THE WORLD'S TRADE.
A While-paper has lately been issued by the Board of Trade dealing with the trade and commerce of certain foreign countries and British Possessions for the year 1908. It appears that during that year the United Kingdom headed the list, both in imports and exports, the figures being respectively : — £ United Kingdom, imports ... 513,475,000 United Kingdom, exports ... 377,220,000 Germany comes second in imports, the value being £409.048,000, while in the case of exports the United States stands second with £360,139,000. Germany's exports were £332,030,000, and the United States imports £232 594,000. The following are the figures for the other principal countries: — £ France, imports 243,634,000 France, exports 210,878,000 Belgium, imports 134,004,000 Belgium, exports 103,413,000 Italy, imports 121,253,000 Italy, exports 74,330,000 Austria-Hungary, imports ... 1U5,518,000 Austria-Hungary, exports ... 96,874,000 The imports of the United Kingdom last year— £513,475,000 — show a decline, the corresponding figures for 1907 being £5b3,866,000, and for 1906 £522,786,000. The exports, which in 1906 were £375,575,000, rose to £426,035,000 in 1907, and fell last year to £577,220,000. A decline in imports and exports also took place in the case of most of the other countries. A notable exception is that of Canada, whose exports rose from £48,926,000 in 1907 to £50,902,000 last year. The return also gives statistics relating to four countries during the month of January last, namely : — £ United Kingdom, imports ... 46,824,000 United Kingdom, exports ... 28,803,000 United States, imports ... 21,568,000 United States, exports ... 32,230,000 France, imports 21,387,000 France, exports 14,372,000 Belgium, imports 10,745,000 Belgium, exports 6,682,000-
A quaint touch of Oiiental ingenuity to harass tho persistent users of opium has been imeuted by the superintendent of police at Canton (says Tho Lancet correspondent in China). This official has issued 20,000 wooden licenses, lOin long by Bin broad, and 3-sin thick. On the front of these boards are characters giving the smoker's nime and address, and the quantity allowed him per diem, and on the back are tho opium regulations. Tho licenoees are not allowed to coyer their boards when going to buy opium, but must wear them conspicuously bo that all may Bee them. Next year the3e wooden licansai avo to be 2ft lons by lift broad, AQd-3'Sin thick.
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