§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the importation of intoxicating liquor into the Lagos hinterland, and its sale there, and particularly in the city of Ibadan, has largely increased of latter years; whether this is due to the facilities provided by the Government railway for the carriage and storage of spirits, among such facilities being a much lower freight on spirits between Lagos and Ibadan than the cost of carriage by road and the erection of special stores for spirits at various places on the line; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take any steps to remove these facilities, and to discourage the importation of liquor, and particularly of overproof spirit, into the Lagos hinterland.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) As regards the importation of liquor into the Lagos hinterland by road, systematic records have only recently been instituted on this subject; but, as regards the spirits carried by the railway, the general manager in his last published report says that the demand shows little or no upward tendency, and that the rail-borne traffic bears an infinitesimal ratio of the total imports. The importation of overproof spirit into Abeokuta and Ibadan is prohibited. The duty on spirits imported into Lagos has recently been increased to 3s. 6d. a gallon, and it may be added that the duty was 8d. a 1112 gallon in 1891. The total imports of spirits into Lagos has considerably decreased in the last two years. In the circumstances there does not appear to be any necessity to take any steps in the direction suggested, by the hon. Member.