§ MR. MICHAEL DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of the Foreign Office has been called to the need of some other currency than that of gin in the Delta of the Niger, with the view to the ultimate adoption of one less injurious to the natives; whether missionaries and others are now compelled by the character of this intoxicating currency to promote, however unwillingly, the demoralisation of the people which results from this medium of exchange; and whether some steps will be taken to abate the evils resulting from this state of things?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportIt is not correct to speak of gin as a currency—still less as the sole currency on the Niger. It is one of several articles that are taken in barter by the natives. So far from there being 793 any compulsion, or any willingness to promote the demoralisation of the people, the tax upon gin has been lately doubled, and now stands at 2s. a gallon in the Niger Coast Protectorate, whilst it is heavily taxed in the portions of the Delta administered by the Niger Company, and is altogether prohibited in their inland territories. The danger of prohibitive taxation is, that the trade is then taken up by neighbouring countries, among whom France and Germany do not appear to share our view as to the desirability of increased duties, and that smuggling is fostered on a large scale.