No. 570.
Sir L. S. Sackville West to Mr. Bayard.

Sir; I have the honor to communicate to you herewith the inclosed copy of a minute in council, which was passed on the 4th instant by the privy council of Canada, authorizing the addition to the free list of the articles therein specified.

I have, etc.,

L. S. Sackville West.
[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 [Page 799] 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.