§ 25. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the provisions in the constitutions of the respective West African Colonies which make it legal for the governors to secure powers from the legislative councils to increase, by Order in Council, taxes to any amount they think desirable without further recourse to the legislative councils?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Steel-Maitland)There is nothing in the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions constituting the Legislative Councils of the several Colonies which limits their powers in this matter.
§ 26. Mr. MOLTENOasked what were the selling prices of palm kernels in each of the five years preceding the War in our several West African Colonies, and the prices for the same in each of the years of the War up to the latest date; and what were the selling prices in this country at the corresponding dates?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDI have no official information which would enable 193 me to aniswer this question, but I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ 27. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consult local opinion in the West African Colonies before he presses upon the several Legislative Councils of those Colonies the immediate imposition of a duty of £2 per ton and upwards on the principal export of those Colonies?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDThe proposal to impose the duty has been given full publicity, and there will be ample time for local opinion to express itself through the usual channels before the proposal becomes law.
Colonel GRIFFITHSIs my hon. Friend aware that the Colonies, as far as West Africa is concerned, are strongly in favour of this tax?
§ Mr. STEEL—MAITLANDI have no reason to doubt it.