Page 235 - clra62_0019-(GIPE)

THE RELATIVE GROWTH OF THE EAcrnu:. '127
The increase of revenue is thus in all cases greater
than the increase of population, but the same relative
position is maintained by the three different portions of
the Empire. The percentage increase is again greater
in British North America and Australasia than in the
United Kingdom, but the amount of the increase is
much the largest in the United Kingdom. The com-
parison is subject to the observations that new taxes
may have been imposed in the interval in different
degrees, and that on a very strict comparison changes
in the form of the accounts may have to be allowed
for, the figures on the surface thus requiring rectifica-
tion. But these are niceties which can hardly be fol-
lowed up in so general a comparison: the broad con-
clusions do not seem to be affected.
Next we have a comparison of imports and exports:

Imp()rts anti exp()rts ()f Um'Jeti Kingtl()m, British North America, anti
Auslralasia in 1871 anti 1897 (()11Iparetl.
[In millions sterling.]
Increase.
187J· 1897.
Amount. Per cent.
United Kingdom . • 686 843 157 23
British North America. 3 8 SS 17 45
Australasia. 65 138 73 112
Totals 7 8 9 1,036 247 3 1

Here again the increase is larger in percentage in
British North America and Australasia thanin the United
Kingdom, but the amount of the increase is much the
largest in the United Kingdom, while the aggregate
foreign trade of the United Kingdom is four-fifths of
the total. The percentage increase is also largest in
Australasia, corresponding to the increase of population.
I t is unnecessary to carry the comparison through
the other factors mentioned in the tables, although it
would be of obvious interest to contrast the reduction