§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the results of the system of taxation of land values in the German Colony of Kiau Chow, he will consider the advisability of adopting a similar tax in the Colony of Wei-Hai-Wei, in order to make up the annual deficit of £7,000, and so relieve the charge upon the British taxpayer.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. Churchill,) Manchester, N.W.There is already a land tax in Wei-Hai-Wei, and I am afraid that the circumstances of Wei-Hai-Wei are so different from those of Kiau Chow that there is little prospect of obtaining any substantial increase from taxation of land in the former.
§ MR. WEDGWOODWhat are the differences between the two places?
§ MR. CHURCHILLOh, they are too numerous to be cited in answer to a Question across the floor.