مجموعة ١٧/ ١٦(٣) "المسألة الآشورية" [و‎‎٩‎٢] (١٢٠٦/١٩٤)

3
10 . With the information at my disposal at present it is not easy to estimate
the exact cost of settling a family of, say, five persons, but, exclusive of ocean
transport, I consider that it should not exceed £80 in the first year, this estimate
including the building of temporary housing accommodation for each family
After this year the settlers will still have to be maintained to a certain extent for
a period of about two years, during which time they will be becoming more and
tmore self-supporting.
An estimate of the cost of maintenance for these two years can be obtained
from the cost of the usual Government weekly ration, which consists of 1 lb salt
beef, 7 pints of flour, If pints of peas, 1 lb. of pork, 7 sticks of chocolate, 2 lb. of
sugar, 1 lb. of salt fish, 3-| pints of rice, and 1 lb. of biscuits. The cost per
individual per day of this ration at contract rates in Georgetown is about
13 cents, whilst repacking and transport costs, wastage, &e., on long river
journeys, make the final cost double or treble that amount. If the settlers possess
cattle and catch fish, which abound in the rivers, the ration should not cost more
than 20 cents per man per day, and allowing four rations as sufficient for a family
of five persons, some of whom will be children, the cost of food per annum per
family will be approximately 292 dollars, or, say, £61, for the first year, and half
stuffs for t| that amount for the second year, when ground provisions, rice and other quick-
ngs. 11 growing food-stuffs become available in the district. If the above ration is not
ike area® suitable for the Assyrians, it could, of course, be varied to suit their taste.
minatioarfH 11. With regard to supplying the settlers with a nucleus of cattle and
i decision!|| sheep, I would refer to my telegram under reference, and to subsequent telegrams
of the sett!; in which I stated that I regard it as essential that the assets of the Rupununi
Development Company in the district should be acquired—lock, stock and barrel.
These assets consist of large numbers of cattle (estimated at 47,000 head), a
considerable number of horses,- also houses and other buildings, which latter could
eking, readily be adapted for the use of officers placed in charge of the settlers and these
njingaul homesteads could form centres around which to settle families in groups. The
mire to iicH ^ ases an d permissions at present held by the company would be cancelled when
appeaili
is.
«r col®
t as to #4
at there sti
he district
n the or
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ables, calif
mth part®;
tit is p*
they arete
ere is noli
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the other assets are purchased.
It may also be considered desirable to purchase from ranchers at present
established in the district some of their better cattle. This should not present
any difficulty and the possession of this stock for immediate distribution to
settlers would be a matter of considerable advantage and permit of the reduction
ol areas at present held by the ranchers under annual grazing permissions. The
cost of purchasing the assets of the Rupununi Company has been dealt with in
ne telegraphic correspondence referred to, and the price of breeding-stock, if
mther numbers are required, runs from 155 . to £1 per head, so that the total
cost of acquiring the company’s assets and an additional supply of cattle if
^ary should be less than the estimate for the purchase of land alone under
e -Brazilian scheme. In this connexion one of the desirable services would be a
s ock-farm under the care of an experienced veterinary officer. Veterinary
opinion is that the progress of cattle on the present ranches is at present retarded
jaore by inbreeding and lack of care than by any paucity of good grazing areas,
a pure-bred bulls will have to be imported, and this will be an important item
n cost of this service. The same remark applies to agriculture and
onsiderable assistance could be given to the settlers by the establishment of an
gncultural experimental station in the district. These are, however, matters
aot be decided at the moment, but the sooner the services are
established the better.
to o hi ? ma y safel y be said, in my opinion, that a suitable area upon which
t> -5 . nun iber of Assyrians who are likely voluntarily to elect to come to
itm 1811 ^ Ulana > is assured; and as to the welcome they will receive in the colony
there can, I think, be no doubt.
in j now ^mains to deal in detail with the points which have been raised
fan-irw aes P a tch, and with several other matters, knowledge of which will
facilitate settlement.
200 s ^ ou ^ welcome, at the outset, the arrival of a pioneer party of, say,
youn g mei b an d included in their number should be axemen, sawers,
lahnrir erS ’ Jn^banics, and if possible lorry-drivers, along with . ordinary
be npo! rS ' T ^ ls P art y would be useful in erecting the base camps which would
tbeiT> i SSary ^ rom which to distribute the settlers throughout the area, to erec
emporary houses and to put in order so much of the present cattle trai
[10513] b 2