'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908' [‎63r] (124/137)

EXCISE.
85
Chap. V,
ija 18,909. The outturn of toddy spirit exceeded that of the previous year by 11.436 ppngQ„ nf i
4 643 gallons m Bombay, Ratudgm and Kdnara respeetively. The excess iUue to
increased demand The number of s hop 8 licensed for the sale of country spirits at the beginning
If the year was 2,512, two less than last year. At the end of the year 59 shops were closed
The total sales of country spirit were greater by 61,328 proof gallons than those of 1906-1907
and by 408,092 proof gallons than the average sales for the preceding five years. There were
noticeable increases in Bombay TMna Ndsik, Panch Mahals, Ratndgiri, Poona, Broach,
Dh^rw^r and. Ah.ined.abad, and noticeable decreases in Khandesh and Surat. The rate of
consumption perhead of population varied from 35-4 drams of proof spirit in Bombav to 0-9
jyanis in Bij4pur, The average rate was 8*1 drams compared with an average for the
pre yious five years of 6*9.
3 . The revenue from toddy amounted to Rs. 18,28,461, an increase of Rs 1 06 228
Receipts from the tree ta,x increased from Rs. 10,40,975 to Rs. 10,99,822 and receipts from
license fees for sale of toddy from Rs. 3,69,680 to Rs. 7,26,060. The latter increase was
principally due to keener competition. The total number of trees tapped was 2,92,478 against
271,611; of these, 2,60,383 were tapped for raw toddy only. The total sales of toddy shew an
increase of 371,815 gallons, to which Bijapur, Th£na, Belgaum, Surat, Sholapur and Dharwar
chiefly contribute. The reason is the same as in the case of country spirit, viz., the number
of marriage^.
4 . The revenue from malt liquor increased from Rs. 13,363 to Rs. 15,190, partly owing to
the enhancement of duty. License fees for shops totalled Rs. 1,29,797 against Rs. 1,96,903.
but the latter figure included many advance payments, so that the decrease is only apparent!
Imports of fermented liquors decreased by 174,248 gallons, but were still equal to the average
of the past decade. Imports of potable spirits increased by 27,138 gallons. The number of
licenses for the sale of imported foreign liquors was 391 against 395 in the previous year.
5. Owing to excessive stocks in hand the number of villages in which hemp was grown
for gcmjct' decreased from 34 to 21 and the area under cultivation from 723 to 360 acres. The
outturn was 2,183 maunds against 5,924. The warehoused stock of gdnja, bhang and charas
amounted to 2,922, 145 and 88 maunds respectively and the issues for sale in the 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. to
1,143, 138 and 88 maunds. Revenue increasel from Rs. 4,44,014 to Rs. 5,33,588, made up
of Rs. 3,64,590 duty and Rs. 1,68,998 license fees. The number of shops licensed for the sale
of intoxicating drugs was 593 against 587, and the total sales were 56,144 seers against 51,796.
6 . The total purchases for home consumption amounted to 1,234r chests compared
with 1,150^ last year and the total amount of duty realized was Rs. 7,90,300 against
Rs. 7,48,300. Issues from Government depots increased from 42,313 lbs. to 45,218 lbs.
The total realizations on issues amounted to Rs. 5,41,134, a decrease of Rs. 28,846, but
the net profit to Government rose from Rs. 32,459 to Rs. 35,813. The total licit sales of
opium increased by 8,253 to 82,807 lbs., the larger consumption being due to the marriage
season and the decrease in price. The revenue from license fees for retail vend rose from
Rs. 1,19,132 to Rs. 1,23,682 and the number of shops from 811 to 820. The number of
licenses granted to medical practitioners decreased by 276 to 534. The quantity of opium supplied
to Native States was 68,672 lbs. against 59,125 lbs., 14,359 lbs. being dutyfree. The consump
tion in Baroda further increased from 24,594 lbs. to 27,625 lbs. The total excise opium receipts
amounted to Rs. 8,63,923 compared with Rs. 7,87,959 last year.
7. The total realizations under all heads amounted to Rs. 1,45,32,206, shewing an
increase of Rs. 14,38,316 over the figure of the previous year and of Rs. 26,34,903 over the
average for the preceding three years. Expenditure, exclusive of refunds and drawbacks,
aggregated Rs. 6,81,721 against Rs. 5,40,150 last year, the increase being due to the
re-organization of the Department.
8 . The total number of cases detected was 1,713 against 1,970 in the previous year, and
the percentage of convictions 90’8 compared with 91'9. Of the detected cases 1,226 related to
liquor and the other 487 to hemp drugs. Marked decreases under the first head in Nasik and
Khdndesh are said to be due to the organized collection of mhowra by the distilling contractors,
to the lateness of the mhowra season, and also, in East KMudesh, to the opening of new shops.
The increase of 81 eases detected in Kaira may be put down as the first fruits of the re-organiza-
tion. The number of opium cases brought to trial was 134 in British districts and 38 in
Native States. The largest quantity of opium seized on any occasion did not exceed 21 lbs.
Sind.
"\
1* The important changes during the year were the appointment of jan Assistant Com-
inissioner of Salt, Excise and Opium in Sind towards the close of the year, and enhancement of 1 2
(1) on charas from Rs. 6 to Rs. 8 per seer;
(2) on Ale, Beer and Porter from one anna to two annas per gallon.
The issue rate of opium was reduced from Rs. 13-8-0 to Rs. 12-8-0 per pound. Here
tJ £ S -? . n °f e d the prohibition against the importation of novocaine by post and the restnc-
0 1 s importation to chemists and druo'adsts, and specially authorized forwarding agents.
b 999-22 &
FINATVCIA.L
liEVIEW.
Toddy.
Foreign liquora and
Indian manufactu red
liquors excised at
tariff rates.
Intoxicating drugs
other than opium.
Opium.
Financial results.
Offences against
Abk&ri Laws.
Changes.