Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/327

 FINANCE— PRODUCTION AND COMMERCE

275

The general superintendence of the High Court is vested in the Chief Justice. In addition to the Chief Justice there are four Judges of the High Court, three of whom are British barristers, and one promoted from the Sudan Civil Service. The High Court sits at Khartum, but judges from time to time go on circuit.

Subordinate to the High Court of Justice in every province is the Province Court. This comprises a Province Judge, except in Khartum Province, and District Judges of three grades. Appeals from decisions of a District Judge lie to the Province Judge, except in Khartum Province, where such appeals lie to the High Court. Appeals from decisions of a Province Judge lie to the High Court.

In Provinces where there is neither a High Court Judge nor a specially appointed Province Judge the Governor acts as Province Judge, and in any District where there is no specially appointed District Judge the provincial inspectors and district officers act as District Judges.

The Mohammedan Law Courts administer the Moslem religious law in cases between Mohammedans relating to succession on death, marriage, divorce, and family relations generally, and also Mohammedan charitable endowments.

Criminal justice is administered either by single magistrates, or courts of three magistrates. Judges of the High Court, and District Judges of the first grade, governors, and inspectors of provinces, and the district officials above-mentioned, are the magistrates. Decisions of courts require confirmation either by the Governor of the province or by the Governor- General, both of whom have extensive powers of revision. Appeal lies from convictions by magistrates other than Governors, where the sentence exceeds two months' imprisonment or 2/. fine.

The Sudan penal code is an adaptation of the Indian penal code.

The Legal Secretary fulfils the duties of a Minister of Justice.

Finance.

The revenue and expenditure of the Sudan are stated as follows (£E1=£1 0«. 6d.) :—

Year

Revenue

Expenditure

1913(pre-war)

1915 ..

1916 . . ; 1917

£E 1,508.352 1,495, 227 l,S57,So6 2.195,355

£E 1,533,065 l,3,934 1,745.532 1.901.941

Tear

Revenue

■Expenditure

1918 1919 19201

£E £E

4.689 2.336,315

! 2,992,792 • 2,720,513

I 3,500,000 3,500,000

i Budget estimates.

The revenue is derived mainly from Land Tax, (213,000/. in 1919), Animal Tax (149,000/. in 1919), Royalties on Gum and Ivory (128,000/. in 1919), and Customs (328,000/. in 1919), and from the receipts of the Railways and Nile Steamer Services (1,278,000/. in 1919>, and Posts and Telegraphs (118,000/. in 1919).

From 1914 onwards, the figures do not include the revenue and expen- diture of Local Provincial Services, which amounted in 1919 to 161,191/E. and 153,270/E. respectively.

Production and Commerce.

The Sudan is the chief source of the world's supply of gum arabic (exports, 1919, 15,490 tons, £Ef.48,244) and ivory (exports 1919, 50 tons, £E46,556). Egyptian cotton has been successfully established on the Nile. as well as in the Toker district of the Red Sea "Province, and increasing quantities of cotton, which compare farourably with corresponding varieties I grown in Egypt, are being produced annually." The Gezirah irrigation pro-

T S