'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905' [‎123r] (21/116)

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1904-1905,] .. . . _ SUMMARY. XV
lias varied from 2 to 8 annas. It is difficult to explain wliy this should be so,
but the apathy of the people of Bombay, and difficult communications in the
Deccan, are probably the real explanation of the continuance of high prices in
these places. The chief departmental events of the year which are of general
interest were the abolition of the monopoly for the sale of Baragra salt and the
admission of private traders, and the selection of a site for a new set of salt
works near Bombay. Increased consumption following on reduction of duty
caused an increase of more than 11 Mkhs of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. in salt revenue.
Production was good and the balance at the close of the year had in- gind,
creased by almost 50,000 maunds. A fall of nearly 3 annas per maund in
the selling price caused an increase of almost 1 pound per head in the average
consumption. Owing to the increased consumption the revenue increased by
some Bs. 67,000.
At Aden there was a fall of nearly 8,000 mannds in the quantity of salt Aden,
produced, and a corresponding fall of Bs. 1,500 in the revenue. Exports from
Shaikh Othman fell by I7,000 tons owing to the disorganisation caused by plague.
56. The Abkari returns for the year clearly indicate that the people were Excise:
much better able to indulge their taste for such luxuries as toddy and country Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. #
spirit even if they were unwilling to pay the higher price demanded for opium.
Beceipts from still-head duty inereased by almost 9 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and the
consumption of country spirit by 376,003 gallons, while the increase compared
with the average of the previous five years was nearly double that quantity.
There was a considerable increase in the number of trees tapped and taxed and
in the number of license fees for the sale of toddy; the total revenue showing
an improvement of about one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . Bum distilled in Poona could not compete
with the lowered price of country spirit and the issues of rum which exceeded
10,000 gallons last year practically vanished entirely. The revenue derived from
the sale of intoxicating drugs increased by nearly 2§ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , the increase
in duty on char as from Bs. 2 to Bs. 6 per seer more than making up for the
resulting drop in the quantity sold. On the whole, excise receipts exceeded
those of the previous year by 17-J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , a clear indication of reviving prosperity.
A satisfactory feature of the Abkari Administration during the year was the
large decrease in the number of cases of illicit distillation and other offences
relating to liquor.
In Sind, an increase in Abkari revenue was for the most part due to
an increased consumption of country liquor, although opium and intoxicating
drugs contributed to a lesser degree. There was an increase of over 200,000
gallons in the quantity of foreign liquor imported, chiefly destined, however, for
Upper India.
The Abkari receipts at Aden fell slightly as might be expected in a year Aden,
of dull trade.
57. Although the number of cotton mills remained the same, they were Cotton Duties,
much more active, and the issues of cloth improved by more than 16 per cent.
The most marked increase was in the case of grey goods, and this fact taken in
conjunction with the continually diminishing imports from England of “ greys 55
shows clearly the extent to which the native product is ousting the imported
one. The amount of duty collected improved by more than 2f lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. *
58. The gross revenue from all sources improved by over Bs. 2J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , Stamps,
increased receipts being obtained under practically every head. The increase
in stamp revenue is one amongst many indications of reviving prosperity and
brisker trade.