ACCOUNTS AND PAPERS:

1923.

FIFTEEN VOLUMES:-CONTENTS OF THE

EIGHTH VOLUME.

N.B.-THE Figures at the beginning of the line correspond with the No. at the foot of each Paper; and the Figures at the end of the line refer to the Paging of the Volumes arranged for the House of Commons.

20.

20-I.

TRADE, &c.

TRADE AND NAVIGATION ACCOUNTS:

Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom for each Month during the year 1923 :

January, 1923.

February.

20-II. March.

p. 1

217

481

NOTES.

(1) Period covered by the Accounts.-Under the provisions of the Law, the particulars in respect of imported goods from which the official trade statistics are compiled are allowed to be given by importers or their agents at any time within 14 working days after the arrival of the ship. Further extension of time is given within which to make any necessary amendments. Such particulars may also be accepted before a ship actually arrives. In the case of exported goods the information is required to be supplied within six days after the final clearance outwards of the exporting ship. It follows that the statistics published for a month do not precisely represent the imports and exports which occurred in that period. In general, the figures show the trade, as declared by importers and exporters on the documents received in the Statistical Office, Customs and Excise, London, during a month, inclusive of all amendments relating to former months received in that office during the month.

(2) Classification of Articles.-The Tables have been re-arranged throughout in accordance with the new Import and Export List which was introduced on the 1st January, 1920. The following classes of goods arriving in this country are not included in the import statistics: (a) Personal luggage, including parcels brought by passengers for private use, so long as such parcels do not contain dutiable goods. Dutiable goods contained in passengers' parcels are included in the statistics; (b) fresh fish and shell fish of British taking landed from British ships arriving direct from the fishing grounds; (c) ships' stores, Military and Naval Stores on board Government vessels, bunkers (coal and oil), and ballast of no commercial value; (d) mats, sacks, cases, &c., used as packages of imported goods; (e) goods directly imported by Ambassadors and Ministers accredited to this Kingdom; (f) old vessels bought from foreign or colonial owners. The following classes of goods are not included in the export statistics: (a) personal luggage and effects; (b) ships' stores, Military and Naval Stores on board Government vessels, and ballast of no commercial value; (c) mats, sacks, cases, &c., used as the packages of exported goods; (d) old vessels sold to foreign or colonial owners.

(3) Value. The value of the Imports represents the cost, insurance, and freight; or, when goods are consigned for sale, the latest sale value of such goods. The value of the Exports represents the cost and the charges of delivering the goods on board the ship, and is known as the

free on board" value. Both quantities and values are based on the declarations of importers and exporters as subsequently checked by the Customs officials. The values shown for Parcel Post in these Accounts are approximate only.