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minimum strength of 20 degrees Cartier was prescribed for retail sale. The result was seen in an increased consumption and Excise revenue as follows:-

1926-27 (Under old legislation) 1927-28 (Under new legislation)

Consumption.

Litres. 469,720

763,785

1928-29 (Under new legislation) 1929-30 (Under new legislation) 1930-31 (Under new legislation)

801,939

733,731 522,181

Revenue.

Rs. 1,291,807 2,100,492 2,223,078 2,020,212 1,445,812

The sudden fall in the figures for 1930-31, although partly the effect of trade depression and reduced wages, is officially regarded as being mainly due to the great extension of illicit distillation, which is now so rife in certain districts of the island that it has been described to us as the chief industry of those districts. Special measures, reinforced by new legislation (Ordinance 6 of 1931) are being taken to cope with this serious leakage of revenue, and it is estimated that the excise yield for the current financial year will produce Rs.2,250,000, any falling off from this figure being attribut- able to illicit distillation.

17. As indicated in our chapter on taxation the Mauritian Government appears to us to be pursuing a mistaken policy in relying upon the rum-drinking habit of the poorest classes of the population as one of its main sources of revenue. It is true that this habit is deeply rooted and of long standing. The present figures of consumption are no greater than those of twenty years ago, before the abnormal increase of the war period which gave rise to the drastic restrictive legislation of 1922. Unfortunately, however, this pre-war rate of consumption appears to have been regarded as a desirable standard to maintain, and when the rate fell much lower under the effect of the 1922 legislation it was forced back by deliberate Government action. The figures above quoted admit of no other conclusion. Not only has rum been made more readily accessible to the poor, but all alternatives have been placed beyond their reach. The protection afforded to the rum industry by the import duties on wines appears to have been designed to exclude the import of the cheaper wines which were consumed mainly by the Creole artisan and labourer of the towns, while still leaving wines of better quality available at prices within the means of the middle and richer classes. Both Creole and Indian labourers are now left with practically no choice except between rum and total abstinence. We consider that a change of Government policy is demanded in the interest of the social welfare and efficiency of the working classes of the Colony as well as for effecting & more equitable redistribution of taxation.

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Tea.

18. Tea cultivation has been carried on continuously for about forty years, but only on a very small scale. The total extent of land under cultivation has diminished from 310 acres to 195 acres during the past fifteen years, and much of what still remains is in a very neglected or only partly developed state. The plantations are owned and worked by three estates, each with its own factory. All the tea produced is placed upon the local market in which it enjoys a Customs tariff protection of 40 cents per kilogram, or 18.14 cents per lb. The total output of the three factories is about 28,000 lb. per annum, and with the assistance of the tariff no difficulty is experienced in disposing of the whole of this product at prices with which the imported article is unable to compete.

The question of developing the tea cultivation of the island on an extensive scale has been raised from time to time but on no occasion has any company or private individual possessing sufficient capital been willing to undertake the venture, and the industry has received little or no financial assistance from the Colonial Govern- ment. A small Government Experimental Tea Garden which was started about 1886 was leased ten years later to a private cultivator in whose hands it still remains. This somewhat indifferent attitude on the part of the Government is the more surprising when regard is had to the large sums of public money which have been granted or lent not only to the sugar industry but to other forms of private enterprise during the past ten years. It was, however, at the in- stance of the Government that an investigation was recently made into the existing conditions and possibilities of development of the tea industry of the Colony by Mr. C. Goolden, an officer of the Anglo-Ceylon Company. Mr. Goolden is an expert of recognized reputation, and his report, which was issued in January of this year, may have an important influence on the future history of the tea industry in Mauritius. In the light of his conclusions it would appear that the Colony has hitherto been neglecting one of the most On a rough calculation he esti- valuable of its natural resources. mates that there are 100,000 acres of land in the highland districts of the island suitable for tea growing, and he mentions that "it is a fortunate coincidence that the most unsuitable land for sugar cane from the point of view of the climate and elevation would appear to A large proportion of this land is be the most suitable for tea". owned by the Government and part of it is under forest plantation. According to Mr. Goolden" the growth and excellent appearance of these trees in all parts of the Highlands is such that there can be no doubt as to the success of tea planted under similar con- ditions". He then goes on to state :-

Apart from the forest land there are very large areas which are used for La Chasse, the main sport in Mauritius, and these are used solely for the preservation of deer, etc.

PUBLIC

RECORD

OFFICE

Reference -

111.C.O.882/12

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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