'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1909-1910' [‎150v] (32/148)

XXIV
BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
[1909.
1910.
considerable decrease accounted for by tbe &et that the previous ye ar ’ s
removals were in excess of tbe demand and also by tbe fact that expectation of
^reduction in duty caused merchants to postpone removal. In order 0 enable
he stock to be kept up to tbe standard amount of the average annual demand
Is two years’ Reserve, tbe establishment of a new salt work was under
consideration Tbe paucity of labour is affecting the operations and mills and
railways afford more congenial work to those who formerly resorted to tbesalt-
works ^ The manufacture of sea salt was retarded by the prevalence of pl a g Ue
and cholera in the Thana and Uran Ranges and by the unfavourable character
of the past cold season. The result was a considerable decrease m Ae output,
The ordinary fluctuations of trade are responsible for a small decrease in the total
removals of this kind of salt; but removals to the Madras 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. and
Mysore show a substantial increase indicative of the supenon y of Bombay salt
while the increase in the demand in Calcutta is attributed to the Swadeshi
movement. The number of offences against the Salt Laws decreased by
35 per cent.
The fluctuations in the price of salt were insignificant. The quantity of
salt made or excavated during the year increased by 12 per cent, and the stock
in hand at the close of the year was almost doubled. The average rate of
consumption per head of the population rose from 10 4.2 lbs. to 10 o5 lbs, while
the average selling price remained stationary.
Issues from the salt works at Sheikh Othman showed a slight increase but
the quantity of salt exported by the Italian Salt Works decreased by 39 per
cent, owing to the keen competition of Spanish salt placed on the Indian Market
for the first time.
48. The Excise revenue which amounted last year to 1J crores shows a
further increase of 6^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and the average realisations of the three years
preceding 1908-1909 were exceeded by 22^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The increase is chiefly under
the heads of country spirit and intoxicating drugs. Though the sales of
country spirit were more by 44,782 gallons than those of the preceding year,
the consumption of the spirit was considerably less than the average for tbe
preceding quinquennial period. The cause of the rise in revenue under this
head is to be found in the raising of the stilbhead duty where consumption is
highest or on the increase, with the result that the receipts under this duty
increased by 9| lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or 10 per cent. On the other hand the aggregate
amount for which shops were sold in the contract supply districts decreased by
3 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or 24 per cent, owing to the introduction of a new system to prevent
excessive bidding rendering honest profit impossible. The maximum fees
which could be paid were ascertained by estimate of the expenses and the
profit at the legitimate rates and in three districts, Ahmedabad, Nasik and
Dharwar, the licenses for sale of country liquor were given out to approj 6
applicants at these rates. In other districts, the bidding at auctions was limit®
to 25 per cent, above these estimates, and if this amount was exceeded t ®
license was given to a selected bidder. The number of retail shops decrease
by 196 or 8 per cent. Of these 60 were closed on tbe recommendation of l° ca
committees appointed to consider the possibilities of reduction in the larg®
towns 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. and 107 were abolished in rural areas on the rcCoa ^
mendation of the Collectors. In Surat, Thana and Kolaba large numbers of shop
were closed hut only in Surat was there a reduction in the consumpt 1 ^
temperance movements affected the consumption only to a slight
Where decreases occur the reason is generally to be found in economic co11 ,^
tions and a prosperous season replete with festivals and marriage cereinon g 1 e j
stimulated consumption in many districts. The revenue from toddy decre