§ MR. HEDDERWICKI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the latest figures in his possession relating to British exports to Madagascar; and whether there has been any falling off in the volume of British export trade with that island since the promulgation of the last French tariffs; and, if so, to what extent in total values.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe value of British and Irish produce exported to Madagascar in 1899 was £37,641, compared with £34,604 in and £158,610 in 1897. During the first three months of the present year the value has been £16,185, compared with £6,321 in the corresponding period of £9,681 in the same period of 1898, and £34,105 in that of 1897. These figures show that, as anticipated, there has 409 been a great falling off in British exports to Madagascar since the introduction of the French tariffs in 1897 and 1898, especially in cotton piece goods, which declined from 11,973,000 yards in 1897 to 345,700 yards in 1899.