The rate of growth in the Colonies as compared with other parts of the Empire, and even more as compared with foreign countries, is very disappointing. Though the British Empire produces about one-quarter of the cane sugar of the world, the bulk is produced in India, which needs, however, far more than she produces, and is accordingly a large importer. Tobacco Production. The total production of tobacco in 1923, excluding the production in Russia, which before the war produced about one-tenth of the whole, was 12,354,000 quintals. The production in the British Empire, as far as it is recorded in the Year Book of the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome, was as follows:— The figures are for 1923 and 1924 where available, and for the average of the years 1909-13. In addition, Southern Rhodesia exported, in 1924, tobacco to the value of £285,000. While the production in the Colonies is still small, marked increases are shown in the cases of Palestine and Nyasaland. Cotton Production. The statistics published in the Annual Report of the British Cotton Growing Association, which are the most recent, are used in, the table below. Twenty-five years ago there was only a trifling amount of cotton grown in the Colonies. By 1913 a start had been made in several, notably Uganda and Nigeria, but the total production of all the Colonies was less than 130,000 bales (of 400 lb. weight) in the year. Since the end of the war very considerable and rapid progress has taken place. In 1919 the Colonies produced under 80,000 bales, but by 1925 this had grown to nearly 320,000 bales. These tables give the figures for 1922 and 1925 respectively for every important cotton-producing country. The information in this memorandum is abstracted from the Third Report of the Imperial Economic Committee. The fruits which are or can be produced largely in the Colonies are the citrus fruits, viz., oranges, lemons, grape-fruit and limes; pine-apples, nuts and bananas. The statistics relate to the year 1924. The relative position of the West Indies has remained unchanged for the last 20 years, while South Africa has progressed from practically nothing to its present position. Total value from all sources = £140,686. Statistics were first separately recorded in 1920, when 36.9 per cent. came from Empire sources. The West Indies have lost ground very considerably since before the war. The imports from Malaya have doubled in eleven years, though the per centage has dropped from 90.7 to 80.4. Imports of Nuts. The only edible nuts imported into Great Britain in large quantity from Empire sources are coconuts, which are not separately enumerated, being included with nuts unenumerated, i.e., all nuts other than almonds, Barcelona and hazel, Brazil and walnuts. There is also a large importation of desiccated or flaked coconuts, as There is a very large importation of ground-nuts (i.e., peanuts or monkey nuts), mainly used for the oil obtained from them, but some are eaten. These are largely drawn from Empire sources. |