§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAY (Devonshire, Honiton)I beg to ask the Under-secretary of State for the Colonies, is His Majesty's Government aware that merchants in the Delta of the Niger complain that fines imposed by the Government in Southern Nigeria are paid by the offenders in gin, and that, by its acceptance of such payments, the Government directly discourages the establishment of a currency in specie and encourages a currency in gin; and will he say what action His Majesty's Government is taking in the matter.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel SEELY,) Liverpool, AbercrombyThe Secretary of State has communicated with the Governor by telegram, and is informed that the statement that fines imposed by the Government are paid in gin in any part of Southern Nigeria is entirely without foundation. I regret that such a statement should have been made.