268 Timehri. 
importance show increases during the decade. The whole export trade, 
the net produce of our labour and capital, has improved, notwithstand- 
ing the uninterrupted and serious decline of the gold industry, the 
diminished output of sugar, and last year’s drought, a parallel for which 
cannot be found. The value of the exports of colonial produce and 
manufacture ten years ago was returned at $8,782,796, while last year it 
was $9,430,247. 
The percentage value of the products of the colony other than 
sugar with its by-products declined during the decade from 29 to 23. 
Clearly this has been due to the high prices oftering for sugar during the 
past two years and not to any decadence of the “ minor” industries. 
It is true that the value of these declined —from $2,322,409 to $2,163,925 
—but it must be remembered that the gold export of 1902-05 was worth 
$1,789,587, as against $915,516 last year. The subsidiary industries 
have developed steadily if slowly. It is well that they should move 
forward, for any improvement in that respect ministers directly to the 
well-being of the body economic. Moreover, it is matter for rejoicing, 
for it secures the more general distribution of the wealth of the colony and 
the greater good to the greater number. In his report for 1903-04 the 
late Mr. D. G. Garraway, Comptroller of Customs, remarked : ‘‘ What is 
really desirable is that the exports of colonial produce other than sugar, 
rum and molasses, should at all times represent a fair proportion of the 
total exports of the colony. ‘Twenty years ago their proportion stood at 
two per cent., which was neither fair nor satisfactory. That was 
indicative of a policy of laissez-faire—it meant that the extensive agri- 
cultural, mineral and other industrial resources of the colony remained 
undeveloped, and that no attempt was made to improve the material 
condition of the mass of the population.” 
Cotton re-appeared on the export list in 1904—5 when 1,785lbs. were 
shipped. It was thought that the enterprise would have developed, but 
it has not, the item having slid off the list in 1907-08 when the exports 
had dwindled to 12lbs. It seems that we are unable profitably to produce 
commercial cotton nowadays. At one time cotton figured largely among 
the articles of colonial produce for export. In 1810 as many as 
5,821,776lbs. of cotton, valued at over £2,000,000, were shipped hence, 
Once again has coffee come upon the list, its second coming dating from 
1908-09 when 88,704lbs. were exported. As shipments have increased 
without a break since, last year’s returns being 136,420lbs., it seems that 
progress is being made, especially when regard is had to the fact that 
imports are declining. Ten years ago over 300,000Ibs. of coffee came in, 
mostly from the United States. Last year’s importations totalled only 
65,63Lbs. In the enjoyment of a protective duty of 44 cents per lb., 
the industry should go forward without let and be a means of adding 
appreciably to the list of revenue contributors. The area under coffee 
cultivation has increased during the past nine years from 718 acres 
to 2,546 acres. We are importing more chocolate and prepared 
cocoa, tbe importations ten years ago being 9,068lbs., comparing 
