‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎233r] (13/192)

1919-1920.]
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Y
freights were high; Indian railways and foreign cables were congested and
industrial trouble in India and abroad further retarded the return to normal
conditions. The appalling mortality from influenza following on the failure
of the 1918 monsoon had a depressing effect, and last, but by no means least,
the instability of exchange was a most serious deterrent to forward business
in all lines of trade.
(b) None the less, the gross values, both of imports and exports, during
1919-20 were well in advance of all previous records. High prices undoubt
edly were largely responsible for this achievement and the actual bulk of trade
was probably still somewhat less than in 1913-14. The aggregate value of the
foreign and coasting trade including Government transactions of the Bombay
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. excluding Sincl was Rs. 345 crores or an advance Rs. 91 crores over
the figures of 1918-19. In the programme of port expansion to meet the grow
ing trade of Bombay great progress has been made since the beginning of the
war. The Alexandra Dock which was opened in 1914 was used during the
greater part of the war almost exclusively for military purposes. It has now
been thrown open to commercial traffic, thus providing 17 additional berths.
The Ballard Pier now provides up-to-date accommodation for the landing and
embarking of passengers, and the wharf on the west side of the pier will shortly
provide an additional berth. The reclamation and surfacing of 3,887
acres of land between Sewri and Mazagon is complete, and the provision there of
facilities for the storage of grains, seeds, cotton, manganese, timber and coal
is making rapid strides. The transfer of fuel oil tanks to Wari Bandar and of
other tanks to Sewri Reclamation is virtually complete, only one fuel oil tank,
which is shortly to be removed, now remaining in the dock area. The mileage
of the Port Trust Railway which was opened iu 1914 is now 105 miles. A
special pier for the accommodation of bulk oil vessels is in course of construc
tion on Trombay Island, whence oil will be pumped to the installations on the
Sewri Reclamation. Finally a scheme for the construction of new docks in the
same neighbourhood is under consideration.
(c) During the year the first step was taken in the direction of Imperial
Preference by the imposition from the 11th September of an export duty of 15
per cent, ad valorem on raw hide and skins, with a rebate of two-thirds of the
duty in favour of hides and skins tanned in the British Empire. On the 2nd
February 1920 the import duty on silver bullion and coin was abolished on the
recommendation of the Currency Com mission, and on the 11th February the
rates of import on firearms were modified, and the differential rates previously
charged to license dealers were abolished.
(d) The aggregate customs revenue, consisting of import and export duties
and excise duty on cotton goods manufactured in 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. , rose by 121
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to 7*23 crores.
(e) The year was marked by an increase in imports and decrease in exports
in foreign trade so far as the Maritime Trade of the Province of Sind was
concerned. The decrease in exports was due to restrictions on the export of
food-grains of which w 7 heat formed the principal item.
8. Port Trust. — (a) The receipts of the Bombay Port Trust were the
highest on record ; the revenue amounted to nearly Rs. 197 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and exceeded
the expenditure (which included a special appropriation of Rs. 10^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to the
Securities Depreciation Fund) by Rs. 2-^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . This favourable result was
attained by increased receipts in nearly all departments. The year was marked
by a partial revival of pre-war trade conditions at the docks and bandars and
a considerable reduction of Government expeditionary traffic. The total
tonnage of the cargoes dealt with at the docks and bandars was 6,253,000 tons
as against 4,390,000 tons in the previous year. The number of vessels that
entered the docks during the year was 1,564 and 600 vessels were berthed at
the dock harbour walls. The Ballard Pier Station berth was used by 308
vessels. A regular service of postal and passenger expresses to and from the
station in connection with the incoming and outgoing mail and passenger
steamers was inaugurated and 154 trains were run during the year. On the
bandars and land estates there was a large demand for occupations, which was
satisfactorily met. At the Ballard Estate all the plots but two were leased,
an d, at the end of the year, there were four buildings completed and the con-