32 
by Sir Daniel Morris ( Report upon the present position and prospects of the agricultural resources of 
the Island of St. Helena, written in 1884, and reprinted in 1906 as Cmd. 3248). Of all the various 
recommendations made in that report, the only one which has received serious attention is that 
dealing with the cultivation of and extraction of fibre from the New Zealand flax. This industry 
has succeeded beyond all expectation, and has provided the Colony with a valuable and much needed 
article of export. The ease with which the crop is cultivated, and the abnormally high prices 
obtained for fibre during the last few years have given an enormous impetus to planting, with the 
result that other agricultural pursuits have been correspondingly neglected. This is to be regretted 
in so far as it diminishes the capacity of the island to be self-supporting. As-it is. a large proportion 
of the money earned by the export of fibre is used to pay for imported foodstuffs, many of which 
could be produced locally if the agricultural resources of the island were properly developed and 
utilised. “ But ” (to quote from Sir Daniel Morris’ Report) “ the people require to be shown what 
those resources are; they need to be taught how to use those resources aright, and they require to be 
assisted and encouraged while so engaged.” 
For these reasons I am strongly of opinion that any grant which it may be possible to obtain 
for the purpose of developing the resources of this Colony should be devoted towards the establish¬ 
ment of a botanical garden for the promotion of improved methods of agriculture and the develop¬ 
ment of the numerous industrial plants already in the island, on the lines suggested by 8ir Daniel 
Morris. Although it may be doubted whether, in view of its geographical position and its limited 
area, this island will be able to produce any other article of export, it is certain that the introduction 
of improved methods of agriculture would enable it to be less dependent on imported foodstuffs, and 
in proportion to make more profitable use of the proceeds of its one available export.” 
Note .—The recommendations of the Committee and an account of the action taken in regard 
to the Colony will be found in the body of this report. The fisheries of St. Helena received con¬ 
siderable attention about ten years ago, but with little success. For information on* this subject, 
reference should be made to the Report on the Fisheries of St. Helena by Mr. J. T. Cunningham, 
published in 1910 as jCd. -1998], 
APPENDIX III. 
Accounts of Receipts and Expenditure to 3 1st December, 1920, 
A X !.' 
estimate of liabilities on that date. 
Receipts. 
. 
Si 
s. 
d. 
Grant in Aid of Colonial Research for 1919-20. 
1,000 
0 
0 
Instalment of Grant in Aid of Colonial Research for 1920-21 ... 
1,000 
0 
0 
2,000 
0 
0 
Expenditure. 
£ 
s. 
cl. 
Bahamas and West Indies: sponge investigations 
802 
16 
9 
Leeward ami Windward Islands: geological investigations 
139 
r~ 
i 
0 
General: preparation of Report on the Fishes of the Colonies 
70 
0 
6 
Total expenditure 
1,012 
3 
9 
Balance in hands of Crown Agents for the Colonies ... 
987 
16 
a 
2,000 
0 
0 
Liabilities. 
• 
£ 
s. 
ch 
Grants definitely approved . 
12,870 
0 
0 
Grants approved upon conditions not yet fulfilled 
4,200 
0 
0 
16,570 
0 
0 
Less actual expenditure 
1,012 
3 
9 
Net liabilities 
15,557 
16 
3 
