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The Oonsittee of Council submit for Your nonour's
approval the accompanying Supplementary Memorandum of the 24th
instant, from the Honourable the Minister of Finance, representing
the importance of the coal exporting industry of this Province,
and recommending that in the event of any arrangement being, mane
with the Government of the United States with a view to reciprocity
in the exchange of natural products between the two. countries
that mod' be included in the list of articles affeoted by such
arrangement.
The Committee advise that a copy of this Minute and of the said Memorandmm, if approved, be forwarded to the Honourable the Secretary of State for transmission to the Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
Presiding Member, Executive Council. e/54°-0:,7,/i121-e-a 2/IL f 77
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of the Lieutenant Governor in Council
For the consideration of Her Majesty's Commissioners at the
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
at Quebec. Supplementing its memorandum of the 7th instant, this
Government desires to bring to the attention of Her Majesty's
Honourable Commissioners the magnitude of the coal exporting
industry in British Columbia and the importance of its interests being considered should any arrangement for reciprocity of
exchange in natural products be entered into with the Govern- ment of the United States.
As in the case of other industries the conditions
of which this Government has had the opportunity of presenting
to Her Majesty's Honourable Commissioners, so in regard to the
coal mining industry the circumstanoes in British Columbia are
almost the reverse of those Which prevail in Ontario and other
parts of Eastern Canada. The excellence of the coal of this Province and its duperiority over that found in the Pacific,
Coast States of the Union, has secured a market for our coal
in San Francisco and other places. The customs duty which is
levied on coal imported into the United States, greatly reduces the demand Which would otherwise exist for British Columbia
coal, as on account of the addition made to its cost by the
imposition of this duty, it comes into unfavourable competition
with inferior qualities of coal sold at a lower price.
Should Her Majesty's Honourable Commissioners conclude any arrangement with the Government of the United States for
reciprocity in the exchange of natural products between the two
countries this Government would respectfully but earnestly.ask that
coal be included in the list of articles coming within the opera- tion of Each an arrangement.
Minister of qnanoe.
Dated the 24th day of September, 1898.