13
BARBADOS.
head 1 (b), item
Miscellaneous at the disposal of the Governor for the service of the Colony," and that the Legislative Council be invited to concur herein, and if concurred in :-
Resolved that His Excellency the Governor be requested to assent to the same and to take the necessary steps to give effect to this resolution.
F. J. CLARKI,
Speaker. Concurred in by the Legislative Council the 17th of November, 1914.
W. K. CHANDLER,
I assent.
President.
L. PROBYN,
Governor.
18th November, 1914.
Enclosure 20 in No. 5.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS.
Imported Cost.
Article.
Prior to War.
At 31st December.
Remarks.
Has been higher owing to local scarcity; W&S $8·25 to $8·50; retail price now (9th January) $2.50 to $2-60,
American market advancing.
$1
Almost unobtainable, as they came from Russia
prior to war.
See remark above.
American market has been higher.
Fee above remark.
$
Corn meal, bag of 98 lbs.
2.85
2.85
Flour, common, bag
2.50
8.25
extra, bag
2.75
8-76
11
21
baker's, bag
8-00
4:00
"
Rice, bag of 180 lbs. ...
5-40
5-80-6-10
12
Round or Canada peas, 120 lbs.
4.25
6-00
Split peas, bag 210 lbs.
6.00
10.00
Beef, salt, 200 lbs.
19-00
28.00
Pork, salt, 200 lbs.
20-50
22-00
Salt fish, 448 lbs.
85.00
24-00
Pickled fish, 200 lbs. ..
4-00
4:00
Oleomargarine, 100 lbs.
10-00
11-00
Lard compound, 100 lbs.
10-50
10-50
Cotton seed oil, gallon
0-68 0-84
Balt, 190 lb.
1-68
1.20
Olá, 160 lbs.
2:80
8-96
Corn, 112 lbs.
2-80
2'40
Pollard, 80 lbs.
1.20
1.55
Oilmeal, 125 lbs.
2.60
8.15
Condensed milk, per case of 4 dozen
6.10
6.20
Kerosine oll, per case of 10 gallons...
2-24
2.80
Recently reduced by shippers. Will now cost
$5.18 owing to Canadian competition. War risk and increased freight.
This $24, the price of spoiling fish sold lower. Higher prices now being asked (11th January, 1915).
Market lower.
War risk and higher freights.
Importation of oats, corn, and pollard from the
Argentine virtually stopped by the war.
American market higher.
Enclosure 21 in No. 5.
CAVE, SHEPHERD & COMPANY, COMMISSION AND General MERCHANTS, to THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
The Ideal Store, Barbados, West Indies,
22nd January, 1915.
SIR,
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication No. 72, dated 15th instant, informing us that, in order to ascertain the effect of the first five months of war on the general economic condition of the Colony, His Excellency the Governor would be glad if we would be good enough to inform him as to the effect of the war, up to 31st December, on imported clothing, clothing material, and dry goods generally, such as are supplied to the poorer classes of the island. In reply we have much pleasure in furnishing you with the following information:—
1st. Owing to increased charges, such as freight rates, war risk insurance, extra cost of lumber for packing cases, increased cost of remitting, bank rate in England for discounting bills, and other incidental expenses, the cost of stocking the goods referred to during the period stated, as compared with the correspond- ing months in the previous year, shows an average increase all round of close on
per cent.
5
2nd. The principal items which have increased in the cost of production during the period are woollen goods, which includes flannels, and leather goods, which includes boots and shoes, belts, bags, etc. The advance averages between 10 to 12 per cent.
3rd. The cost in production of cotton goods, which includes such items as prints, calicoes, etc., has not increased; on the contrary, values have been easier. Better class fabrics have also not increased, but have been firm at prices previous to the war.
4th. No inconvenience worthy of mention has been experienced during the five months in cheap lines of hosiery and haberdashery which previously came from Germany and Austria. Ribbons and laces have been somewhat higher, and the lines most suitable to this market are not easily replaced at old values.
5th. It would appear from our records that the purchasing power of the people had considerably reduced during the period under review, as compared to the five corresponding months in either of the four previous years, viz., 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913, but it would be difficult to estimate correctly just what the drought, and the substan- portion of this reduction is attributable to the war,
tial shrinkage in remittances from abroad. We may, however, mention that August to December, 1914, nearest resembles the corresponding months of the year 1912.
We trust that the above information, such as it is, will be of use to His Excellency.
We remain, &c.,
Major the Hon. J. A. Burdon, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, Barbados.
CAVE, SHEPHERD & COMPANY,
The war has caused an advance of 25 per cent. on freights, and war risk insurance has also been incurred, thereby causing a general advance in the cost of all imported goods. The following have been considerably advanced in coun- tries of origin, viz., flour, beef, oats, pollard, oil meal, round and split peas, these last coming, as they have been, mostly from Russia. The American market for flour and meal is excited and higher.
33217
BERMUDA.
No. 6.
THE GOVERNOR to the SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1st September, 1914.)
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Government House, Bermuda, 18th August, 1914.
I HAVE the honour to report that all matters are proceeding well in these islands. As you are aware, I was personally absent on leave during the period of strained relations and when the actual declaration of war took place. I returned to
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
CO. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO