Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he can state when the Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the importation of spirits into West Africa will be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)The Report is now being prepared for presentation to Parliament, and will be ready very shortly.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked if any representations have been made by the Governor of South Nigeria to the authorities of Dahomey, French West Africa, with reference to raising the duty on imported spirits so as to check smuggling from French territory into British; and, if so, what reply has been returned by the French authorities?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Governor of Southern Nigeria has not yet reported the result of the representations made by him to the Governor of Dahomey on the subject of an increase of the duties on spirits.
§ Colonel SEELYPerhaps my hon. Friend will put down a question on that subject.
Sir GILBERT PARKERMay I ask if a representation was made by the Governor of Southern Nigeria to the French representative in Dahomey concerning the raising of duty from British territory?
§ Colonel SEELYThe representations, to which alone this question refers, are as to the question of smuggling. Raising the duties in one part would be of no use if the spirits come in over the boundary.