferior, 
but still of fair quality, and can be imported and sold here at a cheaper rate. 

Poultry and Meats, valued at 3,422 in 1911. The necessary chill-room accommoda- 
tion for importing these, exists only in the case of the Steamers running between 
Bermuda and New York. 



', 



BERMTDA cunt. 

- i/> ii-ui .Vrf/v/i. vulued at 2,563 iu 1911. The trade in this article is divided 
nearly equally between the United Kingdom and the United States. 

ir, f valued at 0,497 in 191 J. (United Kingdom, 2,349 ; West Indies, 
3,158.) The sugar from the United States is granulated sugar. It is not cheaper than 
English sugar, but can be imported at more frequent intervals and in smaller quantities 
l>y the small retailer. 

' Y(///-.<. valued at U994 in 1911. Imported to meet requirements of American tourists. 

Eggs, valued at 2,662 in 1911. New York is the natural source of supply for the 
quantity required in excess of the local production. 

//TV... valued at 5,870 in 1911. The risks of tin- sou voyage prohibit the 
importation <>t'th<->e from any other port but Xr\v York. 

Oxen and Coins, valued at 24,859 in 1911. Up to the present date (191'2) the 
I Jilted States has been the only source of supply of cattle, but recently the principal 
importers have arranged for shipments direct from the Argentine. 

/'./,, valued at 2,224 in 1911. This consi>t- chiefly of cheap grades of tobacco 
-iimed by the labouring classes, of a kind not produced in' the United Kingdom. 

It will be seen from the foregoing remarks on particular imports that the main 
3 which affect the trade of Bermuda are its geographical position, in close proximity 
to the imrkets of the United States, and the comparatively limited and infrequent steam- 
ship communication with other countries. No considerable development of British trade 
can be expected until a direct fast service with England Jias been re-estublished, leaving 
for Bermuda at least once a month regularly, or <: 

In one case, that of furniture (the annual, value imported lieing about 10,000), it is 
suggested that British manufacturers may increase their trade with Bermuda by providing 
a class of funiiture strongly made, simple in form and of well-seasoned material, which 

In' -lup|ed "Knocked down" for re-assembling here, so as to reduce the freight 
chargM. 

TABLE A. 

TOTAL IMPORTS. AND IMPORTS FROM PRINCIPAL SOURCES, 1902-1911. 



Yfmr. 


United 

K:- .! .. 


Canada. 


Other 


Tniwd 
State*. 


Other 
Countries. 


Total. 
























1 95^79 


.vj.i:u 


i :;.:,-.':; 


821,487 


:;,:;46 


586462 





.171 


--,93 


9,457 


289,371 


8,008 


571,700 


1904 


,405 


86.171 


12.' 


-.".'.-.,054 


5.0M 


632,410 


1900 


IT'.'.OSO 


81440 


12,409 


264,797 


5320 


543,222 


I'.-o.', 


11C,'.>'.<:; 


55,451 


,-:,7 


218,702 


2,778 


103,676 


1907 


121,831 


m 


f..:!i7 


-'i:.,794 


4466 


420,596 


190K 


1 ":5,W1 


75,055 


5,9*3 


806,587 


U7; 


:v.i-.,522 


1909 


113, 




6.799 


233, 


>.n:sr, 


140,1 







83,4-"J 


7,648 


-'tiC-,981 


97:5 


517,074 


r.'ii 


l.V, 


84,129 


8,193 


297,681 


1/.70 


9vOfViHI 


Annual Avenge 


158.C.V, 


73,9 is 


9,271 


261,044 


:i,(H6 


M,:\K> 



TABLE li. 

COMPARISON BKTWEEX 1MPOKTS FKOM BRITISH AM) KoKKH.N >oCKCK8, 190^ 1111. 



Tmr. 


From Brituh 

Source*. 


From Foreign 
Sources. 


Difference. 


In favour of British. 


In favour of Foreign. 



1903 



261,329 
.:52l 
.260 
J7J,60:> 
1 >i,201 
200,536 
184^59 
204,630 
249420 
246. 


E 

324^tt 

300490 

.'70,617 
221,475 

-'-'i),06(t 
-.'( 7,96H 
,018 
867,954 

29 l .t,:'.r>i 


t 

8S410 

1 .'.<88 




63,504 
13,058 

39,274 
19..VJ 1 
23,404 
31.: 
1 >,S34 
53,162 



1905 







... 








Annual Average ... 


241,275 


264^080 





22^05 



58 

lEHMi;i)A COIlt. 

TABLE C. 

VTKMKNT showing the Total (Quantity and Value of the Principal Articles Imported 
into Bermuda in each of the years 1910 and 1911 distinguishing Imports from 

states. 



the United Kingdom, British Possessions and the United 



Principal Articles-Imported. 


[810. 


1911. 


United 
Kingdom. 


British 
Posses- 
sions. 


United 
States. 


All 
Countries. 


United 
Kingdom. 


British 

Posses- 
sions. 


United 
States. 


All 
Countries. 


) Tons 






285 


285 






215 


215 


Beef < v 








16,279 


16,279 








11,981 


11,981 


No. 


386 


15 


113 


514 


314 





183 


497 


Bicycles ... ... < 


1,461 


87 


569 


2,117 


1,951 





880 


2,831 


Bran 





2,839 


2,904 


5,743 





5,633 


2,381 


8,014 


Bread 


1,161 


591 


1,981 


3,733 


1,617 


605 


1,881 


4,103 


Building Materials 


U62 


211 


4,848 


6,421 


235 


585 


2,819 


3,639 


Box Materials ... 





3,261 


13 


3,274 





6,473 


1,479 


7,952 


f Tons 


25 


103 


14 


142 


32 


67 


52 


151 


Butter \ 


2,617 


11,861 


2,042 


16,520 


2,035 


8,282 


6,115 


16,432 


Cement 


Included under " Building Materials ' 


714 





1,343 


2,057 


Carriages ... ... 


10 


14 


1,560 


1,584 








2,772 


2,772 


ChPPSP * Cwts - 


3 


1,200 


- 100 


1,303 


13 


600 


640 


1,253 


UnCcbc ... *j 41 


48 


3,975 


379 


4,402 


72 


1,973 


2,307 


4,352 


Clothing 


26,295 


528 


9,418 


36,241 


33,614 


366 


9,160 


43,140 


Coffee and Cocoa | To s 


3 

335 


9 


17 

1,404 


20 
1,748 


4 
462 





38 
2,485 


42 
2,947 


f Bushels 








37,042 


37,042 








37,956 


37,956 


v/orn ... . . . \ ^ 








5,219 


5,219 








5,927 


5,927 


Confectionery ... 


1,644 


90 


1,510 


3,244 


1,976 


59 


2,147 


4,182 


Cotton Goods ... 


11,781 


60 


7,530 


19,371 


11,007 


39 


7,366 


18,412 


Drugs 


1,903 


199 


3,701 


5,803 


1,524 


355 


5,556 


7,435 


v f Dozens 


12 


7,787 


38,842 


46,641 


184 


5,126 


47,002 


52,312 


ElggS ... ... < 


2 


459 


2,408 


2,869 


7 


290 


2,662 


2,959 


Electrical Goods 


1,686 





5,952 


7,638 


828 





7,270 


8,098 


Fertilizer 


1,690 


42 


5,801 


7,533 


1,588 


180 


6,389 


8,157 


Fish Preserved 


925 


5,906 


1,032 


7,863 


1,305 


5,711 


1,504 


8,520 


Fancy Goods ... 


4,760 


121 


2,378 


7,259 


4,722 


113 


1,813 


6,648 


Flonr J Barrels 


334 


17,778 


4,105 


99 917 

^/^,/WJ. 1 


552 


17,113 


4,312 


21,977 


-F llHir ... "'I 1* 


271 


16,589 


4,020 


20,880 


428 


16,978 


4,083 


21,489 


Fruit and Meats 


















Canned 


8,743 


632 


6,776 


16,151 


9,413 


826 


7,289 


17,528 


Furniture... ... 


1,310 


492 


7,231 


9,033 


1,033 


526 


9,273 


10,8:',2 


Groceries ... ... 


2,844 


549 


5,398 


8,791 


2,125 


772 


6,624 


9,521 


Hardware ... 


4,567 


438 


3,497 


8,502 


3,441 


917 


3,794 


8,152 


Hay 





3,936 


511 


4,447 





4,063 


276 


4,339 


Jewellery... ... 


5,192 


2,406 


6,860 


14,458 


3,790 


3,230 


5,096 


12,116 


Live Stock ... f No. 





70 


100 


170 





51 


182 


233 


Horses ( 





1,982 


2,585 


4,567 





990 


5,870 


6,860 


Oxen and Cows - 





349 
4,450 


1,048 
17,068 


1,397 
21,518 


. ~ 


39 
473 


1,569 
24,859 


1,608 
25,332 


Linen Goods ... 


4,536 





739 


5,275 


3,587 





1,441 


5,028 


Leather Manufac- 


















tures ... ... 


2,006 


193 


14,001 


16,200 


1,866 


151 


12,680 


14,697 


Malt Liquor ... | Hotheads 


4,299 
12,673 





30 

981 


4,330 
13,681 


5,230 
13,028 





56 

1,708 


5,286 
14,736 


Metal Manufac- 


















tures 


480 


20 


1,627 


2,127 


354 





3,356 


3,710 


Machinery ... 


5,295 





6,891 


12,186 


643 


50 


4,982 


5,675 


Oil, Kerosene ... { Gallons 








330,648 


330,648 








246,250 


246,250 


I *f 








5,594 


5,594 








5,095 


5,095 


Oats 1 Bushels 





100,460 


36,121 


136,581 





168,428 


38,125 


206,553 


"1 





7,881 


2,810 


10,691 





9,879 


3,312 


13,191 


Oilmen's Stores... 


2,587 


19 


513 


3,119 


3,451 








3,451 


Oils and Paints... 


1,828 


197 


1,325 


3,350 


3,684 


189 


1,756 


5,629 


Paper 


203 


829 


1,663 


2,695 


278 


855 


1.867 


3,000 


Meats, Smoked and f Tons 


3 


2 


290 


295 


4 


3 not stated 


Salted ( 


470 


183 


16,561 


17,214 


413 


245 


13,950 


14,608 


Potatoes 


43 


4,674 


2,238 


6,955 


771 


5,268 


3,744 


9,783 


Poultry and Meats, 


















unenumerated... 





17 


3,694 


3,711 





_^ 


3,422 


3,422 


Soap and Starch ... 


1,470 


6 


1,865 


3,341 


2,415 


46 


2,563 


5,024 



59 

HKRMUIM cant. 
TABLE C ,mt. 





lyio. 


lau. 


Principal Article* Imported. 


United 


British 




United 


All 


United 


British 


United 


All 




Kingdom. 


MM. 


States. 


Countries. 


Kingdom. 


Posses- 
sions. 


States. 


Countries. 


Sugar T * 


89 
530 


154 657 

2,025 9,626 


850 

12,335 


108 
2349 


293 
3,152 


392 793 
6,497 11,998 


Silk Good* ... 


25I 


165 


2.517 


1,532 





204 


1,736 


Tea 1 Tons 


9 


9 14 


32 


9 


32 


7 


48 





794 


%1 1.1 hi 


-'.'.till 


811 


920 


739 


2,470 


Tobacco .. ... | ^ 8 


2 
555 


1 17 
170 2,466 


20 
3,191 


3 

839 


1 
154 


14 
2,224 


18 
3.217 


t - lgm j N. 


149,765 


158,700 390,926 


722,341 


:v.i2.m 180,510 


214,750 


888,481 




384 


689 ! '.is:, 


2,249 


407 646 


994 


2,960 


( ( * Tt- fa 
t * i i/* r* t t-fia " 


140 


1 in 


196 


80 





40 


120 


1 


2,973 


21 


857 


3,986 


2333 





1,393 


3,726 


Whiakey j Gallons 


1,094 

2,4*7 


392 
142 


248 
120 


7.7114 
2,749 


7,416 


472 
162 


543 

267 


8,431 
2,733 


Wine 


.VJ.-,-, 


3 


174 


2,432 


:usi _ 


226 


3,810 


Woollen Goodi ... 


10,322 


3D 


L,9 


l?. 


7,8'J: 1 . 64 


1,672 


9,559 






M ilitH Board of Trade 

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Record Publications : 

' 









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'- ment Board: 

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BEIT1SII '\DE CERTAIN 



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BRITISH WEST AF1UCA, 
STB A ITS SETTLEMENTS. BRITISH GUIANA, 

AND BERMUDA, 

FURNISHED TO THE BOARD OF TRADE BY THE 

HONORARY CORRESPONDENTS OF THEIR COMMERCIAL 

INTELLIGENCE BRANCH IN THOSE COLONIES. 



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V OFFICE. 
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AJUNGDON STHKJET. S.\\ 

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1913. 




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