'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1908-1909' [‎80r] (21/132)

XV
X908-19 09 ']
STJMMAKY.
July and August in Gujarat, the Konkan and the West Deccan, and in some
parts excessive, especially in Gujarat. Although therefore the fall during J une
and September was generally below the normal, the average was commonly
equalled or even exceeded by the results of the whole monsoon period In Sind
the rainfall during July was abnormally heavy. The September rains were
irregular and failed in Sind and Upper Gujarat, while Lower Gujarat and the
Ivonkan received moderate amounts and the Deccan derived much benefit from
a normal rainfall, in which, however, parts of the Southern Maratha Country
did not share. From October onwards cold-weather conditions became rapidly
established and rain was almost entirely absent. ' ^
34 Although the season was fair except in the East Deccan and the Prices and
Karndtak, prices showed little response and remained far above the normal wase3 -
There were few fluctuations in tbe high rates of the preceding year, but a fur
ther advance was noticeable in the Karnatak and on the other hand a small but
general decline in Sind. There was a fall of 8 per cent, in the average price of
jowari in the Deccan and of bajri in Sind. Rice was generally cheaper, but
except in Sind the difference was very slight. With the exception of a purely
local cheapening of jdgri there was no other fall in prices during the year.
Both jowari and bajri rose by 14 per cent, in the Karnatak, where rice also showed
a small advance. Notwithstanding the better crops of the year, both wheat
and gram were everywhere dearer. Cotton presented a similar phenomenon.
Although there was an estimated increase of 3 8 per cent, in the outturn of cotton
the price in no case fell and was higher by 12 per cent in the case of the princi
pally grown Khandesh variety. The shortage of 42 per cent, in the previous
year’s crop no doubt contributed to this rise; and a similar depletion of stocks
appears to have been largely responsible for the continued high prices of food-
grains. The effect of the latter was apparent during the year in the dearness of
labour, with the added cause of a demand exceeding the supply. The high
wages which labour could command in the ever-increasing number of mills,
mines and factories, in the various Government and private works in progress,
and in Bombay City itself, not only rendered the employees more independent,
but accentuated the scarcity of agricultural labour which is reported to be
becoming a serious feature in some districts. In Abmedabad, where such causes
are most in evidence, there seems to be a danger that tbe dearth of workers may
prevent a proportional expansion of cultivation in the event of a favourable
season. In Surat it appears that tbe labouring classes, under the influence of
restricted tenure, tagavi and other aids to independence, are themselves turning
to cultivation with the inevitable effect upon wages. In Sind, where the labour
problem is chronic, canal-clearing operations could scarcely be carried on even
although the wages offered were often double those prevailing 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.
Proper.
85. There was no important alteration in the area of Reserved Porests. Forests.
In the Southern Circle, however, 14 square miles were disforested and for the
most part reconstituted as Protected Eorest. In Sind 22 square miles were
gained by alluvion while 17 square miles were lost by erosion. There
was an increase of nearly 10 per cent, in the total area of forest damaged
by fires, for which the Central Circle was mainly responsible, while Sind and
the Northern Circle each showed a marked improvement in this respect.
^he year, however, was particularly unfavourable to fire protection on account
°f the early cessation of rain and its absence during the hot weather. The
total number of prosecutions for forest offences was less by 11 per cent, than in
fhe .previous year, hut the reduction was confined to the Northern Circle.