§ SIR J. WILLOX (Liverpool, Everton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an ordinance has been published imposing on the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla new taxes, including an income tax on all incomes 958 from £75 to £150 per annum of two and a half per cent., and over £150 per annum of three per cent., also what is called a mercantile and huckster's licence, costing from £20 to 25s. per annum, without which no person can sell goods, wares, merchandise, provisions, or any other commodities, and a wheel tax on vehicles; and whether, considering the impoverishment of the Colony, an equilibrium between expenditure and revenue could be established by a reduction in the cost of the administration of the islands?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)I am aware and have approved of the imposition of the taxes referred to, which I consider to be fair and reasonable; on the other hand, there has been considerable remission of taxation, which bore heavily upon the sugar industry. Every effort has been and will be made to reduce expenditure in these islands.