MR. MAO IVERasked the President of the Board of Trade, If, in the Return which it is proposed to issue as regards our trade with France, he can see his way to include under the heading of Manufactures all those articles which are in reality manufactures, although at present appearing in the Blue Book under the headings of Articles for Consumption and Articles Unenumerated;" and, whether there is any sufficient reason for the Board of Trade statistics continuing to be issued in a form which, by the adoption of a misleading classification, practically understates the general total of the value of our imported manufactures by something like £15,000,000 annually?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN,in reply, said, he had carefully considered the matter with the help of the officers of the Department, and they were unable to identify the references in the Question with the statistics in any Blue Book issued by the Department. The hon. Member was probably under a misapprehension, and if he would communicate with the 854 officials of the Department, they might either convince him that he was in error or consider any suggestions the hon. Member had to make.