1 REVIEW BY SECTIONE.
2 KOHAT MINES.
3 Salt duty.
4 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
5 In comparison with 1895-96, there was a decrease of
6 maunds 2,89,300 in the quantity of salt sold during the year
7 under report. The sales of 1895-96 were exceptionally large,
8 while those of the past year were below the average. During
9 1895-96 it became known to traders, carriers and others that
10 an enhancement of the duty on Kohat salt was under contem-
11 plation, and the result was the very large increase in the trade
12 which the figures of that year mndicate. Early in 1896-97 the
13 Government of India decided upon raising the duty on Kohat
14 galt from 8 annas to Rs. 2 a Lahori maund, and the
15 Death of My, Johnson.
16 measure was carried into effect from the 13th of July 1896. A
17 month’s notice of this change was given to the trade, the sales
18 during that month being limited to 1,50,000 maunds. The
19 following figures give information in regard to the salt sold
20 under these circumstances :—
21 \ Maunds.
22 From Ist April to 12th June 1896, sales at 8 annas a Lahori
23 maund ces ae wae as we 8,46,779
24 From 13th June to 12th July 1896, the month®of notice,
25 sales at 8 annas a Lahori maund mas cx ne 1,48,653
26 From 13th July 1896 to 31st March 1897, sales at the enhanced
27 rate of Rs. 2a Lahori maund Os ase 438
28 Total sales of 1896-97 we 4,96,170-
29 The orders of Government for the enhancement of the duty
30 were carried out with great tact and success by Mr. Johnson,
31 the Superintendent of the Kohat Salt Mines, and his otticers,
32 and the arrangements made met with the approval of His Honor
33 the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab. I greatly regret
34 to have to add that Mr. Johnson’s death occurred during the
35 year. Situate as the Kohat Salt Mines are on the frontier,
36 the change in the rate of the salt, duty was a delicate
37 measure, and its successful introduction was largely due to
38 Mr. Johnson’s tact, ability and unsparing devotion to duty.
39 The figures which I have given show that of the total
40 quantity of 4,96,170 maunds of salt sold during the past year,
41 4,95,432 were disposed of at the 8 anna rate of duty, and
42 only 738 maunds at the enhanced rate of Rs. 2 a Lahori
43 maund. Sales have therefore been practically at a standstill
44 since the introduction of the higher rate of duty. °
45 . Considering the large quantities of salt sold during 1895-96,
46 and from the 1st April to the 12th July 1896, this result was
47 perhaps to be looked for. I give the following figures in
48 support of this view :—
49 : Quantity Ain sold.
50 1892-93 aoe oon nee owe toe nee 6,23,981L
51 1898-94 .., as vee ius se we 5,906,285
52 1894-95 or oe ae owe one wwe 5,591,497
53 Average «. 6,01,92¥
54 1895-96 ... t00 sew sss aee we 785,470"
55 1896-97 ... oe eae vee ove we 4,96,170
56 Average a 640,820.
57 It will be seen that the average sales at the mines amount
58 to about six lakhs of maunds a year, and that the average of
59 the past two years slightly exceeds that of the three years
60 ending with 1894-95. The winter is the season for sales at the
61 Kohat Salt Mines, pack animals being turned’ out to graze
62 during the hot months, and traders and carriers do not venture
63 into the lower country during the heat of summer. It is said
64 that old stocks of salt still exist: but it seems to be likely
65 that there will be some revival of trade at the enhanced rate
66 of duty during the latter half of 1897-98.
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