THE YEAR 1931 IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The outstanding feature of 1931 was undoubtedly the rapid fall in the revenue of the Colony and Protectorate, which half-way through the year necessitated drastic reductions in Government expenditure, and in the case of the Survey Department led to the termination of the appointments of 15 European surveyors, I lithographer, and 20 members of the African staff. This cut, equivalent to a reduction of 28 per cent. of European and of 13 per cent. of African personnel, had unfortunately to be carried out at the height of the topographical and trigonometrical season and naturally entailed the closing down of some survey operations and the re-posting of officers to other duties to readjust the reduced personnel to more urgent requirements.