Annual report on Sierra Leone / Colonial Office.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1953]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Sierra Leone / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/112 page 4
    for the majority of export crops led to a higher level of prosperity in the territory. There was a drop in the export of palm kernels and the export of palm oil was still restricted in order to ensure ample supplies for local consumption. There was a notable revival in the export of coffee and over 1,000 tons were exported compared with only token exports in 1952. There was some increase in the export of ginger from the low level of 1952 and piassava exports improved during the latter half of the year. Cocoa exports were steady. The Ministry of Food contract for bananas was not renewed, and the crop had to be sold in the open market. This was done with success and exports were increased and higher prices obtained. Export of this commodity could be still further increased if adequate refrigerated shipping space was available. Minerals continued to have an important share of total exports. There were no new developments in the processing of primary products. Seven “pioneer” oil mills, financed by the Produce Marketing Board, were in operation and produced 550 tons of palm oil and 60C tons of palm kernels'. Two rice mills were operated by Government and a groundnut-oil expressing plant was completed during the year and is now undergoing trials. This plant should meet all local requirements for groundnut oil and produce considerable quantities of anima fodder. There was a keen demand by private individuals for mobile palm-nu crackers, coffee hullers and small rice mills, and a number of these an, now in operation throughout the territory. DEVELOPMENT The main buildings and installations of the deep-water quay fc Freetown were substantially completed though a number of mine works still remained to be done. It was not, however, possible to brina the quay into use before the end of the year. The Economic Development Plan provides for the construction cl some 550 miles of new trunk roads and ten bridges. It was originall intended that this work should be financed from loans raised by tl| Government, but, in face of constantly rising costs, it became apparei it that the funds available were insufficient to complete the programmi A Colonial Development and Welfare grant of £160,000 was therefo ; made to cover the cost of 106 miles of new roads and another grant £440,000 was made towards the cost of the ten bridges, estimated u £575,000. During the year 103 miles of new roads were opened fE traffic and at the end of the year construction was in progress on thr , further roads totalling 84 miles in length. A contract for the co| struction of the ten road bridges was awarded to Messrs. Pauling Co. Ltd., the contractors for the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, and wol was begun on five of them. Progress on the extension and strengthening of the runway at tflj airport at Lungi continued to be slow owing to shortage of plant a | staff and the difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies of stone in 1* vicinity.
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