'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1908-1909' [‎81r] (23/132)

SUMMARY.
1908
1.1909.]
xvii
Of the total maritime trade of 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 that of H, Q t,- .
Bombay Port, Bombay, represented 95 per cent. The value of the priva e trad BOmW '
amounting to 133 crores, showed a reduction of 18 crores or 12 percent More
tba n three-quarters of this total was formed by the private foreign trade of the port
in which there was a fall of 13 per cent, during the year. Excluding Ta—’
tlie recorded value of imports fell by crores or 9f per cent., but ou’in, toZl
lower average prices the figures imply a decrease of only 7f percent, in volume
0n the other hand, the decline of 6f erores in exports represents a fall of q
per cent, both m vaue and quantity. The principal class of imports, Articles
Manufactured and Partly Mann actured, suffered most from the causes which
ha ve already been noticed. While Glassware, Woollen goods and Apparel fell
by 24, 20 and 19 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees respectively, the outstanding feature was the reduction
0 f crores in the sub-head Cotton Piece-goods, due to diminution in demand and
to the accumulation of stocks during the preceding three years. The -roun of
Metals and Manufactures of Metals, which stands second in importance, advanced
by half a crore Equivalent to ten million, or one hundred lakhs. Used especially in connection with money (rupees). to the h he st figure of the ^ ^ ^
in Metals and of 69 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees m Railway Materials. The United Kingdom continues
to supply aMost the whole of the imports of Railway Materials and Machinery
but under Metals the displacement of iron manufactures by steel has giveu the pre
ponderance to Belgium. Under Articles of Pood and Drink the season caused an
increase of 5 a hs under Grain and Pulse, and a marked reduction in purchases
of all articles of luxury. The depression of trade was exemplified in a decrease of
18 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees m imports of flaw Cotton, notwithstanding the shortness of the Indian
crop and the easier prices of American cotton. An advance of hO lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in
Coal was confined to imports from Australia and Natal, but Great Britain
still supplied 56 per cent, of the whole. Among other imports, there was a
further decline of 33 per cent, in the number of horses. Re-exports of Porei-n
Merchandise, forming 5 per cent, of the foreign export trade of tho port
exhibited a decrease of 21 per cent. In exports of Indian Produce the net
reduction of 6 crores principally reflected a drop of 6f crores under the group
Eaw Materials which forms the bulk of the export trade. Raw Cotton and
Seeds, falling by 4 and 2£ crores respectively, were chiefly responsible for the
ecline. The cause was mainly seasonal, and further resulted in a fall of
45 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees m exports of Grain and Pulse, under which exports of Wheat reached
only one-tenth of the preceding year’s amount. On the other hand, Yarn and
iwist showed an improvement of 62 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , notwithstanding its retirement from
e European markets in which it had made so much headway in the previous
year. The deficiency was made good by largely increased exports to China. The
distribution of foreign trade was slightly less favourable both to the British Empire
and to the United Kingdom, but there was a considerably larger fall in the
s are of Continental Europe. The position of Germany declined to one of equa-
1 y with Prance, leaving Belgium at the head of European countries. Chinese
ra e showed a remarkable expansion and stood second only to that with the
ni ed Kingdom. The fluctuations in the land trade of 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
e ected in the main those of the maritime trade, and Raw Cotton, Oilseeds and
oa Piece-goods, European, were the chief items in the year’s decline.
Ihe total sea-borne trade of Sind amounted in value to 32§ crores. The Sind.
screase of 9J crores was almost entirely due to a reduction of 53 per cent.
Q e exports of Indian Produce from Karachi, the chief port. As in the Pre-
Gr <;UC ' r ^ >r °P ei ’ ! Bio decline principally affected exports of Cotton, See Is, and
or ?? aii1 ^ Bulse. Wheat, formerly the chief export, showed a fall of 7 croras
Th PU !' an( l f° r the first time Cotton became the largest item of trade.
e otal import trade expanded by 4 per cent, in spite of a decline of 47 Mkhs
e 1023—5 o