§ 71. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he contemplates imposing a preferential tax of £2 a ton on oil-seed products from the Gold Coast Colony; whether he contemplates a similar measure for Nigeria, Gambia, and Sierra Leone; and what are the present steps that he is taking to compel natives to sell to British manufacturers?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Lieut.-Colonel Amery)Ordinances have been passed in the four West African Colonies imposing, as from the 20th October, a duty of £2 a ton upon palm kernels which are exported to a destination outside the British Empire. This duty does not apply to any other kind of oil-seeds. No steps are being taken to compel natives to sell to British manufacturers.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHave these ordinances been put into operation, or have they been temporarily suspended?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThey were put into operation on 20th October.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas this legislation passed by the legislative council or by the governor using his constitutional right of over-riding them?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYTo which of the colonies does my hon. and gallant Friend refer?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYTo all of them.
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI understand that they were passed by the ordinary Legislative Council of the Colonies, except in the case of the Gold Coast, where it was passed by the use of the official majority.
§ 72. Colonel WEDGWOODasked whether the governors of the West African Dependencies have been requested to prohibit the exports of palm kernels to destinations other than British; whether commodities other than palm kernels have been included in these prohibitions; and, if so, whether the prohibitions are absolute or proportionate and upon what scale?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYYes, Sir. In order to secure an adequate supply of oil-producing seeds and their products, including margarine, for the next few months, the Governments have been requested to prohibit the exportation to destinations outside the British Empire of palm-kernels, ground-nuts, and copra. Licences will be granted to exporters allowing them to export to any lawful destination certain proportions of the commodities mentioned. These proportions are for copra, an equal amount for ground-nuts one-fifth, and for kernels one-ninth of the quantity shipped to the United Kingdom.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs any compensation going to be paid to the native producers of these products for the restriction of the markets in which they might sells?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI do not understand that the native producers will lose in any way.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I state that I will raise this question on the adjournment to-night?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn the case of any territory over which this country receives the mandate, will a similar arrangement be put in force, and, if so, will the League of Nations be consulted?