§ MR. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercromby)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that British trade, both in Northern and Southern Nigeria, is hampered by a premium of 1 per cent, levied by the Government on all silver coin imported into these colonies; and whether, having regard to the fact that the Mint deliver silver coin free into Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, and Lagos, it will grant the same facilities to Nigeria; and, if not, for what reasons.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) In the Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and Lagos, a bank is established which is responsible for the disposal of redundant silver coin and which is permitted, in view of that responsibility, to import silver coin from the Mint, free of freight and other charges, and to charge 1391 a premium up to the amount of 1 per cent, on the nominal value of silver coin which it supplies to its customers. In Nigeria there is at present no such bank, and the responsibility for the disposal of redundant silver coin rests on the local Government, which charges the premium of 1 per cent, on the nominal value of silver coin obtained from the Mint for importation into Nigeria in order to safeguard itself against the expense of repatriating redundant coin. In these circumstances I am unable to admit that British trade is hampered by the charge in question or to hold out any expectation that the charge will be remitted.