§ MR. JAMES BAILEY (Newington, Walworth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Mercantile Association of Swaziland, Limited, between 4th February and 15th September, 1903, were compelled by the Transvaal Government to pay £1,008 13s. 11d., and other sums since, for Customs duties on goods imported into Swaziland, and that after repeated applications for refund of those duties, the Government at Pretoria on 12th February, 1904, wrote that the Colonial Secretary was not then in a position to fix any date by which the Government would be able to deal with the Swaziland concession, but that it was understood that the Customs duties were paid under protest, subject to refund if it should appear that the Government were not entitled to recover dues; and, if so, can he say when a definite reply will be given.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have not been specifically informed as to the sums which this Association has been called upon to pay for Customs duties but I am aware that the Government has not yet been able to give a definite reply as to the manner in which it proposes to deal with the concessions. I expect that it will be possible to give a reply at an early date, and I propose to receive a deputation of those who represent interests in Swaziland next week.