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Enclosure in No. 40.
STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF ST. VINCENT ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S CIRCULAR DESPATCH OF THE 25TH SEPTEMBER, 1916.
THE principal exports from St. Vincent are arrowroot and cotton. Though the necessary land and means of increasing the output of arrowroot are available, it is not deemed advisable to extend the cultivation of this product for the reason that there is normally only a limited demand for it at moderate prices. There is no reasonable prospect of an increase in the demand for St. Vincent arrowroot, though it is of the highest quality, unless circumstances should arise to give it some advantage in its competition with alien supplies of starches in the English market. The attention of the Imperial Committee, referred to in the third para- graph of the Secretary of State's circular, might be invited to this point in con- nexion with the question (c) to be considered by it.
2. As in the case of arrowroot, the land and means for increasing the gross output of cotton are available. An expansion of cultivation, to a small extent, is at present being undertaken in consequence of the increase in price prevailing during the War. But though the St. Vincent product is a variety of Sea Island cotton of the finest and best quality, which is in great demand by fine spinners, and usually commands a good price as compared with the price of other cottons, experience in past years has proved that there is no more precarious crop grown in St. Vincent than cotton. It is subject to serious fluctuations in the amount of the output per acre, caused by pests, diseases, and bad weather. Growers are there- fore reluctant to undertake any large expansion of cultivation when there is little assurance of stable results. It is hoped, however, that the efforts of the Agricultural Department against pests and diseases will succeed in causing some mitigation At present the fine cotton of the unfavourable circumstances referred to.
If the
spinners in Lancashire are said to be showing some anxiety to obtain stocks of cotton of the high quality of St. Vincent cotton. If this is due to the diminution of the cultivation of cotton in the Sea Islands of America, the decrease in the supply might tend to increase the market price of St. Vincent cotton, and so com- pensate in some degree for the present fluctuations in the output per acre. Imperial Committee should direct its attention to the apparent uncertainty of the fine cotton spinners being provided with a sufficient and constant supply of first quality cotton, some measures will result, it is hoped, that will ensure such a minimum price as will enable growers to extend cultivation notwithstanding the high average cost of production resulting from the fluctuations in output.
3. It is believed that an expansion of the sugar industry in St. Vincent would, in addition to providing à further contribution to the stock of British- grown sugar for British consumers and refiners, go a long way towards the attain- ment of a position of moderate prosperity in the Colony, and towards giving stability to the public revenue, which now suffers from recurrent depression in consequence of the fluctuations in exports.
4. Only small efforts are now being made to produce sugar in St. Vincent, with more or less old and inefficient machinery. It is thought that the erection of small modern sugar factories, similar to the factory which is now being success- fully operated at Edgcumbe in Barbados, would tend to re-establish the sugar- The difficulty of obtaining machinery, and the making industry in the Colony. probable high cost of it during, and immediately after, the War, would cause delay, but so soon after the War as possible definite recommendations can be made for inaugurating such an enterprise. As the Colony's financial position has been has become necessary to increase taxa- so detrimentally affected by the War that
tion and to restrict expenditure to the barest necessities in order to obtain a balance between revenue and expenditure, it is hoped that the means of establishing a modern type of factory will be provided by a loan from the Imperial Government on easy terms.
5. In this Colony the sugar industry would be of more advantage to the general community, and would better help to give stability to the public revenue, than the industries connected with the growing of arrowroot and cotton, for the reasons that it is shown by both past and present experience that the soil and labourers of St. Vincent are capable of a steady output of sugar-canes, that peasant proprietors will be able to grow canes for sale to a factory, and that the amount of manual labour required in connexion with sugar being much greater than in the cases of
cotton and arrowroot, more money would be put into local circulation by the sugar industry than by the others.
6. It is to be observed also that the sugar industry would indirectly help to maintain and improve the production of arrowroot, which is required in the United Kingdom, and of cotton, which is so necessary to British fine spinners, because it will keep a supply of mechanics and manual labourers in the Colony, who will be useful in the cultivation of arrowroot and cotton; and the rotation of sugar crops with arrowroot would control the inclination to over-produce arrowroot. Sugar cultivation also tends to improve the condition of land for succeeding crops cotton and arrowroot, and it provides fodder for animals required for general work in agriculture and for animals reared for human consumption.
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7. It is submitted for consideration that it is expedient for the home authorities to endeavour to prevent freight combines among steamers trading with the West Indies such as have in recent years led to increased rates out of all proportion the circumstances which are alleged to justify the increase, and also to endeavour to secure the removal of the surtax on produce landed in a French port from a ship which has called at any European port during the voyage to France.
55101
SIR,
No. 41. NYASALAND.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 276.)
(Received 9th November, 1917.}
Government House, Zomba,
Nyasaland, 17th September, 1917. I REGRET that so much delay has occurred in reporting on the questions raised in Mr. Bonar Law's Circular despatches of the 25th September* and 24th October, 1916.† These questions cover a large field of investigation, and it seemed to me desirable to obtain as wide an expression of opinion as possible from those directly interested and from responsible officers of the Government, who, by long service and experience, could appreciate, more particularly in regard to Nyasaland, the scope of the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies. I now enclose copies of reports and minutes by the Chamber of Agriculture and Com- merce, the Director of Agriculture, and the members of the Executive Council. I add thereto a memorandum prepared by the Custodian of Enemy Property on the legislation passed in the Protectorate since the outbreak of war, with reference to head A of the scheme agreed to at the Conference.
2. It is perhaps unnecessary for me to deal at any length with the questions of general policy adumbrated at the Conference. Nyasaland must necessarily come into line with the rest of the Empire in the application of such decisions as His Majesty's Government may come to on the deliberations now proceeding, and, in so far as present indications of those decisions go, the interests of the Protectorate seem to be adequately provided for. All enemy concerns in the Protectorate have been wound up and enemy trade has been displaced. If this position can be main- tained after conclusion of the War, there are no grounds for supposing that it will prove detrimental in any way to the development of the Protectorate.
3. The Director of Agriculture in his report deals at length with the prin- cipal products of Nyasaland which in present circumstances are remunerative, the fertility of the soil, cheapness of production, the capacity for expansion, and for the introduction of other cultivations, all of which may go to assist in establish- ing that interdependence of the various parts of the Empire which is required. The Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce ask for special rebates in respect of certain products, but I am disposed to the opinion that, if Nyasaland enjoys equal preference with the rest of the Empire in the markets of the Empire and those of foreign countries in commercial accord with the United Kingdom, and if Imperial assistance is rendered in opening up the internal communication of the Protec- torate with rapid and cheap connexion with an ocean port and thence by sea to its
† 45879: not printed.
* No. 1.