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C.O.882/12

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE (COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-|

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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aware of the possibility that he may find it necessary to do so, particularly as the financial position of the Colony had, as Their Lordships are aware, already been causing anxiety, as a result of the depression of the sugar industry.

A further communication will be addressed to you as soon as it is possible to say whether any assistance appears to be necessary and, if so, what should be its form.

:

C. 84556/31 [No. 13].

+4

I am, etc.,

WALTER D. ELLIS.

No. 6. Telegram from the Governor of Mauritius to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(Received 6.30 a.m., 23rd March, 1931.)

[Answered by No. 32.]

Immediate. 23rd March. No. 31. Preliminary survey of hurri- cane damage is as follows. Damage to roads, Rupees 250,000; five larger bridges, Rupees 285,000; Hospital, Rupees 127,000; other Government buildings, Rupees 287,000; Harbour, Rupees 100,000; miscellaneous, Rupees 50,000; approximate total, Rupees 1,100,000. Estimate is, of course, tentative and subject to revision on detailed survey.

2. I have received from the Chamber of Agriculture following provisional estimate of damage to estates and crops based on reports from about 200 estates. Damage to buildings and plant and stock over Rupees 1,550,000 of which large portion estimated at Rupees 600,000 is for replacements and repairs to labourers' and employees' dwellings. Total includes damage to bridges, drains, tramways, etc. Practically none covered by insurance which is not practicable in case of much of property damaged and apparently only customary to cover sugar in store. Damage to machinery negligible.

3. Chamber states that loss of 30 per cent. on estimated crop of 250,000 tons of sugar equal to 75,000 tons is

14 more than probable."

They point out that at last year's low price this represents Rupees 9,000,000 deducting expenses saved on manufactured esti- mate of net loss to planters Rupees 7,500,000. With addition of damage in paragraph 2 total loss estimated at Rupees 9,050,000.

4. They represent that in normal times loss even of this extent could well have been supported by ordinary methods of finance. but coming a climax of several years of acute_depression all

reserves are exhausted and they earnestly urge that some assurance of special assistance to at least above extent is essential to enable industry to carry on. They submit that early assurance that some such special measure of assistance will be considered is of urgent importance to relieve tension and secure advances for continuance of operations. These are normally settled in April.

5. Chamber also point out that aloe leaves for this year's cut have been almost totally destroyed and urge small measure of assistance to the extent of Rupees 150,000 for this industry.

6. Damage above does not include about 11,000 labourers' dwell- ings reported destroyed and considerable damage to other dwellings and buildings. Main portion of Port Louis not seriously damaged but one area of small houses almost entirely demolished. Labourers' dwellings are in general being rebuilt by occupants with the help of fallen timber from Government and private forests. Emergency relief measures for feeding hurricane sufferers have now ceased Stock foods [? Stocks of food] avail- except in few special cases. able are adequate. There remains considerable body of distress which is being dealt with by private benevolence and poor law.

C. 84556/81 [No. 14].

No. 7.

Telegram from the Governor of Mauritius to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(Received 7.29 a.m., 23rd March, 1931.)

[Answered by No. 32.]

Immediate. 23rd March. No. 32. Confidential. My telegram No. 31. Estimate of damage to buildings and plant submitted by the Chamber of Agriculture cannot be verified without prolonged enquiry, but on general appearances seems by no means excessive. Crop damage of course cannot be assessed with precision at this stage but crop was very heavy and forward and damage pro- portionately severe. Estimate submitted compares loss with antici- pated exceptional crop, but even if measured against average of last five years, which is approximately 232,000 tons (excluding 1926 crop damaged by hurricane), loss is likely to be heavy. Hurricane has been succeeded by dry cool weather unfavourable to of crop. April is critical month as advances are then recovery usually fixed, and prospective loss has greatly alarmed Banks and other lenders who had been hitherto encouraged by very favour- I have been furnished information as to able crop prospect.

• No. 6.

PLI

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