212
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The world shortage of sugar during the war has restricted the world's consumption of cocoa, and this fact, allied with shortage of shipping, prevented the Colony shipping the whole of its available supplies of cocoa. This has brought about a serious situation, because at present cocoa cannot be stored for long periods without deterioration. Research, however, has shown that well-prepared cocoa can be stored for a year or more, and no doubt further research will com- pletely solve the problem of storage. This illustrates the fundamental importance of adequate expenditure upon suitable research.
The cocoa crop, which, 20 years ago, was negligible, now has an annual value exceeding the whole capital expenditure on railways.
Mechanical road transport is rapidly developing, and the fact that 1,000 natives enlisted during the war for service as motor drivers in East Africa is evidence that the native is well suited for the operation of such road transport,
It may well be a matter for consideration whether such capital as may be available should not be used more for improving roads than extending railways.
The increase in gold production indicates the important field which exists for the investment of private capital.
The relative stagnation in the development of oil-producing crops appears to be due to the preference of the native to devote attention to cocoa. Apparently there is endless scope if the necessary stimulus can be afforded to the native.
Further Note on Cocoa.
It is a matter of importance to note that the production of cocoa on the Gold Coast does not appear to have been indigenous, but was introduced there 30 or 40 years ago.
33
Thirteen years ago Nigeria exported no tin, while to-day it is one of the most important sources of supply in the whole world.
The influence of the use of capital for transport development is well illustrated by the railway extensions in the Northern Province opened in 1911. Before the railway was opened the exports of ground nuts, hides and skins, and shes products were only £83,000, by 1917 they had grown to £1,637,000.
RHODESIA.
-Population (1911), 1,594,000, Ares, 439,675 square miles.
Public Revenue
Public Expenditure
Imports (excluding bullion and specie)
Exporta (ditto)
1901.
£451,000
£807,000 £1,443,000
1906. (Earlier figures
not available.)
£332,000
1913. £919,000 £950,000
£3,195,000
£369,000
The principal export is gold, while silver, coal and chrome iron are also produced. The following are production figures:-
NIGERIA.
Population (1911), 17,127,000. Area, 336,080 square miles.
Public Revenue
Public Expenditure
Loan Expenditure, 1901-1913
Public Debt
Shipping entered and cleared. Not tonnage
1901.
£675,000
1913. £3,326,000
£865,000
£2,917,000
£4,965,000
£1,066 000
£8,268,000
1906. 1,375,000
•
1,738,000
£6,323,000
£7,098,000
Imports (excluding bullion and specie)
Exports (excluding bullion and specie)
£2,847,000 £2,295,000
PRINCIPAL EXPORTS.
Cocoa
Raw Cotton
Palm Kernels
Palm Oil
£27,000 £42,000 £1,194,000
£1,002,000
£157,000 £159,000 £3,110,000 £1,854,000
Rubber
Palm Kernel Oil
Shea Butter and Nuts
Tin
Mahogany
Railway Mileage
Telegraph Mileage
Telephone Mileage
Nil. £307,000 £19,000
Nil. £69,000
£129,000
£90,000 £74,000 £568,000 £105,000
COMMUNICATIONS.
•
124
443 20
912
4,393
820
1901
1909
1906
1913
1916
Value of Gold,
Bilver.
Coal.
Chrome Iron.
£
Ounces.
Tons.
Tons
610,000
3,000
828,000
-21,000
47,000
1,985,000
111,000
104,000
4,000
2,903,000
142,000
243,000
69,000
3,895,000
201,000
492,000
89,000
Other minerals are being developed. In 1917, 3,911 tons of copper were produced. Diamonds were discovered in 1905.
Tin has also been discovered, but has not yet been worked. Asbestos is obtained and the output in 1917 was 9,562 tons. Tungsten ore is mined and exported.
COMMUNICATIONS.
Railway Mileage
Telegraph Mileage
Telephone Mileage
1901.
962
1,771
463
1913.
2,412*
4,600+
168+
Rhodesia is in a peculiar position, because it is administered by a Chartered Company, viz., the British South Africa Company, whose paid up capital, including debentures, is about £11,280,000. Owing to premiums on shares and other factors, its capital in the economic sense is about £16,000,000.
There are a large number of companies and syndicates operating the mines and railways. Agricultural development is rapid and includes cattle-raising, pig-breeding, and the cultivation of maize, tobacco, citrons, fruit.
Rhodesia's already notable development, which is really only a beginning, is the result of the bald policy of railway construction, without which the mineral development already realised could not have taken place.
Comparative trade statistics for Nigeria cannot be given for an earlier year than 1906, because prior to that year the figures for the Colony and the Protectorate were shown separately, and owing to trade between the two areas, any addition of the totals given rise to errors of duplication.
There is an apparent discrepancy between the amount of loan expenditure and the growth of public debt. This no doubt arises from financial adjustments arising out of the amalgama. mation of the different areas into the one Colony now known as Nigeria.
The noteworthy developments in the export trade of Nigeria are those relating to Cocon, Cotton, Tin, Vegetable Oils and Oil producing Nuts.
The Cocoa trade started practically at the beginning of the century, but by 1915 Nigeria ranked third amongst British Colonies as a Cocoa producer.
The export of Cotton started about the same time, but though small relative to the U.S.A., Egypt and India, it already shows possibilities of becoming a really important source of supply Nigeria has long been an important source of vegetable oils, but the developments of recent years are so enormous that its importance has become a matter of world interest.
NYASALAND.
Population (1911), 970,000. Area, 39,315 square miles.
1901.
1913.
£54,000
£125,000
£107,000
£133,000
£50,000
Nil
£50,000
£134,000
£318,000
£37,000
£195,000
Public Revenue (excluding Imperial Grants) Public Expenditure
Loan Expenditure, 1901-1913
Public Debt
Imports (excluding bullion and specie) Exporte
• Including about 710 miles running into Cape of Good Hope, Rechuanaland, and Portuguese East Africa.
+ Estimated figures as statistics for 1911, s. seq., are mileage of wire, not of line. Part of the mileage is in the other territories.
Decrease due to exolasion of Police lines in statistics in 1908, et seg.
96790
0
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
885/26
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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