No. 31.— 1885.] 



PLUMBAGO. 



203 



" No plumbago can be removed without a pass from the head- 

 man. When the lessee has a sufficient quantity dug and ready for 

 removal, he applies for a permit. The headman reports the amount 

 and the value of the plumbago so dug. The lessee is generally 

 allowed to purchase the Crown share at its assessed value, and 

 one-tenth of the value of the Crown share [or one -hundredth of the 

 whole] is deducted and given to the headman who weighed and 

 valued the plumbago, and the balance is brought to account as 

 rent for the land." 



Under this system a sum of Rs. 954*24 was collected in 

 the Western Province in 1884 (a great falling off from nearly 

 Rs. 4,000 in the previous year), the proportions for the various 

 districts being Colombo, Rs. 13-72; Ratnapura,Rs. 158"28 ; 

 Kegalla, Rs. 79 ; Negombo, Rs. 87-99 ; Kalutara, Rs. 615-25. 



An obvious objection to the Western Province system, 

 and one which has been preferred, is that it seems to revive 

 the temptations to which the headmen of 1873 succumbed ; 

 but in reply to remarks to this effect, the Government 

 Agent, Western Province, pointed out that only a tithe of the 

 quantity dug on Crown lands is now in question, and that of 

 this Government tenth the headmen receive one-tenth, or 

 one-hundredth of the whole. One-tenth of a ton, if the 

 plumbago were taken at the Custom-house valuation of 

 Rs. 200 per ton, would be Rs. 20 for 2 cwt., or twice the 

 total royalty fixed in 1873. But the Customs valuation is 

 excessive, and as the plumbago is mixed with extraneous 

 matter, and has to bear the cost of carriage and preparation, 

 of course a " spot value" at a much lower rate is calculated 

 for the rent-royalty. Having referred this question to the 

 Government Agent of the Western Province, he states 



" Your note has reached me on circuity and I cannot lay my 

 hand on the exact figures ; but I am inclined to think that the 

 value of Crown plumbago, dust and lump together, which varies 

 between Rs. 15 and Rs. 120 per ton at the pit's mouth, is on 

 an average about Rs. 70 a ton, and that the Crown royalty is 

 about Rs. 4 or Rs. 5 a ton. So that, whilst private plumbago pays a 

 royalty in shape of Customs duty of Es. 5 a ton, plumbago dug on 

 Crown land pays in rent and royalty Rs. 9 or Rs. 10. Consider- 

 ing that plumbago dug from Crown land is generally easily got at, 

 and that it is optional with a man at any time to cease paying 

 rent and to acquire the land, I don't think the rent high. We 

 would always rather sell the lands outright than rent them." 



