§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the declaration made by Sir Alfred Milner is intended to mean that forfeiture of landed property by the Transvaal Government made after the 10th October, 1899, for non-payment of ordinary taxes, or for any other cause, will be annulled by the British Government, or whether that declaration is intended to apply only to non-payment of war tax; and if the latter is the meaning, what facilities, if any, are to be afforded to British subjects to pay the ordinary taxes and to obtain receipts, having regard to the fact that the ordinary channels for such purposes are not available.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,.) Birmingham, WThe notice issued on 26th January covers cases of confiscation for the non-payment of ordinary rents or licences, as well as those for failure to pay the new War Tax. The War Tax must not in any case be paid, but Her Majesty's Government raise no objection to the payment of ordinary rents or licences under contracts made prior to the commencement of the war.
§ MR. KIMBERCan the right hon. Gentleman say by what means or by what conduit persons owing ordinary taxes can pay them, and to whom?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINNo, I do not think it is my business to suggest by what conduit or how they should pay taxes to the Transvaal Government. If the rates of pay are subject to contract prior to the war Her Majesty's Government will not take any proceedings Against them.