[Inclosure.]
Certified copy of a report of a committee of the
honorable the privy council, approved by his excellency the
governor-general in council on the 4th April, 1888.
The committee of the privy council has had under consideration a
dispatch dated March 21, 1888, from Her Majesty’s minister at
Washington, transmitting copy of a dispatch which he had addressed
to the Marquis of Salisbury relative to action on the part of the
Canadian Government, which it is sought to obtain under the Canadian
statute (42 Vic, chap. 15, sec. 6), which provides that certain
articles may be admitted into Canada free of duty whenever it
appears to the satisfaction of the governor in council that similar
articles from Canada may be imported into the United States free of
duty.
The minister of finance, to whom the dispatch and inclosure were
referred, observes that it appears therefrom that the under
secretary of state of the United States had informed Sir L. S.
Sackville West that the Department had lately had under
consideration the Canadian statute above mentioned, with the view of
obtaining, if possible, the application of its provisions to certain
commodities recently placed upon the free list of imports entering
the United States, but still subject to duty when entering the
Dominion of Canada; that he had sent Sir L. S. Sackville West a
memorandum on the subject, and had asked Sir L. West if he thought
the Tominion Government could be induced to take action in the
matter, to which Sir L. West replied that he would submit the
memorandum to Her Majesty’s Government.
The memorandum inclosed is as follows:
memorandum.
The tariff act of 3d March, 1883, puts in the free list:—
- I.
- Fruits, green, ripe, or dried, not especially enumerated
or provided for in the said act, 22 Statutes, p. 519.
- II.
- Plants, trees, shrubs, and vines of all kinds, and seeds
of all kinds except medicinal seeds not specially enumerated
or provided for in said act, 22 Statutes, p. 520.
For exceptions see titles “Fruits” and “Seeds” in Heyl’s Import
Duties, 1887, Part III, pages 32 and 79.
The Canadian statute of 42 Vic, chap. 15, section 6 (Revised Statutes
of Canada, 1886, vol. 1, chap. 33, see. 9) provides that green
fruits, seeds of all kinds, plants, trees, and shrubs may be
admitted into Canada free of duty upon proclamation by governor in
council, which may be issued whenever it appears to his satisfaction
that similar articles from Canada may be imported into the United
States free of duty.
In view of the fact that the above-named articles are admitted free
of duty (excepting a few kinds of seeds) into the United States, it
is thought that the same
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should be admitted into Canada free of duty when exported thither
from the United States.
The minister recommends that, as the attention of the governor in
council has been called to the provision of the sixth section of the
Canadian tariff act, 42 Vic, cap. 15, above referred to (Rev. Stat.
Canada, cap. 33, sec. 9), and as it has been shown to his
satisfaction that the articles hereinafter specified are admitted
into the United States free of customs duty, a proclamation of the
governor in council be issued placing the same upon the list of
articles which may be imported into Canada free of customs duty,
viz:
Green fruits, viz: Bananas, olives, pine-apples, plaintains,
tamarinds, apples, blackberries, gooseberries, raspberries,
strawberries, cherries, cranberries, peaches, plums, quinces,
apricots, lichi fruit, mangoes, and melons.
Seeds, viz: Anise, anise-star, canary, caraway, coriander (crude),
cardamon (crude), chia, cinnamon (crude), fenugreek (crude), fennel
(crude), jute, mustard (brown or white), sugar-beet, seeds of fruit
trees, sesame plants.
Trees and shrubs, viz: Apple, peach, pear, plum, cherry, quince, and
all other fruit trees; gooseberry, raspberry, blackberry, currant,
and rose bushes; grape-vines, shade, lawn, and ornamental trees,
shrubs, and plants.
The committee advise that a proclamation do issue, as recommended by
the minister of finance.
The committee further advise that your excellency be moved to
transmit copies of the proclamation as well as copies of this minute
to the right honorable the secretary for the colonies, and also to
Her Majesty’s minister at Washington.
All which is respectfully submitted for your excellency’s
approval.
John J.
McGee,
Clerk Privy
Council.
