A CURIOUS RESULT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 978, 28 November 1890, Page 31

A CURIOUS RESULT.

The Chinese Commissioner of Customs at Pakhoi, the most southern treaty port in China, in his latest report, mentions (says The Times) one curious result of the imposition of a high Customs Tariff in the French poseseions in ludo-Ohina, especially in Tonquin. The trade of Pakhoi has lately advanced by leaps and bounds, In 1884 it amounted to about L 340.000. in 1886 to L 594,000, in 1888 to L 860,000 and in 1889 to L 920.000. This rapid progress dates from the cessation of the French military operations in the Golf of xonquin. Part of this increase no doubt is due to the substitution of steamers for junks in the sea going trade; but the chief cause of the increase is the diversion of trade from the Tonquin port of Haiphong to Pakhoi. Previous to the French occupation, while the Haiphong Customs establishment was under Annamite or quasi-Chinese control, the main part of the foreigu products destined for the markets of Southern Yunnan and Western Kwangsi passed through that port. The substitution of French for Annamite rates of duty on imports, and the treatment of the frontier as an exterior in place of an interior line of separation, is Baid to have driven the bulk of the trade from Haiphong to Pakhoi, and a table showing the imports of the latter in 1880 and every succeeding year down to 1889 supports this. This change is especially and mainly the case with imports, which are affected by the French tariff, while the chief exports, such as aniseed, cassia, ground-nut cake, hides, pigs, sugar, &c., although showing an ordinarily healthy local development, have not increased rapidly by drawing trade from across the frontier. “The prosperity of Pakhoi appears to be based on low duties at the port of entry, and facility of access, with no frontier duties, to the inland markets of Kwangsi and Yunnan. With the grant of transit in bond through Tonquin and better landing facilities at Haiphong than at Pakhoi, and with the opening of steamer traffic to Laokai and the completion of the projected railway to Langson, Pakhoi traders must expect to see the development of their trade arrested, and consignments going by the other route. The only available means by which the Pakhoi importers may keep the trade they have would seem to bo found in the construction of a railway connecting Pakhoi with the island waters of Kwangsi.”