PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TLC.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHÉNOT TO
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
216
SEYCHELLES.
owing to the jealousy of the British, French-speaking, and Indian elements in I have advocated ever trade matters, has been accustomed to work separately. since my arrival the formation of a local Chamber of Commerce, but it takes grip very slowly, although I am hopeful this meeting may have done good in pointing out the necessity for such a body. With the approval of the meeting, I have cabled to the Natal Soap Works, informing them that we have about 300 tons of copra available for export, and oil of a lesser quantity, and have further explained the difficulty re obtaining a solid price, and have requested that firm to make an There offer c.i.f. at Durban. I trust this may result in business being opened. has been no reply from the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, but the Indian merchants (some of whom are among our more enlightened traders) seem quite confident a market for copra and oil can be found in Bombay, provided a regular call of steamers can be maintained. A shipment will go forward by the British India steamer expected here on the 3rd September, and a further and larger con- signment by the same line of steamers, which has notified the next call on the 17th of September.
13. I am, at the inspiration of Mrs. O'Brien, calling a meeting to-day to form a committee to collect subscriptions and arrange working parties for making useful articles for the sick and wounded of the British and French armies. I-am afraid the response in money must be small, as there is so little surplus, but there should be no lack of willing workers, and the occupation and interest should be good for all classes in making them see the necessity for some sacrifice of time and money for our allied armies who are fighting so heroically for us in the field. The realiza- tion of the struggle in which we are engaged is very difficult for the people here, whose look-out is confined to the small interests of island life in a Colony so little in touch with the outer world.
I have, &c.,
46222
(No. 155.) SIR,
No. 88.
C. R. M. O'BRIEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Governor.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 24th November, 1914.)
Government House, Seychelles, 30th October, 1914. In continuation of my despatch No. 121, of 31st August, and in order to bring the narrative regarding the situation since the outbreak of war up to date, I have the honour to report as follows:
-
2. I regret to say the efforts made to open a market for our export trade with South Africa bave had no success, owing to the merchants having refused the prices offered, preferring to keep their copra and coco-nut oil until higher prices could be obtained. The Messageries Maritimes steamers which arrived here on the 19th instant, however, took away 520 tons of copra consigned to Marseilles and London, and a considerable amount of oil. Some oil also was taken by the French boat to Madagascar on the same date. The total amount thus exported was not very far short of a full two months' supply under normal conditions. The arrival of three Messageries Maritimes steamers (two homeward and one outward) within twenty- four hours was most welcome after the long period since the regular calls from these vessels. I am told the price offered for copra in Europe is good, so, provided we can obtain regular calls from steamers homeward bound, our export trade should be reopened, and unemployment should decrease.
3. I cannot say the planters or exporters have shown much initiative; and, in spite of their crying out regarding their poverty, their resources must have been considerable to enable them to hold their stocks and to refuse the prices offered from Durban.
4. A considerable amount of vanilla also went home by the last boat, and I think that more is likely to go by this boat.
* No. 87,
217
SEYCHELLES.
5. Taxes, which under local conditions are not payable before the 31st October, have been coming in very slowly. I have been asked by a number of persons (some of whom are of standing) to allow the people more time in which to pay. I have pointed out I have no power under the law to extend the time, but I have given instructions to the police not to prosecute for non-payment until after the 30th Novem- ber in any cases but those where people are known to be in a position that they can pay with ease. It is true a large number of labourers are working for a small I fear some of the planters are making capital out of this wage and rations. system, and continuing to keep the men on the lower cash salary, when from the sale There is also a considerable of their produce they could pay them as before. number of people who seize the opportunity offered by the war to shirk or postpone shall be able to judge the payment of anything due from them, whose one economy for the war, in fact, is to attempt to evade payment of taxes to Government. better by next mail what the return in the way of taxes may be.
6. As already reported to you, the Bank of Mauritius has so far only drawn about Rs. 11,000 of the issue of Government notes, owing to their baving added to their cash credit considerably in consequence of the purchase of drafts on India and elsewhere by Indian merchants.
7. The planting of foodstuffs has been well taken in hand by proprietors, and By a considerable quantity should shortly be ready for the market. The example of the Government in planting has been quickly followed by other persons. next mail it should be possible to form some estimate of the amount of produce available. The difficulty will be to induce the people to persevere in planting.
8. The removal of all restrictions and licences as to fishing has been taken advantage of by a limited number of persons only; the occurrence of war is too great an occasion for the Seychellois to sit down and talk for work to be very popular.
9. So far it has not been necessary to touch the Government reserve of 200 tons of rice. Unfortunately for this Colony the British India steamer from Bombay which was due here on the 24th has been sent direct to Mombasa, and our cargo will be reshipped from there and should be here about the 9th November. The supply of stores is becoming low, and the maintenance of the connexion with India is of the utmost importance to this Colony.
10. I have reported in another despatch that the four German sailors have given their parole. They are quiet and well behaved. Only one has a trade. He has obtained casual work, and I should be glad to be able to find some work for the remainder to occupy their time.
11. The local branch of the Red Cross Society, under the chairmanship of Mrs. O'Brien, has done most excellent work. Up to date a sum of Rs. 6,437 has been collected in cash, and materials to the value of Rs.750 have been given, making a total of Rs. 7,187, a very respectable sum from so poor a Colony and at the present time. Many of the sums represent real self-denial on the part of the donors. The call for work for the sick and wounded fund from all classes, from the highest to the lowest, and regardless of colour, has been most commendable. Mrs. O'Brien, with her sub-committees, has cut up and given out a very large number of garments. The following have been sent to the headquarters of the Red Cross Society for equal division between the British and French Societies:-
Cash
Pillow cases Bandages
Shirts Pillows
£350
876
250
940
252
12. The whole community has displayed commendable quietness during the long period we were unvisited by any steamer, and notwithstanding the natural The interest of all excitement when the news of H.M.S." Pegasus" being shelled in Zanzibar harbour, so near our islands, was received, there has been no panic. classes in the war, and their ardent desire for the success of the British and French armies, is intense.
I have. &c..
C. R. M. O'BRIEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Governor.
⚫ 89984: not printed.