§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will state what "change in 1872 was made in the system of taxation "in Sierra Leone; when the increase of the Revenue of the West African settlements, in consequence of the acquisition of the Dutch Colonies, began to be apparent; what was the cause of the change for the worse in the Revenue of the Gold Coast, which took place in 1874; and if he will state what are the Export Duties, besides that on nut oil, which forms "the bulk of the receipts (of Revenue)?"
§ MR. J. LOWTHERIn 1872 an entire revision of the Customs duties was effected at Sierra Leone. Many small articles were exempted from duty. The duty, was, however, retained, and in some cases increased on spirits, rum, tobacco, guns, and gunpowder. There was also levied an export duty on ground nuts. The increase of the revenue of the Gold Coast Colony, which my noble Friend appears, not unnaturally, to have confused with the West African Settlement, became apparent as soon as the termination of the Ashantee War allowed trade to be freely resumed. It is not the case that there was any change for the worse in the revenue of the Gold Coast Colony until 1876, when the returns showed an inclination to fall short of the estimate. The export duties at the Gambia are only on ground nuts.