Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/245

 FINANCE — DEFENCE — COMMERCE — SHIPPING, ETC.

103

Finance.

(Rupees converted at rate of 15 = 1/.)

1913-14 (pre-war)

lato-ofl

liMo-17

1917-18

1918-10

Revenue Expenditure.

£

74

£ 865,003 760,063

£

J. 037 874,551

£ 903,: 857,359

£ 920,871

980.

Principal sources of revenue 1918-19 : — Customs, 249,042/. ; railways, 196,9742. ; licences, excise, &c, 291,810/.

The debt of the Colony on June 30, 1919, was : — Government De- benture Inscribed Stock Debt, 1,249,990/., mainly for public works, Municipal debt of Port Louis, (1919) Rs. 1,596,221.

Defence.

Port Louis is fortified. The Colonial contribution to the military ex- penditure is estimated at Rs. 797,666. (1920-21).

Commerce.

i Rupees converted at rate of 15 = 1/.)

Total Imports

Total Export*

I

£

1913 (pre-war)

2,466,8S0

1915

3,204,241

1916

3,597,791

1917

2,813,280

2,861,417

1919

3,135,S02

£

2.241,084 3,74.3,011 4,954,003

3,715.445

a,524,l<;4

The value of imports is given as they lie in the port of entry (C.I. F.), including freight and exchange. The valae of exports for the principal local produce (about 69 per cent, of the total export trade) includes the shipping charges. For the other exports the market value only is given.

Staple exports, sugar, S,340,213Z. in 1919 ; aloe fibre, 52,152/. ; coconut oil. 7,943/. The trade is largely with the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, India, France, and Madagascar. The sugar crop in 1920-21 is estimated at 250,000 metric tons, against 242,000 in 1919-20.

Imports in 1919 from United Kingdom, 761,523/. ; exports to United Kingdom, 6,424,158/.

Imports into the United Kingdom from Mauritius ( British Board of Trade Returns) 1919, 7,233,951/., including unrefined sugar, 6,192,413/. ; refined sugar, 923,074/. ; hemp, 67,200/. Imports, 1920, 7,025,000/. British exports to Mauritius, 1919, 843,075/., including cotton goods, 247,6/0/. ; coal, 5,695/. ; machinery, 43,392/. ; iron and steel, and manufactures, 117,050/. ; manures, 116,874/. ; soap, 51,657/. ; woollen piece goods, 5,554/. ; tobacco, 18,444/. ; medicines, 22,000/. ; painters' colours, 15,209. Exports, 1920, 2,745,000/.

Shipping and Communications.

The registered shipping January 1, 1920, consisted of 22 sailing vessels of 2,613 tons, and 4 steamers of 1,203 tons ; total, 26 vessels of 3,816 tons. Vessels entered in 1919, 173 of 321,525 tons (134 British of 255,558 tons), and cleared 174 of 326,833 tons (132 British of 253,759 tons).

There are railway lines of 119 '65 miles, 24 miles narrow gauge. Railway