'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1909-1910' [‎151r] (33/148)

summary.
XXV .
moa-wM
ivlitly t> ut the total sales sll0 ' T a considerable increase due to tbe better yield,
!,!e general prosperity and the reduction of the selling price in some districts.
Imports of foreign fermented liquors increased by nearly 14 per cent, and
esulted in a decrease in issues of home-manufactured liquor. There has been a
(jcclin® in consumption of ganja in favour of charas, a more deleterious drug.
revenue from opium fell by 8 per cent, to under 10 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , the decrease being
distributed over license fees aod duty. In the former, the decrease was most
noticeable iu Bombay and Bast (Per.) A Persian custom allowing an individual to seek asylum at a designated location. acd West Shandesh, and where attempts were
made to discourage the excessive bidding of the previous year. The decrease in
duty was due to the disturbed state of the market which resulted in less opium
being bought for Government dephts. The total licit sales of opium increased
by 4,961 lbs. or nearly 6 per cent, owing to the greater number of marriages
and the increased general prosperity. The vigilance of the excise staff resulted
in an increase in the number of offenqes detected which rose by 19 per cent,
to 2,278. The most noticeable fact was the detection in Bombay of 221 cases
of illicit transport, possession and sale of cocaine, compared with 31 cases in
the preceding year.
The chief change in the administration was the introduction of minimum Sind,
selling prices for intoxicating drugs to check underselling) The contract
system for tbe manufacture and supply of country liquor was sanctioned for the
Province. The excise revenue increased by Rs. 33,276 or over 2 per cent,
chiefly under opium and intoxicating drugs. The consumption of country
liquor again shows a decrease and the average rate of consumption per head
was 3 06 drams compared with 3*77 drams the average of the past five years*
Decreases are also noticeable in the imports of foreign liquor and in the
consumption of opium.
The total excise revenue increased by 16 per cent., chiefly under the head of Aden,
duty on foreign liquors on account of large consignments of foreign spirits
removed from bond at the close of the year.
49. There was a considerable increase of If Rkhs in realizations under cotton Duties
the Act. Though the number of mills producing goods taxable under the Act Act ‘
remained the same the actual production of woven goods increased by over
18 per cent., chiefly in all kinds of unbleached grey goods and coloured goods.
This increase in production must not be regarded as indicative of prosperity, as
the issues of cloth from mills do not necessarily imply sales, while there is
no donbt that, as the result of excessive production, the piece-goods market is
over-stocked.
50. The total receipts under the Stamp Act and the Court Bees Act show stamps,
the considerable increase of over Rs. 7,70,000, which indicates the more
prosperous conditions of the year. Sales of Judicial stamps in Bombay City
alone rose by nearly 5 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . In Sind also there was an increase of almost
8 per cent, in the combined receipts. The large increase of about 15 per cent,
under the Stamp Act was due to improvement in trade and to land speculation
iu the City of Karachi.
51. The final demand showed a decrease of over Rs. 70,000 or If per cent, income Tax.
Collections fell by nearly 1 per cent. The tax levied on the profits of Com
panies has fallen by 24 per cent, compared with a decrease of 20 per cent, in
J le P r Qvious year. The decrease, most noticeable in Bombay City, is accounted
^ i } y a fall of 39 per cent, in the earnings of Cotton Spinning and Weaving
Companies.
^2. To the increased amount of Government grants for educational Local Funds.
Purposes the rise of over 4# lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in the receipts of District Funds is to be
b 922—7 s