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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

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C.O. 882/10

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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efficiently handle their properties than their creditors would. I therefore makề” the following proposals in broad outline, and suggest that the details be more carefully worked out later, in which later work I shall give all the help of which I am capable,

58. I recommend that the Government guarantee a loan at 6 %, either from the Hauritius interesta or from the Home Government, and utilise the money for two purposes (a) advances to planters for agricultural development (b) providing the foundations of an ordinary bank. The exact mount necessary for the two enterprises, can be fixed after further consideration of circumstances.

i

-69. Thẹ loans to planters shall be of two kinds, namely advances for defined agricultural work on unencumbered properties, and loans for the payment of debts on properties on the security of the land so relieved. These loans I think could be made at an interest of about 8 %. Provision for a bank shall be made by setting aside a portion of the Goverment loan with which the following business will be transacted (1) discounting bills (2) advancing on accepted produce awaiting shipment (3) short-tem loans for ordinary agricultural work on plantations (4) opening deposit accounts. 60. Ho planters' loan shall be made without the authority of the Executive Council, and the Council shall be guided by the advice of the officer in charge of the loan and that of the head of the Department of Agriculture. In general, those loans made for development of a property should be in instalments, and in many cases might probably be in kind: example a system of manuring might be recommanded by the Department of Agriculture, and the manure supplied by the Government, for so many acres at a time.

61.

for

A matter like a planters' loan could be handled by some existing Goverment Department, with of course provision for extra clerical work &o. I am not of opinion however that such an arrangement would be elastic enough for carrying on ordinary banking business. In addition it does not appear reasonable to suppose that the Government would or could enter into banking as a permanent business, and it seems to me that pemanency is exactly what is needed after the planters' leen has ceased to exist.

62. The plan which seems to me most feasible is that somL O existing bank with interests in the east be asked to second

a man to Seychelles to take charge of the loan and the bank, this officer to be paid from the loan profits and to advise the Government while carrying on ordinary banking business with the portion of the loan set aside for that purpose. At the end of five years the officer would be in a position to decide whether his bank could establish a branch here, and if so to what dimensions the business could be expanded. I am under the impression that with growing production the Colony will in a few years be in a position to support a mall but profitable branch bank. The cost of such a man would hardly be more than 2500 or 2600 per annum, but on this point information would have to be obtained from some existing institution.

Conclusion.

63. I have been forced to go considerably beyond the bounds of an ordinary agricultural report in dealing with

There can be little doubt,

local agricultural matters. however, that the depression both in agriculture and in trade which undoubtedly exists in the Colony at the present moment is not due to any agricultural factor. It is purely a question of education or instruction in the first instance and of finance in the second place. Agricultural production depends upon these two, and in a small colony like Seychelles, remote from larger centres from which inspiration, knowledge and money are obtainable, it seems to me that the Government must of necessity assume a more paternal attitude and wider responsibilities than are usually found necessary or advisable.

G. AUCHINLECK.

Divisional Agricultural Officer, Southern:

Ceylon. (seconded to report on agriculture in

February 8th., 1922.

Seychelles).

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22.

APPENDIX V.

Draft Estimate of Annual Expenditure

on the

Department of Agriculture.

A.

PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.

1st. Year.

Annual Increments,

Messenger

Director of Agriculture Chief Agriculture Officer

Clerical.

Statistician and Clerk

01erical Assistant

Agriculture.

Agricultural Instructor, Hané.

Agricultural Instructor, Out-islands

Overseer, Hermitage Experiment

Rs. 7500

3000

Rs. 7500 RB.

3600

<--

150

1200

1500

480

600

180

180

་

600

1000

100

600

1000

100

19: 88

40

Station

600

1000

100

Vorests.

Foreste Ranger, Mahé

600

750

50

Gardens.

Foreman, Ornamental gardens

600

750

50

15,360

17,880

Travelling.

B. OTHER RECURRENT CHARGES,

Forage Allowance, Director Forage Allowance, Chief Agr.Officer Travelling Allowances, agricultural

and forestry staff

Agriculture.

Rs.

300

300

900

Upkeep Hermitage Experiment Station Upkeep imported Livestock

3,000

1,000

Instructors' Demonstration Plots Agricultural Experiments on Estates

500

600

Instruction.

Subsidies to Bohool Gardens

700

Prises Pupils' Gardens

150

Prizes for Crop Competitions

250

Subsidies to Village Agricultural Shows

150

Head Office.

Rent Town Office

600

Upkeep of Library

300

Uniforms

150

Incidentals

150

Tools and Implements

500

Forests.

Maintenance of Crown Lands

600

Reafforestation Experimen to

1,000

Gardena.

Labour, Botanic Gardens

1,200

Labour, Esplanade, Gordon Square

and Court House

600

12,950

23.