§ MR. SUMMERBELLI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the exact quantity of sugar on which duty has been paid by sugar planters of Trinidad employing indentured East Indian immigrants towards the reimbursement of expenses for their collection and introduction during the years 1905, 1906, and 1907; the exact quantity of cane cultivated by cane farmers and sold during these years to sugar factories in which such immigrants are employed; and whether separate accounts are kept in such factories of the quantity of sugar manufactured and exported, and an account given to the local Government of such portion in which indentured labour is not employed.
§ COLONEL SEELYDuty is only imposed on sugar exported from Trinidad. The revenue derived from the sugar tax has been: in 1904–5, £19,543; in 1905–6, £15,009; in 1906–7, £16,873. The further information asked for by the hon. Member cannot be obtained except from the individual planters, but no account of the nature indicated by the hon. Member is, so far as the Secretary of State is aware, given to the Colonial Government.
§ *MR. REESCan it be maintained that the planters do not contribute their fair share to the revenue? Is it not on their industry that the prosperity of the island is chiefly dependent?
§ COLONEL SEELYThat is another Question I cannot answer off-hand.