49. This table shows that— (a) Most of the United Kingdom exports of rubber hose go to Empire countries. India took 17.7 per cent. of the total value, South Africa 15.7 and Australia 8.0. The most im- portant foreign market was Argentina, which took 8.0 per cent. Thus the first four markets took 45 per cent., and three of these markets are in the Empire. (b) Exports of rubber hose from Canada go mostly to Empire markets. (¢) German rubber hose is exported chiefly to European markets. Out of the 86 markets in the table, 20 (including the United Kingdom) are in Europe. Seven of the remaining markets are in Central and South America. 50. Rubber hose is produced in large quantities by Italian manu. facturers, who supply nearly two-thirds of the local consumption. The locally made hose is used mostly for industrial purposes. Domestic production supplies the greater portion of the demand for rubber hose in Czecho-Slovakia, but the superior qualities are imported. Exports of Czecho-Slovakia increased from 10 tons in 1926 to 16 tons in 1927 and the chief markets were Germany, Beloium. Austria and Spain. Minor producing countries. Exports of rubber hose from Belgium increased from 98 tons in 1926 to 105 tons in 1927 and to 147 tons in 1928. Consumption of rubber hose in Austria is met largely by the local product which is of good quality. The production of rubber hose in South Africa—principally by the South African Rubber Manufacturing Co., of Natal—is increasing. 4 3) 3) : ) 1 51. Exports of rubber hose from the United States increased from 3,380 tons valued at £561.834 in 1928. to 4,189 tons valued at £643 977 in 1929. 52. Thus both in belting and hose, the only two sections of ‘“ mechanicals ’’ for which comparable trade statistics are avail- able, the United States is the chief exporting country, followed by the United Kingdom in regard to belting, and Germany in regard to hose. In both cases the Empire markets overseas are most important to the United Kingdom and to Canada. The trades generally are expanding and in all cases, except Canada, the exports from manufacturing countries go to a large number of United States exports of rubber hose in 1929. [mportant markets R228