COTTON 147 



When the local Governments decided to take over the 

 experimental farms a new agreement was entered into with 

 the Home Government, and it was arranged that the Asso- 

 ciation should receive a grant of 10,000 per annum from 

 Imperial funds, for a period of three years, terminating on 

 March 3 1st, 1913. This agreement was subsequently ex- 

 tended for a further period of three years to March 3ist, 

 1916. This grant was given on condition that the Associa- 

 tion should raise 150,000 additional capital, and the 

 Association further undertook to establish and maintain 

 seven pioneer ginning and buying stations as follows : 



Gold Coast, at Labolabo and Tamale. 



Southern Nigeria, at Illushi. 



Northern Nigeria, at Lokoja, Zaria and Kano. 



Nyasaland, at Port Herald. 



The Association further undertook to provide seed for 

 sowing free of charge in the above-mentioned Colonies, 

 and also in Lagos. I should mention that the cost of this 

 in Lagos alone in 1913 amounted to 1,700. The Associa- 

 tion further undertook that their staff should give up a con- 

 siderable portion of their time to missionary work. The 

 Association are most grateful to His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment for this valuable monetary assistance, without which 

 they would have been compelled to curtail their work. There 

 is, however, no doubt that the Government acted wisely in 

 giving this help to the Association, for not only has the latter 

 spent the whole of the grant on pioneering work, but 

 has also spent a good deal of its own money as well. 

 For example: In 1912 the cost of working the various 

 branches in Africa amounted to 16,532, so that after 

 deducting the Government grant, the Association were 

 actually 6,532 out of pocket in actual cash alone, in 

 addition to the time and labour devoted to the work. I 

 should also point out that it is more than probable that 

 the best possible value was obtained for the money spent, 

 for it is an admitted fact that in the nature of things Gov- 

 ernment Departments cannot work as economically, as 

 efficiently, or as expeditiously as commercial men. 



One great advantage in West Africa was the fact that 

 there were a large number of merchants established in 

 the various Colonies, and the Association cannot thank 

 them sufficiently for the valuable co-operation they have 

 given. An agreement was entered into, and the merchants 

 undertook to purchase all cotton offered to them on 

 account of the Association, and in consequence each mer- 

 chant's trading factory became a buying station for the 



