Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/280

 228

THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — CAPE PROVINCE

Government-aided Hospitals, and 70,275 at Government Chronic Sick Hospitals, makiDgatotal of 165,957 ont-patients, were treated in the year 1917. There is no system of poor-law relief, but 1,303 persons received indoor relief during the year.

Finance.— Since the coming into effect of the Union there is only one financial statement for the four provinces together. Particulars are given above under the Union. Since the passing of the Financial Relations Act, 1913, the Provincial revenue consists of certain revenues assigned to the Province and an amount voted by Parliament by way of subsidy. The following figures show the provincial revenue and "expenditure for five years :—

1913-14

1914-15

1915-16

1916-17

1917-18

Revenue : —

Provincial .... Union's Subsidy

£ 405,848 862,000

316,688 917.20S

£ 333,784 859,000

£

366,289 935,161

£, 426,314 1,047,441

Total Revenue ....

1,267,848

1,233,896

1,192,784

1,301,4:0

1,473,785

Total ordinary expenditure. .

1,142,205

1,204,251

1,202,053

1,286,038

1,477,854

The average annual ordinary expenditure in the six years ending 1917-18 was : for General Administration, 96,679Z. ; Education, 933,720J. ; Hospitals and Poor Relief, 108,369Z. ; Roads, Bridges and Works, 119.813Z. Capital expenditure in 1917-18 was 264,61U

Production and Industry. — Iu 1914, 919,420 acres of Crown lands were alienated, the amount realised being 52,265Z. Up to December 31, 1914, the total area disposed of was about 141,039,952 acres, the quantity undisposed of being 36,336,708 acres. At December 31, 1919, the area unalienated was reduced to 26,713,330 acres.

For Mineral Production, see p. 220.

Commerce. — Since the coming into effect of the Union there are no special records of trade for each of the Provinces. The British Board of Trade statistics, however, continue to give details of trade between the United Kingdom and each Province separately. The following figures show the value of the trade between the Cape of Good Hope Province and the United Kingdom for five years : —

1913

1917

1918

1919

19201

(pre-war)

£

£

£

£

£

Imports from Cape. .

9,880.716

6,310,962

8,020,139

15,080,669

12,649,000

Exports from U.K. to

Cape —

British produce and

manufactures.

10,812,298

8,392,141

10,191, 568

8,802,676

24,138,000

Foreign and Colonial

merchandise

958,332

521,935

313,661

301,600

1,441,673

' Provisional figures.

The more important imports and exports in 1919 were: — lnipoits into United Kingdom: sheepB* wool (56,173,938 lbs.), 5,299,623Z. ; mohair,