CO882-10 — Page 404

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882/10

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON!

been gradually rising during the past 24 years, but the production of wealth, which in this case is almost entirely from agricultural sources, does not appear to be increasing proportionately. The averages of the figures above work out at Rs.63 for exports, Rs.45 for imports, and Rs.19 for cost of Government per head of the population per annum, all of which figures appear to me to be very low. There can be very little doubt that what is needed is increased work and production on the part of the people.

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23. From time to time proposals have been put forward för the development of new agricultural industries. Many of these atrike me as being fanciful, and I narrow the list to the following possibilities: livestock, sisal, coir, cacao and cotton. I do not wish to insinuate that trials should not be made with other crops, but that these, together with the existing industries and extension of production of food-crops, appear to me to afford chances of success and are likely to absorb as much energy as the planters and the Department of Agriculture are likely to be able to put forward,

24. Development of the livestock industry I regard as absolutely necessary, both from the point of view of production of pen manure for plantations, and for the export market to Mauritius. Cotton is not likely to be even moderately successful in any islands other than the dry islands not yet planted in coconuts, in other words Aldabra and Astove, and for the present will probably have to rely on private enterprise for their development. Sisal and ita relative, Mauritius hạp, will grow anywhere, and should be tried as an inter-orop with cinnamon: the small 'grattes' used for this fibre in Mauritius can be easily made locally, and are efficient. Cacao does well in Mahe, in spite of the fact that it seems never to have been systematically cultivated, and experiments should be made with this crop by the Department of Agriculture.

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25. A separate report is being prepared on the subject of developing a ecir industry. Plans were put forward last year

for a combined factory for producing electric light for Victoria and coir-fibre for export. Even at the cost of losing a possible coir industry, I should not regret the failure of the electric-lighting soheme, as it would seem sounder policy to adequately provide for necessities before indulging in luxurien. Were it possible to centralise the whole of the coir supply of the Colony, I estimate that the total output would not exceed 1700 tons per annum, and the

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limits of centralisation appear to me somewhat narrow, to the bulky nature of coir, and its low market-price. In addition, the loss to the fields would have to be made good, and manuring is not at present a strong feature of local planting. 26. The question of satisfactorily financing agricultural operations in the Colony is one which will have to be taken in hand early, if any improvement in methods and production are desired. The position at present is that there is no bank in the Colony, and that planters are put to an incredible amount of trouble and expense in order to obtain the smallest degree of facility in their ordinary operations. Loans for development or for purchase of plantations, advances for purchase of manures and tools, advances on accepted produce, and the discounting of bills sent out in payment for exports all pass through the hands of a few merchants in Victoria, and every form of business is consequently impeded, and the planter charged with exorbitant rates of interest.

27. The problem of financing agriculture is not a simple one. Three distinct lines of work appear to be needed; firstly, the provision of some fund for loans to planters for develop- ment of their plantations; secondly, the provision of ordinary banking facilities, and thirdly, the encouragement of coopera- tive credit societies for the small san. Credit societies should have been started years ago by the Department of Agri- culture, as they have been in other Colonies, and can from now onwards be slowly and soundly developed by the Government, in view of the fact that the general outlines institutions have to be conducted are well understood and

upon which these

appreciated in other countries, I should add that the belief, which is universal in the Colony, that individuals here will not cooperate in any matter, appears to me an added reason for encouraging these institutions rather than a deterrent.

but

28. An application from certain planters for some form of Government Development Loan has already been submitted to the Government, and I shall deal with this matter in a separate report. I am aware that the scheme is receiving its strongest support from thom individuals who are most heavily in debt, it should be kept in mind that part of these debts has been die in the past to the absence of reasonable arrangements for financing. I should regard a Goverment loan of this sort, if accompanied by reasonable guarantees that the money provided is used for the purposes stated, as a good investment from the point of view both of the Government and the Colony as a whole, and I see me possibility of future development without such loan.

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