§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the value of taxes paid by the white community of British East Africa, together with rents, licences, registration fees, and fees for land sales and cattle sales; and what proportion does the amount bear to such taxes, fees, and other State charges paid by the rest of the taxpayers.
§ COLONEL SEELYIt is not possible to give exact figures, but the latest estimate, which refers to the year 1905–6, gives the figures of taxation as £2,550 paid by white colonists and £49,439 by the rest of the taxpayers, or a proportion of about 1 to 20. If the receipts from rents estimated at £5,365 were all credited to the white colonists the proportion would be about 1 to 6.
§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)Can the hon. Gentleman say in regard to the white population how many are salaried officers of the Crown and how many paid officers of the Syndicate?
§ COLONEL SEELYI can inquire.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKERThe hon. Gentleman has not answered that portion 1648 of my Question as to licences, registration fees, etc.
§ COLONEL SEELYI am sorry if it has been overlooked. Possibly we have not the information in our possession. If the hon. Gentleman will put another Question we will try and give him the information.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKERI will repeat my Question.