§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the cost of collection of hut tax in the British Central Africa Protectorate in the year 1898-9, when the tax amounted to £12,648, as compared with 1897-8, when the tax collected was £8,083; and is the tax paid in the form of labour or otherwise; if in labour, how many days' service are enforced, and what is the amount of tax per head.
§ MR. BRODRICK(1) It is difficult to say what the cost of the collection of this tax is. The staff of assistants, who are charged amongst other duties with that of collecting the tax, was raised in 1898 by four, the commencing salary being £150. (2) Hut tax regulations were published in the British Central Africa Gazette of August 20th, 1894. The tax is fixed at 3s. for each hut, payable in sterling coin on the 31st December. In cases of necessity the collector may accept any marketable stock or produce in lieu of coin. The regulations do not touch labour in any form.