Page 237 - clra62_0019-(GIPE)
P. 237

THE  RELATIVE GROWTH  OF THE EMPIRE      229

                  Imports and exports of subject stales in Bn'/ish Empire in 1871  and
                                     1897 compared.
                                    [In millions sterling.]
                                                           Increase.
                                         1871•   1897.
                                                       Amount.   Per cent.
                 s  outh Africa      "    7·7    47. 2   39·5   5 1 3
                 o  ther parts of Africa   • 2·5   10.8   8·3   33 2
                 India                   97·5   198.9   101.4   104
                 Miscellaneous Possessions   49·5   81.2   31.7   64
                        Totals       . I  157.2   338. 1   I  180·9   lIS


                    The  broad  facts  here  are  that the  increases,  with
                 the exception  of the "miscellaneous  possessions," are
                 greater than  in  the English-speaking portions  of the
                 Empire.  The  percentages  and  amounts  of  increase
                 are both  very large, and  speak  for  themselves.  This
                 is  no  doubt explained, as  already  mentioned,  by  the
                 increase of the Empire through annexation;  but some
                 other changes  are also  significant.  Attention may be
                 drawn to the following points:
                    I.  The great increase in South Africa.  The increase
                 in  population  shows  a  very large percentage, but the
                 numbers are still  small, about 3,000,000 only.  In this
                 portion of the Empire. however, although  the popula-
                 tion  is  only  mixed,  the  increase  of  revenue  and  of
                 imports and exports  is larger in proportion  than any-
                 where else, and the totals are significant.  The revenue
                 from  being less  than  a  million  in  1871  is  now about
                  £10,000,000, an  increase  of over  900  per cent.,  and
                  the imports and exports, including bullion and specie,
                  from  being  just under  £8,000,000  in  1&71  are  now
                  £47,000,000.  Of course, we  must  beware  of putting
                  too much  stress upon  such  figures when we  compare
                  them with others.  The imports and exports, we may
                  suppose, are  swollen  in  part  by a  portion  of what is
                  really transit trade of the Orange Free State and the
   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242