No.350,
REVENUE, 23RD JULY 1896. 23
The figures given in this statement, except for the balance of sulphate of quinine
shown in the last column, have been taken from the report under review. As regards
the sulphate of quinine, however, Mr. Hooper states that the stock outstanding at the
end of the year was 2,880 lb. excluding " 60 lb." dryage. So far as the Govern-
ment is aware " dryage " has not been referred to in preceding reports as a cause of
diminution in the stock ; the allowance now made on this account appears to be exces-
sive and should be explained.
8. The quantity of sulphate of quinine manufactured during the year was about
1,000 lb. less than in the previous year while that sold (5,644 lb.) was over 2,000 lb.
more than in any preceding year. The small outturn in the factory is reported to be
due to the late arrival of fusel oil from England while the increase in the sales is
chiefly attributable to an indent for 1,500 lb. received from the Calcutta Medical
Stores Department. From the present report it is not apparent what quantities of
quinine and febrifuge were sold to the public at large. The Government desires
that in future reports this information as well as the details of the several other items
gi ven under t he headi ng ' ' Qui ni ne " i n paragraph IX shoul d be separat el y furni shed.
9. An important feature in the year's administration was the extension of the
sale of quinine packets by the postal agency. The system was at first introduced into
five districts as an experimental measure and on receipt of a report showing the results
of the experiment it was in January last resolved to extend the system to the
other districts in the Presidency (with the exception of Madras and Chingleput), as
also, at the request of the Chief Commissioner, to the Province of Coorg. The total
number of packets issued to post offices during the year was 4,079 while 2,638 were
di st ri but ed t o Col l ect ors, &amp; c. The det ai l s of t he sal es effect ed wi l l be revi ewed when
the separate report on the subject called for in G.O., No. 224, dated 7th March 1893,
is received.
10. The total receipts during the year amounted to Rs. 1,02,882, excluding the
price of packets issued to Postmasters and Collectors, and Rs. 1,08,696 inclusive
thereof, against a budget estimate of Rs. 65,000 and a revised estimate of Rs. 1,00,000.
During the twelve years of the late Mr. Lawson's administration of the Department the
former amount was slightly exceeded only once, in 1885-86 ; it has never before been.
reached since the manufacture of quinine has been undertaken by the Department.
The Civil budget estimates for the current year show that the receipts during
1.894-95, were only Rs. 77,712. The expenditure during the year under review was
Rs. 82,560 as against Rs. 78,235 in the previous year, but the Government notes
with satisfaction that the net result of the operations was a gain of about Rs. 26,135.
This figure moreover apparently excludes the price (Rs. 5,074) of about 4,700 packets
of quinine supplied to Burma. It is observed that, while in paragraph XI of the
report, the number of quinine packets sent out is shown as 6,053, in paragraph
II credit is taken for only 5,814 packets. This discrepancy requires explanation.
11. In statement No. 12 appended. to the report the grand totals under " Disburse-
ment s " and " Recei pt s, &amp; c. " whi ch shoul d have been equal are shown as Rupees
3,29,856-4-1 and Rs. 3,31,356-4-1 respectively. The amount shown on account of
" loss on operations " should be the difference between the grand total of the " Dis
bursements " and the totals of the other items under " Receipts, &amp;c. " or Rs. 59,395-9-6
instead of Rs. 60,895-9-6. It should be explained how the latter figure was arrived
at. In this connection, the attention of the Accountant-General will be drawn to
paragraph 9 of Dr. King's report appended to the present order and he will be
requested to give his opinion as to the best way in which the existing forms of statements
Nos. 11 and 12 may be modified. The latter statement, it will be noted, is based upon
a form sent out by the India Office in 1886 (G.O., No. 260, dated 3rd April 1886),
which was drawn up before the operations of the Cinchona Department were extended
so as to include the manufacture and sale of sulphate of quinine.
12. In conclusion, His Excellency the Governor in Council desires to record his
high. appreciation of the work done by the late Mr. Lawson as Director of the Govern
ment Cinchona Plantations during a period of over twelve years. From the report of