Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

can be based with certainty, and Consul Riddell, writes, April, 1876:-"As no accurate statistics of the annual trade are accessible, if indeed any be recorded in the different government departments, the bases of valuation and estimation have to be obtained as best they can through the agency of local traders, and cannot therefore amount to more than approximate accuracy." The totals of the following tables may therefore not be absolutely correct, but they still have a considerable value inasmuch as they show the variations of the last few years, and the increase or decrease of each may invariably be traced directly to the removal or the occurrence of one or more of the various influences which have been enumerated as affecting the prosperity of the trade of the island; consequently highly important information for the future regulation of taxes, export duties, &c., may be deduced therefrom.

For instance, the decrease of the total value of exports from Larnaca in 1876 and 1877, was due to long intervals between the rains, during which periods northerly and easterly bleak cold winds prevailed, to the manifest injury of the growing crops; whereas the large exports of 1874 and 1875 are to be attributed to the excellent crops of wheat and barley obtained in that year.

The decrease in the quantity of salt exported lately is due to the mistaken policy of the government with regard to the sale of this monopoly.

The increase in the quantity of tobacco now annually imported is, beyond a doubt, to be attributed to the exorbitant taxation to which the grower of the plant in Cyprus is subjected; otherwise the island could now, as it formerly did, provide for its own wants, and if it is a true saying that the prosperity of a country may be gauged by the excess of its exports over its imports, the measures which in Cyprus oppress the tobacco and vine growers, and which prevent the exportation of live stock cannot but be ill-advised.

In the same manner each falling off in the products, and consequent diminution of both trade and revenue, may be traced with certainty to a definite source.

To all who are interested in the welfare of Cyprus it is, however, a reassuring fact that the various causes of decline arise from influences which are clearly capable of removal; the art of proper cultivation may be taught, proper agricultural implements introduced, harbours with improved means and facilities for shipment constructed, the custom-house annoyances and delays, noticed by Consul Watkins in his Report for 1877, can be prevented, those taxes which are found to be inappropriate and oppressive can be re-adjusted, and a commercial spirit encouraged instead of stifled; under the influence of such reforms the great natural advantages of the island would develope, and its financial and commercial importance be fully realized.

In the following tables the trade statistics of 1877 are given in detail, and each table is briefly compared with the corresponding totals of the three previous years, so that the gain or loss may be seen at a glance.

RETURN OF THE EXPORTS FROM THE PORT OF LARNACA IN THE YEAR 1877.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

The large totals of 1874 and 1875 were due to the good crops of those years, which enabled upwards of £175,000-worth of wheat and barley alone to be exported each year.

RETURN OF THE EXPORTS FROM THE PORT OF LIMASOL IN THE YEAR 1877.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The year 1875 showed an increase on nearly all the articles of export, and a particularly large quantity of the common black wine was sent to Turkey. In 1877 the value of the locust beans exported, viz., £41,200, was about double what it had been in any previous year; there was also a marked increase in the value of the raisins exported.

RETURN OF THE IMPORTS AT THE PORT OF LARNACA IN THE YEAR 1877.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The value of the cotton manufactures, which are the chief articles of import, have decreased since 1875, when they amounted to about £81,000; in 1876 they fell to about £63,000, and last year to but little more than half that amount, as shown in the table above.

RETURN OF THE IMPORTS AT THE PORT OF LIMASOL IN THE YEAR 1877.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The trade of Limasol, though by no means so great as that of Larnaca, appears both as regards exports and imports, to fluctuate but little; the decline last year showed a greater difference than

has existed for some years, but this is fully accounted for by the depression of trade resulting from the war; the fall was chiefly in cotton manufactures, tobacco, and hardware.

The two last tables show clearly the nature of the imports which are received in Cyprus; in order of importance, as regards the quantities annually required, they may be named as follows:Cottons, and manufactured goods; tobacco; colonials (coffee, sugar, rice, &c.); ox and camel skins; leather; hardware; soap; glass; salt fish and drysalteries; petroleum; iron, wrought and unwrought; butter, &c.

The following shipping return shows that the greater part of the trade is carried on by Austrian merchant vessels, for although the Ottoman ships greatly exceed them in number, the latter are chiefly coasting craft of small tonnage.

Nationality
of Vessels.

RETURN OF SHIPPING AT THE PORT OF LARNACA IN THE YEAR 1877.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

British

French...

Austrian Italian

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

;ལཉྪསཌམྦྷ:;

2

767

38

2

767

[ocr errors]

38 1,153

4

1,177

38

60

65,562 2,662

73,444

2

[blocks in formation]

11

[blocks in formation]

2,016 138

[blocks in formation]

113

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Comparing this return with the corresponding one of the previous year, we find that during 1876 the number of vessels which entered was 457, and the value of their cargoes £154,630, or about one-half more than in 1877.

The number of vessels which cleared was 483, and the value of

their cargoes £207,900; about £60,000 more than in 1877. The decrease last year was chiefly in British and Austrian ships.

It is stated that the small craft which ply between Cyprus and Beyrout can afford to transport merchandise at a cheaper rate than larger vessels.

REVENUE.

In 1845 the revenue was 4,431,650 piastres or £40,657, and the annual expenditure 600,000 piastres or £5,504.

In 1863 Consul White in his Report gives the following table, drawn up from data which he believed to be correct, showing the revenue of the island at that time.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Independently of these sources of revenue, some fresh taxes were imposed during 1862, such as an excise duty on tobacco, and licenses to be taken out by owners of wineshops, and it was not known what sums they would produce.

This revenue gives an amount of 107 piastres per head, which is far above the average of the other possessions of the Porte, for the taxation of the whole Turkish Empire produces only 45 piastres per head.

Consul Riddell reports that the net revenue of Cyprus during the financial year ending March 1876, is "with presumably tolerable accuracy computed at over 20,000,000 piastres, all of which is drained from the island to help Imperial necessities at the capital."

In the next year Consul Pierides reported that owing to bad crops the revenue of the financial year ending March 1877 would be much below that of the two previous years: only a portion of the dimes was farmed out, the most important districts being administered by government officials.

The last report is that of Consul Watkins, dated March 1878; he states that the revenues of last year are considerably under those of the year before, in consequence of the unfavourable returns of the crops. The tithes were administered by government officials, with a view to remedy certain abuses complained of by the peasants; but the experiment, so far, has not benefited either them or the government.

Of the dimes in grain, 120,000 kilos of barley were sent to Constantinople for the requirements of the army, and about 30,000 kilos of wheat were given to the poorer of the peasants for sowing.

There can be little doubt that the island was overtaxed by the

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »