§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire,) South MoltonI beg to ask the Postmaster General, as representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, in any of the Colonies in South Africa, Customs duties are charged on imported articles, such as spirits and tobacco, used by the British Army there; if so, can he state what these duties are and since when have they been imposed.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINTransvaal Ordinance No. 22 of 1902 provides that, "Articles imported or taken out of bond for the sole exclusive and personal use of any member of His Majesty's Regular Forces serving on full pay duty. The Customs duties of the Caps Colony, Natal, and the Orange River Colony are those prescribed by the South African Customs Union, one of the provisions of which is that wine and spirits and beer for the sole use of commissioned officers of His Majesty's 917 Regular Force shall be exempt from duty. Prior to the war drawbacks were given amounting to 25s. per man per annum in Cape Colony, and 35s. per man per annum in Natal in 1899. Various privileges were given by the Governments of the Cape and Natal to the troops during the war, but these have now been withdrawn, as it has been decided to revert to the system of drawbacks as from 1st October last. His Majesty's Government is in correspondence with the two Colonial Governments with regard to the amount of the drawbacks.
§ MR. LAMBERTThen I understand that the drawback has not been settled?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINNot the amount of it.