Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that, though the revision of the Trinidad Customs tariff has been under consideration since 1906, nothing was made public until after the new tariff was arranged and accepted by the Legislative Council, and therefore no opportunity was given to any of the persons or bodies affected, with the exception of the druggists, to express their opinions; and whether he is aware that owing to the limited extent of the elective principle in the Legislative Council the working classes believe that because of the secrecy maintained their interests have been sacrificed; and will he state what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Colonel SEELYMy hon. Friend is no doubt aware that it is usual, and indeed necessary in the interests of the Revenue, that any alterations which may be contemplated in a Customs tariff shall be carried into effect without allowing importers an opportunity to forestall the action of the Legislature. The Secretary of State sees no reason to believe that the interests of the working classes in Trinidad have been sacrificed in the changes which it has recently been found necessary to make in the Customs tariff of the Colony.
Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the greater portion of the increase under the revised Trinidad tariff is obtained either from fresh duties on articles of food largely used by the working class, such as salt pork or salt 1179 fish, or from increased duties upon other, food, and that, owing to the system of indentured labour, no corresponding rise in wages is possible; and what action he proposes to take in this matter?
§ Colonel SEELYI think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension as to the general effect of the increase which it has unfortunately been necessary to make in the Customs tariff of Trinidad, and that I cannot do better than quote the following extract from a Minute written by the collector of Customs on the subject:—"The articles used mainly by the working classes on which new duties are imposed are fish (pickled, smoked, and dried), meats (preserved in brine or dried), peas, and beans. These articles were free under the old tariff, and the duties now imposed are extremely moderate, namely: 50 cents the 100 1bs. on meats and 1s. the 100 lbs. on the other articles. The revenue estimated to be derived from them amounts at the outside to about £8,000, against which compensation is given by the reduction of the duties on oils, workmen's tools and implements, and other articles. The larger part of the increased duties will be derived from articles of food used by the wealthier classes of the community. The tariff of Trinidad as amended is generally lower than those of the other islands."
§ Mr. W. THORNEWill the increased duties increase the cost?
§ Colonel SEELYNo doubt that will be the case.
Mr. POINTERasked whether the import duty on matches costing 10d. per gross has been fixed in the new Trinidad tariff at 1s. 6d. per gross, being equal to a tax of 180 per cent.; and whether the import duty on cocoanut oil, an article of local production and of large local consumption among East Indians, has been left in the new tariff at 1s. 3d. per gallon?
§ Colonel SEELYNo alteration has taken place in the rate of duty imposed on matches imported into the Colony, which was formerly 2s. 6d. a gross on boxes of 120 and is now 1s. 6d. a gross on boxes of 72. The rate of duty on cocoanut oil was also left unaltered.
Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he had any knowledge of the existence in Trinidad of a rum trust which supplies the 1180 local markets at 2s. 3½d. per gallon, the production above what is required for local consumption being sold in England at from 10d. to 1s. per gallon; whether what makes this state of things possible is the fact that the Excise Duty is 8s. 6d. per gallon and the import duty 9s. per gallon in Trinidad; whether it had been understood that this anomaly would be remedied whenever the tariff was revised; and whether he can give any reason why this abuse still continues?
§ Colonel SEELYMy hon. Friend's question appears to be founded on a misapprehension due to a confusion between the liquid and the proof gallon. Rum is sold in the Colony by the liquid gallon and not by the proof gallon as in England. The average strength of the rum produced is 40 per cent, over proof. I am informed that the average local price is about 2s. per liquid gallon and the average market price in England about 1s. 2d. to 1s. 4d. per proof gallon. I may add that the question of an increase in the Excise Duty is under consideration.
Mr. POINTERasked whether it would be possible by raising the Trinidad Excise Duty from Ss. 6d. to 9s. to produce an additional revenue of £7,600, entirely deducted from the profits of the trust, the price of rum remaining the same or lower to the consumer as before?
§ Colonel SEELYAs I informed my hon. Friend, in reply to another question, the possibility of an increase in the Excise Duty—which is, however, already in excess of the Excise Duties imposed in other Colonies—is under consideration.
Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Sir George Le Hunte, in Trinidad, is considering a still further increase of taxation; whether a committee has been appointed with that object; and, if so, whether he can supply their names, and state whether their deliberations will be entirely secret or whether the public will be given an opportunity to discuss the proposals made by them before they are finally adopted?
§ Colonel SEELYA committee has been appointed to consider the question of raising the additional revenue required for necessary public works. The committee was to consist of the Colonial-Secretary, the Auditor-General, the Receiver-General, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Goodwille, Mr. 1181 Henderson, and Mr. C. de Verteuil, the last four gentlemen being members of the Legislative Council; Mr. W. Scott, Mr. McLelland, the Warden of Tacarigua, Mr. Boland, who is the chairman of the St. Ann's Local Road Board, and Mr. C. C. Soodeen, who is chairman of the East India Association. The Secretary of State has no information on the points raised in the last part of my hon. Friend's question, but it is obvious that any increase or alteration of taxation that may be recommended could only be enacted after discussion in the Legislative Council.
§ Colonel SEELYI am not quite sure. Speaking off-hand, I would not like to say; but I will inquire, if my hon. Friend wishes.
Mr. POINTERWould it be possible for the Working Men's Association of Trinidad to be represented on that Council as representative of the working classes?
§ Colonel SEELYAll questions of representation in Trinidad are very difficult, as my hon. Friend knows. If we were to give representation to the Working Men's Association it would be necessary to give representation of the East India Association, which are a larger element of the community. We have every desire to give representation to all interests concerned, but it is a difficult matter.
§ Colonel SEELYI should not like to say.