Captain CRAIGasked what is the explanation of the discrepancy in the figures relating to the imports of flax into Belfast, which in the Irish Import and Export Returns are given as 33,975 tons (Cd. 5965, page 36) and in the Board of Trade Returns as 37,690 tons (Cd. 5852, page 123), in each case for the year 1910?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe figures quoted from the Board of Trade Returns include the imports of flag dressed or undressed and also of flax tow or codilla. The figures quoted from the Report of the Department of Agriculture do not include the imports of tow or codilla which are shown separately. The particulars published by the Board of Trade represent the direct imports into Belfast from abroad, while the figures in the Department's Report include cross-Channel as well as the direct imports from abroad.