318
THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — VICTORIA
The values of the principal articles of import and export have been as follow in the last five years : —
—
1893 £
1894
1895
1896
1897
Imports
£
£
£
£
Coal
418,484
195,415
201,047
194,035
228,647
Cottons .
698,957
879,803
927,269
1,009,150
919,661
Iron and steel .
265,749^
282,063^
346,824^
453,990^
535,666
Live stock
478,422
432,580
361,569
462,554
528,787
Sugar and molasses .
619,830
744,246
647,982
787,309
785,717
Timber .
154,061
149,817
174,146
233,525
251,451
Wool .
2,552,933
2,517,437
2,367,915
2,270,496
1,964,731
Woollens
445,652
456,286
496,920
612,874
604,895
Exports
Gold, mostly specie .
2,851,179
3,718,675
3,750,737
3,298,912
6,472,318
Wheat .
717,087
660,718
403,780
91,605
225,957
Live stock
272,221
282,045
294,886
337,541
329,860
Wool .
5,103,907
4,742,522
5,151,153
4,959,404
3,999,813
1 Exclusive of rails, wire, &o.
The quantity of wool exported in 1897 amounted to 123,572,693 lbs., valued at 3,999,813^., of which, however, little more than half was the produce of Victoria.
Of the total imports those arriving at the port of Melbourne were valued at 13,098,633Z., and of the exports those shipped from Melbourne were valued at 15,539,177^. in 1897.
The commercial intercourse of Victoria \vith the United Kingdom (ex- clusive of gold) is shown in the subjoined table, according to the ' Board of Trade Returns,' for each of the last five years : —
—
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
Imports into
U.K. from
Victori'a Exports of Brit.
produce to
Victoria
£ 6,078,997
3,354,015
£ 6,559,144
3,775,111
£ 7,236,248
3,939,070
£ 5,429,189
4,833,265
£ 5,590,662
4,622,544
The value of goods for export is the vahie at the port of shipment, as declared by exporters. The recorded quantities are those declared bj^ importers and exporters. Those of imports are nearly all checked and corrected by Custom House officers. The country of origin, or production, of imports is ascertained from the declarations of importers. It is supposed to be that of prime origin, but the " country whence the goods are imported " is that where they are put on board the importing ship. The country of destination of exports is that of the ultimate destination which they will reach by the vessel in which they are exported. It must be admitted, however, that in both cases the information supplied is to a great extent not. to be depended upon. There is no distinction in the Victorian returns between "general" and "special" trade ; but entries equivalent to these appear in part "Inter- change" of the Statistical Register of Victoria" — viz. "Imports on which duty was paid " = Special Imports, and " Exports of Home Products " = Special Exports. The transit trade embraces goods removed from ship to ship, or from ship to railway, without being landed for a longer period than is necessary for such removal. Such goods are excluded from the returns of general exports and imports. The value of the statistical results is somewhat impaired by the unreliability of the declarations of importers and exporters, upon which they are based. The imports are under a closer supervision by the Customs Department than the exports, and are therefore less liable to error.
