*The above statement does not include the values: (1) Of imported commodities withdrawn from ware house and transferred to manufacturing warehouse for consumption: and (2) Of imported materials with drawn from warehouse for consumption, and used in the construction and equipment of vessels.

THE PROHIBITORY FRENCH DUTY ON CANADIAN VESSELS.

V

From the official Report of Proceedings at the eighth annual meeting of the Dominion
Board of Trade, pages 119 and 120.)

At the afternoon session, at Ottawa, January 16th, 1878.

Mr. WM. ELDER (St. John, N. B.) moved, seconded by Mr. R. R. DOBELL (Quebec) :

"That the good offices of the Dominion Government be asked, with a view to procure, through the assistance of the British Government, the registration in France of Canadian-built vessels on terms of equality with those of Great Britain."

This question has already been before this Board, and, I believe, the discussions on it have borne fruit. The subject is, I understand, now occupying the attention of the British and Canadian Governments. and correspondence is going on upon it. Mr. Dobell mentioned incidentally just now, that, whereas, under a recent treaty with France, British ships can be registered at two francs per ton, we have to pay forty francs per ton. No doubt this is the result of an oversight. Our ships bearing British register are British ships, and there is, therefore, no necessity for this mistake being continued. However the mistake may have arisen, we have to pay forty francs per ton before our ships are admitted to French register. Canada is a much larger ship-owning country than France, and there ought to be a large intercourse in the purchase of ships, between the two countries. We have in years gone by sold annually half a million dollars worth of ships to France; and, if we could now sell on the same terms as Great Britain, it would revive an industry of which we have been proud, and which is now somewhat depressed. The tendency in the Maritime Provinces is to retain only new ships, and sell old ships to other countries. The very reverse prevails in France. They are willing, for their coasting trade, to buy old ships of four or five hundred tons. The ships we want to sell they want to buy, but we are met with this duty of forty francs per ton. We are seeking to obtain the same privilege as Great Britain, by admitting light wines into this country at low duties. This resolution is in accordance with the policy which prevails between France and England, and has everything in its favour. I hope it will again receive the favourable attention of this Board.

Mr. DOBELL: I should like to hear from the Executive what steps they have taken to present the views of the Board to the Government. I would like to hear what progress they have to report.

The resolution was adopted.

COMPARISON of American rates of drawback on refined sugars, made from dutypaid raw sugars, established by the Treasury Circular of September 26, 1877, and now in force, with those allowed before that date.

Loaf, cut loaf, crushed, granulated, and powdered.....
White coffee sugar, undried, and above No. 20, Dutch standard
All grades of coffee sugars, No. 20, Dutch standard, and below it.
Sugar, refined from melado, on which was paid a duty of
$1.87 per 100 lbs., same as if refined from raw sugar,
sugar refined from molasses

Old Rates. Per 100 lbs. $3 60

New Rates.
Per 100 lbs.

$3 18

3 00

2 58

All the drawback rates on refined sugar are subject to a retention of 1 per cent., and on syrups of 10 per cent.; which brings the the present net drawbacks to the figures given on page 39.