'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR, 1910-1911' [‎253r] (89/150)

trade.
,1910
1*191 *•]
53
Chap. IV.
Rs. 16-61 crores, and that while the rate of expansion in the export trade of both Ports was
practically the same the advance in the imports of general merchandise into Bombay was no
less than 19 per cent, compared with 4 per cent, in the case of Calcutta. The value of the
imports of merchandise into Bombay was Rs. 47-34 crores, the highest figure vet recorded
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
In the increase of 7-81 crores in the import trade all the main groups share with the exception of
Raw Materials ani Unmanufactured Articles, which have been affected by the contraction
in imports of Coal and Cotton. The advance is most marked in the important group Articles
Manufactured and Partly Manufactured, which represents slightly over 50 per cent, of the
impO rl ~ 10 th.6 in.Cr03,S0 of /I*n9. r^r'nrrl^rl J / ,
contribute
.junwj *-p .1 • ^ ' wvci su per cent, or the
jtal import trade. To the increase of 4-92 crores recorded under this head Cotton Piece-roods
contribute an advance of Rs 272 crores, representing an increase of 114 million yards
Imports of Metals and Manufactures thereof advanced by Rs. 1-91 crores, of which no less
thanRs. 1*51 crores were contributed by Copper, Iron and Steel. An increase of Rs. 66 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
under Articles of Food and Drink is mainly due to the advance in imports of Refined Sugar
The evidence which this expansion in the import trade affords of conditions of general prosperity
is, however, subject to one importanL qualification. Imports of Machmery and Mill-work show
as a consequence of the depression in the cotton industry, a substantial contraction of Rs 21
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The figures of the export trade of Bombay show a total value of Rs. 63-03 crores an in
crease of Rs. 7-48 crores on the exports of the previous year. Practically the whole of this expan
sion is accounted for by increased shipments of Raw Materials and Unmanufactured Articles
which form 70 per cent, of the whole export trade. A substantial portion of this advance must
however, be ascribed to the rise in the price of Raw Cotton, the shipments of which, thouo-h
they showed an increased value of Rs. 3‘65 crores, were actually 24,427 cwts. less in quantity
than the exports of the previous year. Shipments of Seeds on the other hand have advanced in
value by Rs. 3-90 crores and in quantity by 3 million cwts. The influence of prices on the
face value of exports is shown by the fact that the total exports of Indian produce, estimated at
l^- 59 77 cror^s in 1910-191B would amount if calculated at prices prevailing in 1909-1910 to
Rs. 52-86 crores only, a figure which is actually smaller than that of 1909-1910. The contrac
tion, however, is confined to lwo groups, Chemicals, which have been affected by the restrictions
placed on opium trad^, and Yarn and Textile Fabrics. Imports on the other hand show an
increase of Rs. 6 42 crores even when calculated according to the prices current in 1909-1910
Oiimported goods, Cotton Piece-goods and Yarnfnov a notable increase in price; Metals
remain about the same level, except Copper in which a decline is recorded; Silk Piece-
goods and Raw Silk both show a decline. In regard to exports the most marked advances
are recorded under Opium, Cotton, Linseed and Cotton Seed; Wheat and Rapeseed alone
show declines. r
2.' The share of the United Kingdom amounted to 55-1 per cent, of the total, which is Imports,
very slightly less than the percentage of the previous year. Excluding those items of trade
in which the United Kingdom has practically no share at all the percentage in the remainder
comes to 68-5 against 71 in the previous year. The chief imports were Cotton Manufactures
(n'97 crores), Metals (5-57 crores), Sugar (3-77 crores), Silk Manufactures ( 2-04 crores),
Railway Plant and Rolling Stock (1-98 crores), Machmery and Mill-work (1-76 crores).
Under the 1 head Living Animals an unusual advance is recorded in shipments of horses,
imports of which increased in quantity by 3,691 and in value by Rs. 20-57 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The
increase is nearly equally shared between Australia and Persia. Imports of Articles of Food
and Drink advanced by Rs. 66-51 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. 6-21 crores. Sugar, the principal item
m this class, shows an increase of 441,202 cwts. in quantity and Rs. 57 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in value. While
imports of Java and Mauritius Cane have improved, arrivals ol Beet Sugar have again
declined. Imports of Metals and Manufactures of Metals amounted to Rs. 10-50 crores,
an increase of 22 per cent. The increase is spread over all the main sub-heads with the
■ exception of Textile Machinery. Under the head Chemicals, Drugs, Medicines and
Narcotics, and Dyeing and Tanning Materials, an increase of Rs. 21 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. 1-79 crores
is recorded. Dyeing and Tanning Materials, whidn represent 55 percent, of the imports
under this head, have advanced by nearly Rs. 18 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . This trade is practically monopolised
b 7 Belgium,. Germany and France. The effect of the new tobacco duties is shown in a
contraction in Unmanufactured Tobacco from 128,997 lbs. to 18,646 lbs., and in declines
in imports of Cigars and Cigarettes amounting to 24 per cent, and 27 per cent, respectively,
y ar the greater part of the imports of Unmanufactured Tobacco comes from Turkey and
The decline in Cigarettes is most noticeable in the case of cheap imports from America,
W ich m previous years have shown an average value of Rs. 1-8 per lb. compared with
^ values of Rs. 3 and Rs. 5 respectively shown by imports from the United Kingdom
^ kgypt. Imports of 67 /A increased by Rs. 14 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. i-ii crores. In spite of
e enhanced duty imposed upon Foreign Kerosine imports of this article increased by
' 7>2ii gallons to nearly 2o| million gallons valued at Rs. 81 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . A far greater increase
t-i however, in the imports of free Kerosine from Burma, which advanced by over
lar i S^hons to a total of 16 million gallons valued at Rs. 71 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . Burma is now the
^ est J u Ppli er of Kerosine to this port and is followed by the United States. Imports of
Raw ^.?f eria ^ s have declined by Rs. 26 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , owdng to smaller imports of Coal, Cotton, and
an i 1 d ecrease in imports of Coal, mainly from England and Natal, is accompanied by
y> ar , < ) rea ’ se in imports of Indian Coal from Calcutta. Imports of Articles Manufactured and
R s ^ Manufactured, which form over one-half of the total import trade, have increased by
'°i Qott Crores R s - 2 3‘94 crores. Advances are recorded of Rs. 3-54 crores in the imports
0n and Other Fabrics, of Rs. 37! lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees under Apparel and of one crore Equivalent to ten million, or one hundred lakhs. Used especially in connection with money (rupees). under the large
B 963—14