186 COCOA 



with the world's ever-increasing production, it stands to 

 reason that the worst qualities must sooner or later be 

 neglected. The position at present, I must admit, is one 

 of some perplexity. But I repeat again that if better 

 quality cocoa is wanted from the Gold Coast more 

 encouragement should be offered in a greater differen- 

 tiation in price between the best and the worst qualities. 



The present price is a fairly lucrative one for the native, 

 and even although cocoa should yet reach a lower level, 

 that would not in itself, I feel certain, greatly affect 

 supplies from the Gold Coast, although it would certainly 

 affect those remote districts where already a considerable 

 proportion of the price is spent in costly transport to the 

 port of shipment. With the advent of railways, however, 

 this contingency would to some extent be averted. 



So far as the world's production of cocoa is concerned, 

 I believe the Gold Coast is in as favourable a pO'sition 

 as any other country for maintaining its supplies in 

 future. 



One of the chief obstacles in the way of the agricultural 

 development of the colony as a whole is the great lack 

 of suitable and cheap transport. Oxen or pack animals 

 do not live except in a few isolated districts where the 

 tsetse fly is not prevalent. They, therefore, are not 

 available. The construction of roads suitable for motor 

 traction has only been completed in a few districts, and 

 the total length of railway within the colony is little 

 over 200 miles. Motor lorries, cask rolling and man 

 carts are used wherever the state of the roads will allow. 

 The bulk of the transport, however, has to be accom- 

 plished by men or women carriers in headloads. 



During the height of the cocoa season the scene 

 presented at the various railway stations, central collect- 

 ing depots, or shipping ports is one of animated bustle. 



Carriers are both expensive and scarce, and the cocoa 

 is often detained for several months at the bush stations 

 before it can be brought to the coast. The relative cost 

 of transport is also often so high that the price payable 

 to the actual cultivator is frequently less than half the 

 value of the cocoa at the port of shipment. Needless to 

 say, such conditions seriously affect the quality of the 

 product and tend to discourage the native cultivator. 



