§ 27. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing uneasiness of the natives in West Africa at the possibility of the imposition of a Palm-kernel and Palm-oil Tax; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf the hon. Member is referring to the proposed Export Duty on palm kernels, I have received no representations from the natives of West Africa against the adoption of that proposal.
§ 28. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has consented to the remission of any export duties in the West African Colonies on merchants' stocks; and, if so, whether this remission will exempt the merchants while the producers remain subject to the full duties and the consequent reduction in the value of their produce?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn the Gold Coast, when the export duty of ¼d. per pound was imposed on cocoa the Legislative Council exempted stocks warehoused at the port of shipment on the 30th September. As the cocoa in question was purchased by the merchants before they knew of the coming tax, and therefore at prices which did not take it into account, I see no ground for thinking that any hardship will fall on the producers.
§ Mr. MOLTENOAre we to understand that the producer must pay and the merchants do not?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, Sir. The same kind of difficulties often arise in the imposition of new taxes, and I think they have been fairly met by the Legislative Council.
§ 29. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what export duties are now in operation in the West African Colonies, and when they were brought into operation; and what further export duties are to be imposed?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe export duties at present in force in the various West African Colonies are: in the Gambia 6s. 8d. per ton on ground nuts. This duty was first levied in 1887. In the Gold Coast ¼d per pound on cocoa from the 1st of October, 1916. In Nigeria £1 2s. 6d. per ton on palm kernels; £2 per ton on palm oil and £2 6s. 8d. per ton (¼d. per pound) on cocoa. These Nigerian export duties were imposed on 7th October last. They are, however, being reduced by one half in the case of produce exported before 1st April, 1917. There is also in Nigeria an export duty on tin ore not smelted within the British Empire, equal to 3¾ per cent. on the value. This came into force in April last. The ordinary royalties on tin ore in Nigeria are also collected in the form of an export duty. The only further export duty in contemplation, so far as I am aware, is that of £2 a ton on all palm kernels crushed outside the British Empire which has been recommended by the Edible Nuts Committee, whose report was recently presented to Parliament.
§ Mr. MOLTENOIs that in addition to the existing duty?