§ Sir JOHN RANDLESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total imports of cotton goods into the Philippine Islands both from this country and the United States in the years 1897 and 1912; and whether the preference given to the United States fabrics is proving injurious to British exporters?
Mr. ROBERTSONThere are no official figures available with regard to the value of the imports into the Philippine Islands in the years specified. The value of the exports of cotton yarn and manufactures from the United Kingdom to the Islands in 1897 was £260,000, and in 1912, £443,000, whilst the exports from the United States of America in the years ended 30th June, 1897 and 1912, were valued at £500 and £976,000 respectively. Preference to 2385W United States manufactures only took effect in October, 1909, and resulted in an immediate and considerable expansion in the exports of cotton goods from one country to the other, whilst exports from the United Kingdom have shown some tendency to decline.