'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR, 1910-1911' [‎216r] (15/150)

SUMMARY.
iX
number for disposal, and the balance remaining at the end of
nearly 1,500 less than the balance at the end of 1909 There ^ "T ’ 7l9 ’
a decrease m the number of cases settled by mutual agreement anyth’ WeVer ’
0 f remission granted by the creditors fell from ove & r ,8 t ’ d the am0Un r t
the total amount due in such cases. The lands sold again realized" aTh
ave rage price in proportion to assessment than in the preceding year The"
marked decrease in the number of decrees referred for disposal to Colt'i
-r ot ,h ' D ““" » 8
• ' 7 ' , n ii Umber ° f do = uraents registered during the year showed a further R
increase above the very high figures of the year I9 o 9 . The rise is largely due to the KacT
general expansion of credit and to the extra expenditure following on the Sinhalt XVI <>* 1908 .
year, as well as to the effect of the Limitation Act of ,908 in conjunction w th th
expiry m August 1910 of the extended period of limitation. In Gujarat, however
there is a decrease m the number of documents registered, the cause of which may
be found c le y in the general stagnation of the mill industry and the fluctuations in
the prices of cotton and grain. Several administrative changes took effect during
the year. The use of Balbodh script, already introduced experimentally in a few
offices, was extended to nearly the whole of the Marathi speaking districts. An
executive order was issued enjoining reference in certain cases to the maps of
sub-divisions which have been prepared in connexion with the Record of Rights in
some areas. Printed forms of leases were introduced in the four Deccan districts
and the experiment was tried in two districts of making the registration of
agricultural leases compulsory.
iS There was a fall in the number of registrations under the Deccan Registration
Agriculturists’ Relief Act, but the value of transactions in the aggregate shows a under Act
slight increase. One village registrar’s office was abolished. Transactions to XVH ° f 1879
which both parties are agriculturists again bear a slightly larger proportion to the
total number than in the preceding year.
19. There was a slight increase compared with “the previous year in the Joint Stock
number of new Joint Stock Companies registered. Additions to the list include Companies,
three Navigation and three Railways and Tramways Companies, but the number
of new Trading Companies was less than in 1909-1910. The year closed with a
total of 570 companies with a paid up capital of Rs. 22f crores.
20. The aggregate income of Local Boards was 68 Idkhs or about half a Local Boards,
lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees below the exceptionally high figure of 1909-1910. The decrease appears in
the Central and Southern Divisions and is chiefly due to smaller realizations of the
half anna cess, receipts of which were swollen in the previous year by consider
able recoveries of past arrears. In other respects the main sources of income
show a satisfactory expansion, and there was also an increase in the grants
contributed by Government in aid oLschools, hospitals and special projects. On
the side of expenditure the most noticeable feature is an increase amounting to
Jb per cent, in the outlay on medical relief. Educational charges rose by
^ per cent, to a total of more than 25 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The increase under these two
heads was counterbalanced by a decrease amounting to 2 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees under Civil
Works, which still accounted for 51 per cent, of the total expenditure of the
Boards. Closing balances were generally much in excess of the prescribed
minimum, which has recently been revised, and the necessity of profitable
utilization of surplus funds is engaging attention. Scarcity of labour and the
consequent difficulty in completing works is partly responsible for the inflated
Glances of some Boards. The composition of Local Boards remained practically
B 963—3 s