11 
Part V.] Pearson: Note on the Utilization of Bamboo. 
From the above figures it will be seen that the imports have increased 
to the value of 31 lacs of rupees in the last five years. The most steady 
increase comes under “ Other kinds of paper,” namely, the paper which 
finds its way into the bazar, and it is against this imported paper that 
it is hoped that the Indian paper-mills will be able to compete with the 
help of bamboos as a raw material. 
To arrive at a definite conclusion as to the relative position of affairs 
it is necessary to compare the present outturn from Indian mills with 
the amount imported into this country. The figures for the last five 
years are as under :—• 
Year. 
\ 
Produced in 
India. 
Imported. 
Rs. 
Rs. 
1905-06 
. 
• 
• 
51,86,729 
70,48,978 
1906-07 
. 
• 
• 
• 
63,10,940 
80,11,105 
1907-08 
• 
• 
• 
• 
72,90,385 
99,24,262 
1908-09 
75,87,267 
92,63,396 
1909-10 
• 
79,11,943 
1,01,30,249 
It will be seen from the above statement that though the amount 
produced in India shows a steady increase amounting to 27 lacs of rupees 
in five years, the imports show an increase of 31 lacs during the same 
period. Again the Indian made paper amounts to 44 per cent, of the 
total consumption against 56 per cent, of imported paper, so that there is 
ample room for the further development of the Indian product, provided 
it can be put on the market at a somewhat lower rate than at present. 
There is yet another factor in favour of the Indian paper-maker. Mer¬ 
chants purchasing imported paper have to take up large consignments 
at one time and pay on delivery. This is often an inconvenience to 
traders, who naturally object to investing large sums of money in a com¬ 
modity which does not improve by keeping and which they cannot 
dispose of quickly, so that when paper can be purchased for retail pur¬ 
poses in smaller quantities, as is possible from Indian mills, they can 
afford to pay up to 10 per cent, higher prices for the same article 
[ 169 ] 
