§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the export duties in the Leeward Islands were originally imposed on the assurance that so soon as a surplus could be shown the duties should be in whole or in part remitted; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that such a surplus has now been established, he can now give effect to such assurances?
§ Colonel SEELYThere are no export duties imposed in the Leeward Islands as a whole. As I explained in my answer to the hon. Gentleman's previous question on the subject, each Presidency has its own system of taxation enacted by its own Legislature, and in some of the Presidencies export duties on different articles 373 have been in force for a considerable period. Any such assurance as that to which the hon. Gentleman refers must have been given, if at all, in respect of a particular Presidency. If he will inform me in which Presidency or Presidencies he believes the assurance to have been given, I will look into the matter, and, if necessary, ask the Secretary of State to obtain a report from the Governor on the subject.