1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR Ig00-igol,
2 the two preceding years. The industry is at present in a INTERNAL BRANCH.
3 depressed condition.
4 61. In the Jhternal Branch a reduction of establishment,
5 which will result in an eventual saving of Rs. 7,532 a year,
6 was, effected during the year (a) by abolishing the patrol
7 parties employed under petty officers in the supervision
8 of saltpetre works, and (4) by substituting temporary for per-
9 manent men to watch sulphate of soda factories and to ac-
10 company Assistant Commissioners on their cold weather tours.
11 In August 1890 Mr. Carey informed the Government of India
12 that he proposed to dispense with patrol parties under petty
13 officers ; and the intention then announced was finally carried
14 into effect last year. These parties did very little good, and
15 the men composing them were exposed to great temptation.
16 Sulphate of soda works are only active for a few months in
17 each year, and it was therefore unnecessary to maintain the
18 permanent establishment throughout the year at a strength
19 sufficient to provide the-guards required for them. Sanction
20 has been accorded by the Government of India to the enter-
21 tainment of the necessary temporary establishment for a period
22 not exceeding five months in each year; and, as the works
23 are generally not active for more than two or three months,
24 the above period may be regarded as the maximum for which
25 the establishment is likely to be entertained. Similarly,
26 Assistant Commissioners are on tour in tents for a limited
27 period in each year, and the men they require for camp work
28 will in future be employed as temporary servants for a period
29 not exceeding six months in each year. The subordinate
30 establishment hitherto employed in connection with the super-
31 vision of the Calcutta refineries was also included in the
32 reduction.
33 62. The special report, called for by the Government of
34 India in their Review of the Annual Report for 1899-1900
35 upon the working of the Internal Branch, was submitted on the
36 22nd June igor. As stated in that report, the working of the
37 Branch has been considerably improved during the year.
38 Mr. Buckley was transferred from Pachbadra to the Upper
39 Division in 1900, and in the course of his cold weather tour
40 he did much to stimulate the zeal and increase the practical
41 knowledge cf his subordinates; and Mr. McGowan, who was
42 in charge of the Lower Division during the absence of Mr.
43 Robyns on leave in the hot weather of 1900, and who suc-
44 ceeded to the Division upon Mr. Robyns’ death, has also- ap-
45 Hie himself with zeal and energy to the discharge of his
46 uties, é
47 63. The fluctuations between the prices of salt which
48 obtained during the month of March 1gor and those which
49 obtained in the corresponding month of the preceding year do
50 not call for special explanation. The wholesale price of salt
51 appears to have been somewhat higher in Behar and lower in
52 the North-Western Provinces and Oudh than in the preceding
53 year, but the retail prices show very little variation,
54 64. The North-West Soap Company at Meerut received
55 a refund of duty amounting to Rs. 2,047 on salt used in the
56 manufacture of soap during the year compared with Rs, 1,578
57 tefunded in 1899-1900. The quantity of soap made during
58 the year, maunds 10.971, was larger by maunds 2,018 than
59 the quantity made in the previous year, and the quantity of
60 salt used, vzz., maunds 810-9, was in consequence larger by
61 maunds 115-21%, but the quantity of’ salt used for each
62 maund of soap manufactured was 2 seers 15°26 chittaks only
63 ( at )
64 Reduction of establish-
65 ment,
66 Special report submitted
67 On the Internal
68 Branch.
69 Prices of salt,
70 Appendix XIV.
71 Salt issued free of duty
72 for use in manuface
73 ture.