olx 



legs, and to dispense with the artificial support of Government reserve 

 stocks. The completion of the East Coast and other railways now in 

 progress will also materially help to bring about this result. The 

 excise system has now justified itself and what is wanted for its com- 

 plete success is a continuity of policy. If this is ensured^ there is no 

 reason why Madras should not secure a large share in the Bengal salt 

 trade, driving out Liverpool salt from thence. The question of substi- 

 tution of excise for G-overnment monopoly was first mooted by the 

 Cheshire Salt Chamber of Commerce, in the hope that a market might 

 thereby be opened in Madras for their salt, and the prejudice against 

 the excise system is to some extent due to this circumstance. The 

 probability, however, is that Madras salt will eventually driye out 

 English salt from Bengal. Salt is sent from England to Bengal as 

 ballast, but if a trade springs up between Madras and Bengal in 

 Bengal coal, it would be profitable to send Madras salt as a return 

 load. The Government would do well to do all that lies in its power 

 to develop an export trade in Madras salt, and this can be done only 

 under the excise system. If the English salt syndicate persists in 

 artificially raising the price of English salt shipped to Bengal, it would 

 be materially assisting the Madras manufacturers to compete in the 

 Bengal market. Germany, Aden and Arabia have been sending salt 

 to Bengal during the last 3 or 4 years ; and Madras, which is so much 

 nearer to Bengal than these countries and has so many facilities for 

 the manufacture of good salt, ought, under proper arrangements, to 

 be able to secure to itself the bulk of the Bengal salt trade. 



Statement No. I. 



Quantity of salt manufactured and sold and the balance reynaining in stock in the 

 East Coast factories in each year from 1881-82 to 1890-91. 



In lakhs of maunds. 1 maund = 82|- lb. 



