Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 493, 10 Ianuali 1902 — THE WORLDS COLONIES. [ARTICLE]

THE WORLDS COLONIES.

An official publti at ion of the Bureau of Statistics discusses in detail the colonies of the world. It shows that the colonies, protectorates, and dependencies of the world unmber one hundred and twenty-six. They occupy two-fifths of the land surface of the globe and their population is one-third of the entire population of the earth. Their total imports average $1,500.000.000 worth of goods annually, and of this vast sum more than 40 per cent is purchased from the mother country. Of their exports, which considerably exceed the imports. 40 per cent goes to the mother country. Large sums are annually expended in the construction of roads, canals, railways, telegraphs, postal service and schools, hut in most cases the present annual expenditure* are produced by local revenues or are represented by local obligations. The revenues of the British colonies in ISO7 were $755,000,000 and their expend!fun s $745,000,000. While the public debt in the more important and active of those communities aggregates a large sum. it is n presented by canals, railways, public highways, harbors, irrigation, and other public improvements intended to stimulate commerce and production, the railroads in operation in the British colonies alone aggregating 55.000 miles, and in no instance assumed by or a charge upon the mother country.

Of all the colonies, protectorates, dependencies, and "spheres of influence." which make up the total list, two-fifths belong to Great Britain, their area, including the native feudatory >tates of India, being one-haif of the grand total of colonial tern- ‘ tory and their population considerably morr than one-half the grand total of colonial population. Franco is next in order in number, area, and population of colonies, etc., though the area controlled by France is but about one-third that of Great Britain ard the population of her colonies less than one-sixth of those of Great Britain Commerce between the successful colonies and their mother countries is in nearly all cases placed upon practically the same basis as that with other countries, goods from the home countries receiving in the vast majority of cases no advantages over those from other countries in im port duties, and other exactions of this character. In this particular the I’nited States has given to Porto Rico and Hawaii vastly better treatment than is usual with colonies, since the ratio of duty on commerce between Porto Rico and the United States is but 15 per cent of that with other countries, and even that but temporary, while in the case

of Hawaii, which voluntarily ask* admission, the Mainland continue* and enlarged Use freedom of inter change which already existed unde; reciprocity.