HC Deb 17 March 1920 vol 126 cc2222-3W
Mr. BIGLAND

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the exports, in yards, of cotton-piece goods to China for the first and last quarters of 1913–19, respectively; and will he give the average rates of exchange for the Shanghai Tael for each of the periods named?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The following statement shows the quantity of cotton-piece goods exported from the United Kingdom to China (including Hong Kong), together with the exchange value of the Haikwan Tacl, during the periods specified. (The Tael used by the Imperial Chinese Customs for trade statistical purposes is the Haikwan, and not the Shanghai, Tael. The average rates of exchange of the former are accordingly given in the statement; the Board of Trade are not in possession of precise information as to the exchange rates of the latter.)

Year. Quantity Exported. Average Rates of Exchange of the Haikwan Tael.
First Quarter. Last Quarter. First Quarter. Last Quarter.
Million Yards. Million Yards. s. d. s. d.
1913 169.3 183.9 3 0⅞ 2 11¾
1914 246.8 59.6 2 10⅝ 2 5⅞
1915 97.1 91.0 2 6⅜ 2 8⅞
1916 112.6 71.4 2 11*7/16 3 8⅜
1917 65.1 93.4 3 10*9/16 4 6*13/16
1918 104.0 18.6 4 5 8*7/16
1919 17.1 128.2 5 8 0