HC Deb 30 March 1910 vol 15 cc1294-5
Mr. REES

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Nyasaland received from every native who emigrated from the country a Hut Tax double that collected from natives who remained within the Protectorate?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)

The Nyasaland Government has been authorised to collect from all natives who go down to South Africa under control a Hut Tax of 12s. a year instead of the Hut Tax of 6s. a year which they would pay if they remained in the country.

Mr. REES

Arising out of that answer, may I ask whether this state of affairs does not constitute at least a potential temptation even to a virtuous Government?

Colonel SEELY

No, sir. I think the Government would be proof against any such temptation. It is a reasonable provision to pay for the expense of looking after the natives who insist on going to South Africa.

Sir GILBERT PARKER

May I ask whether the effect of this double Hut Tax has been to decrease emigration from Nyasaland to Rhodesia or other parts of South Africa?

Colonel SEELY

I could not say without notice whether that is the effect, but I should think so. Emigration was not permitted under supervision until up to a short time ago, and then only because we could not stop it, and we thought it better to supervise it. Of course, it would tend to have that effect.

Mr. REES

asked whether the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture of Nyasaland had recorded and communicated to the Secretary of State a resolution deprecating any encouragement by the Government of organised or regulated emigration from Nyasaland; and, if so, whether any action had been taken on such resolution?

Colonel SEELY

It appears from the "Nyasaland Times" of the 28th October, 1909, that a meeting was held at Blantyre on the 23rd of that month, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, at which a resolution was passed protesting "against the opening of the Protectorate to recruiting for the labour market of South Africa or elsewhere," but they did not communicate the resolution to the Secretary of State.