§ Mr. BARRasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a consignment of liquor was sent out to Lagos, the chief port of Nigeria; that the Nigerian Customs authorities declined to receive it; and that the spirit merchants concerned in these shipments appealed to the Colonial Office, with the result that they were released and admitted; and if he can inform the House as to the grounds given by the Customs authorities for stopping the consignment and his own reasons for securing its admission?
§ Captain MARGESSONI have been asked to reply. The facts are that the Nigerian Government decided without notice to prohibit the importation of certain brands of Dutch gin, described as pot-still gin, on suspicion that they contained patent-still spirit, although no question had previously been raised. In view of the sudden dislocation of commerce caused by this action, it was suggested that shipments of these brands which were already at sea might be allowed to enter without protest, and the Colonial Government so decided. It has since been ascertained that the reason adduced by the Colonial Government for the suspected presence of patent-still spirit (namely, the presence of traces of copper arising out of manufacture) has no real foundation, so that the spirits were permissible imports.