Sub-section 6.—Financial Position o ( 21 ) On arrival at the estate the cooly is housed free of charge, a at a rate often very much below cost. Muc Care of Labour. tion is given to sanitation; anchylostomiasis special treatment; mothers and infants are par carefully attended to; nearly every important estate has dispensary, while there are Government hospitals in all the in planting areas. Considerable attention is also given to the e of the children, estate schools being now widely established. whole, the cooly is very well cared for, and large sums are spent a on his maintenance. The most costly item of this maintenance has recently be Even when the price rose 100 per cent., many estates still c to supply it to the coolies at the old rate. In 1919 this entail to Ceylon estates of about 25 million rupees. Towards the end the cost fell to nearly its old figures, but rose again during t in 1921. Rates. The rates of wages for estate labour vary greatly acco earning capacity and owing to different met payment. Rough limits may be said to be 33 to per day. Non-estate labour is, in general, pai as rice is not supplied at a reduced rate, and the range may be be 50 to 75 cents per day. Native clerks are paid about Rs. 30 as beginners; trained and efficient men may draw Rs. 200 per or over. The salaries of European Estate Superintendents vary, from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,500 a month, according to the posts hel Sub-section 6.—Financial Position of Ceylon. In summary it may be stated that in the financial year 1920 Revenue. over 7 million pounds sterling (the rupee beir at 2s.), with an expenditure of about 92 rupees. On September 30, 1921, the assets of the Colony exce liabilities by over 11 million rupees. The main sources of revenue, in the financial year 1920-21, round figures: Customs, 23 million rupees; licenses, &c., 191 including salt, nearly 2 millions; arrack and toddy rents, millions; stamp duties, over 7 millions; railway, gross recei 17 millions; revenues of Colombo harbour, nearly 3 million Office, over million, &c. The chief item of expenditure was the expenses of the public ments, amounting, inclusive of the Railway E Expenditure. ment and pensions, to some 46 million rupees. remaining 45 millions, about 13 millions we on public works, railway works, and irrigation works. Militar diture of over 2 millions, public debt expense of about 3 1 and exchange and miscellaneous of nearly 25 millions ma total of about 92 millions of rupees. ( 21 ) On arrival at the estate the cooly is housed free of charge, and is fed at a rate often very much below cost. Much atten Care of Labour. tion is given to sanitation; anchylostomiasis receives special treatment; mothers and infants are particularly carefully attended to; nearly every important estate has its own dispensary, while there are Government hospitals in all the important planting areas. Considerable attention is also given to the education of the children, estate schools being now widely established. On the whole, the cooly is very well cared for, and large sums are spent annually on his maintenance. The most costly item of this maintenance has recently been rice. Even when the price rose 100 per cent., many estates still continued to supply it to the coolies at the old rate. In 1919 this entailed a loss to Ceylon estates of about 25 million rupees. Towards the end of 1920 the cost fell to nearly its old figures, but rose again during the crisis in 1921. Rates. The rates of wages for estate labour vary greatly according to earning capacity and owing to different methods of payment. Rough limits may be said to be 33 to 75 cents per day. Non-estate labour is, in general, paid more, as rice is not supplied at a reduced rate, and the range may be said to be 50 to 75 cents per day. Native clerks are paid about Rs. 30 a month as beginners; trained and efficient men may draw Rs. 200 per month, or over. The salaries of European Estate Superintendents vary, roughly, from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,500 a month, according to the posts held. Sub-section 6.—Financial Position of Ceylon. A full statement of the Revenue and Expenditure will be found in Appendix III. In summary it may be stated that in the financial year 1920-21 the revenue of Ceylon was nearly 70 million rupees, or Revenue. over 7 million pounds sterling (the rupee being taken at 2s.), with an expenditure of about 92 million rupees. On September 30, 1921, the assets of the Colony exceeded the liabilities by over 11 million rupees. The main sources of revenue, in the financial year 1920-21, were, in round figures: Customs, 23 million rupees; licenses, &c., 19 millions, including salt, nearly 2 millions; arrack and toddy rents, over 91 millions; stamp duties, over 7 millions; railway, gross receipts, over 17 millions; revenues of Colombo harbour, nearly 3 millions; Post Office, over million, &c. The chief item of expenditure was the expenses of the public departments, amounting, inclusive of the Railway EstablishExpenditure. ment and pensions, to some 46 million rupees. Of the remaining 45 millions, about 13 millions were spent on public works, railway works, and irrigation works. Military expenditure of over 2 millions, public debt expense of about 3 millions, and exchange and miscellaneous of nearly 25 millions make up a total of about 92 millions of rupees. |