392
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON:
L.I
concerned with the health of crops and their maximum productivity, the other with the health of human beings and their maximum efficiency. The success of both depends in the last degree upon discoveries made by research and invest- igation. Both Departments therefore need officers of broad general education, and in addition trained in their respective professions: in both cases these men have a fund of accumu- lated knowledge which they can draw upon for their ordinary practice, and in addition are accumulating further knowledge from that practice. I can therefore see no more reason for elaborate, soientific research by the Agricultural Department in a small colony than by the Medical one. I lay stress upon this point, because I believe that most of the ineffectiveness of the attempts which have been made to develop agriculture in this Colony has been the result of the distortion of the aims of the Department entrusted with the work.
40. Dissemination of infomation of direct value to the planter must be the function of the Department of Agricul ture in the future. For this a trained man is necessary, and facilities for agricultural experiments and for instructing the planters and peasants. Maborate research work of a scientific nature must be left to wealthier countries. I believe that a policy of agricultural education and devel- opment sustained continuously by the Goverment would be profitable, and would be welcomed and supported by everyone.
41. The whole question of developing agriculture here is a question of business, and the work of development must be looked on as a definite and profitable investment.
If it
be decided to ignore it, there is no further use in retaining a Department of Agriculture: if it be decided to undertake it, this Department should rank high officially and should cease to be regarded either as a convenient centre for ornamental gardening or as a medley of disconnected minor activities, and should be frankly recognised as the instrument by which the Government intends to sustain a progressive policy of enlightenment and development. Both in Ceylon and Mauritius, this attitude has been adopted, and the head of this Department has in both cases been nominated to the Legislative Council of Government. I am certain that this step would be welcomed by the local planters as a pledge that in future agriculture will be accorded the place in the programme of Government to which its importance entitles it.
15.
I. Proposals and Recommendations.
42. Ky recommendations are based on the assumption that the Goverment is prepared to regard the development of local agricultural industries as being a profitable investment, and they therefore fall into the two following general headings: -
I. Provision for a policy of development.
II. Financing of local agriculture.
The first of these practically amounts to the reorganisation of the Department of Agriculture, the second to finding funda both for the Department and for financing planting enterprise.
43. In Appendix V are given the details of expenditure necessary to place the Department of Agriculture on an efficient basis. The totals amount to the following:-
Personal Emoluments Other recurrent
Rs.15,300 12,950
to 17,880 12,950
28, 310
30,830
In addition a non-recurrent sum of Rs.11,000 is added. The average expenditure on this Department from the date of its inception in 1900 has been Rs. 13,155 up to the year 1914. In 1920 and 1921 it was respectivaly Rs.14963 and Rs.17,071. The percentage of total Government expenditure which has been annually appœtioned to this Department has been as follows:-
1.56%
Period 1900/02
3/ 5
2.99
6/8
2.93
9/11
5.03
12/14
3.06
3.01
3.11
1920- 1921
In 1910 a sum of Rs.25,000 was spent on purchase of a Forest Reserve, which accounts for the higher percentage spent in the period 1909/11. As there are 25 heads of Goverment expenditure, it is obvious that this Department, which should be among the most important, has never received its propor- tionate amount of attention: Rs.30,000 would represent about 5.4 per cent of the total Goverment expenditure in 1921.
44. The additions under Personal Emolumenta include Rs.7500 for a Director and 1200 for a Statistician-Clark: the Chief Agricultural Officer replaces the former Curator of the Botanic Gardens. The salary proposed for the Director represents the amount which will probably have to be paid for a qualified man, and I do not think that any good results are likely to follow the appointment of an officer without
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