'Russia and India in 1903' [‎25r] (51/68)

BRITISH TRADE IN INDIA.
45
Course of Trade in British India.
The question I am anxious to put is this : Are the
heirs and successors of the founders of British trade
in India, with all the influence at their command, with
the prestige of a Chamber founded eighty years ago,
willing to bear their part in this great Imperial work,
for the unity of the Empire and, as Mr. Chamberlain
put it, “ for the existence of the Empire as such ” ?
Let me briefly direct attention to the course of trade
in British India as shown by the admirable Statistical
Abstract from 1890 to 1900-1, presented last Session
to both Houses of Parliament by command of His
Majesty. But again in these tables no distinction
is made between British trade and Foreign trade.
It is a serious blot. The student has himself to
make the analysis. The imports of British mer
chandise from the United Kingdom and the British
Empire in the year 1900-1 exceeded £45,000,000
out of a total import trade of £63,000,000 sterling.
This sum gives at least £10,000,000 a year in wages
to the British artisan and £10,000,000 to the British
Mercantile Marine, which sends 3,000 British ships
every year to the ports of Hindustan. And speaking
of British shipping, let me take advantage of the
opportunity of congratulating the Hon. Mr. J. M.
Dick, of Messrs. W. & A. Graham & Co., not
only on being President of this Chamber, but also
upon the honour recently conferred upon him of
nomination to the Council of H.E. the Governor.
The whole shipping community is also to be con
gratulated upon the report just issued by the Select
Committee of the House of Commons on Shipping
Subsidies, granted by foreign nations, and the recom
mendation that this unfair competition should be met
by a like support to British vessels on the East Coast
of Africa, and a restriction of coast trade privileges to
the flags who grant it to the Union Jack on their coasts.