‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎284v] (116/192)

BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
sea from Calcutta almost prohibitive, and the greater part of the d
to be supplied by rail. The demand for industrial purposes has to
been relieved by the development of hydro-electric sources of
railway congestion resulting from these causes is at present one of th ^
serious handicaps to which the trade 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. is exposed V ^
difficulties during the war have encouraged the use of the parcel post*
the introduction of the value payable system this form of trade is ?k } ^
expand still further. The prosperity 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. is evidenced
great demand for motor cars. The share of the United Kingdom in this If
has dwindled into insignificance and Canada and the United States a if
chief sources of supply. The value of motor traction for commercial ri
industrial purposes is becoming more and more appreciated, and not only i s ?f
motor-lorry beginning to oust the primitive bullock cart in busy centres b t
the motor-tractor is also coming into use for agricultural purposes. The gr t
German trade in synthetic dyes has ceased to exist and, contrary to thebeff
entertained in many quarters, has shown no signs of revival with the removal
of war restrictions. The United Kingdom and the United States of America
are now the chief sources of the still very inadequate supply. On the export
side, raw cotton has more than maintained its pre-eminence in the trade of tbe
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. , the demand from Japan having been consistently keen despite
soaring prices. The failure to devlop long stapled types has prevented any
growth in exports to Europe. Exports of Indian piece-goods have increased
both in value and bulk during the war, the opening up of the Persian and
Mesopotamian markets for piece-goods being largely responsible for this growth,
The permanent effects of the war on the trade in oil-seeds and food-grains
have not so far been fully felt. Artificial restrictions on these trades,
necessitated by the disastrous crop-failure of 1918-19, have kept them within
modest limits. The war has, however, demonstrated the high nutritious value
of certain oil-seeds, and their use for industrial purposes has been greatly
developed during the war. These factors coupled with the disorganisation of
European sources of food-supply provide the brightest of prospects for these
trades in the near future. Trade restrictions imposed during the war had
almost all been removed by the middle of 1919, with the exception of certain
measures arising out of the food situation. Certain obstacles, however, still
remained which prevented the prosecution of foreign trade with the same
freedom as in the days before the war. Tonnage was still in deficit and
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. None the less, the gross values, both of imports and exports,
during 1919-20 were well in advance of all previous records. High prices
undoubtedly are largely responsible for this achievement, and the actual bur
of trade is probably still somewhat less than in 1913-14. Given an improve
ment in the shipping position, and a steady rate of exchange, the trade ot e
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. in 1920-21 should achieve fresh records in respect of bulk as we
as value. The results will however be prejudicially affected by the failure o
the monsoon.
A.— Chief Port—Bombay.
The total trade of the Port of Bombay, exclusive of Government transac^
tions, was valued at Bs. 278*43 crores, showing an increase of Rs. 73 9 m ^
over the previous year’s figures. Government transactions werevau
Rs. 57*88 crores, an increase of Rs. 16*35 crores. In the programme
expansion to meet the growing trade of Bombay great progress has een ^
since the beginning of the war. The Alexandra Dock has now
open to commercial traffic, thus providing 17 additional berths. I* 16
Pier now provides up-to-date accommodation for the landing ^ e
of passengers, and the wharf on the west side of the Pier will shor ^
an additional berth. The reclamation and surfacing of , aC1 | e f aC ilities
between Sewri and Mazgaon is complete, and the provision there
for the storage of grain, seeds, cotton, manganese, timber and coa 1