§ 12. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the restrictions on the importation of alcoholic liquors into the Gold Coast were removed in 1922, and that the quantities of gin imported have risen from 9,782 gallons to 527,888 gallons in consequence; and whether steps can be taken to replace the restrictions at once?
§ Mr. AMERYIt is not the case that the restrictions on the importation of alcoholic liquors into the Gold Coast were removed in 1922. The importation of gin was very severely restricted in 1919 pending a decision as to the regime to be applied to the trade in spirits, and this accounts for the very low import of gin — 9,782 gallons—in that year. It was decided in accordance with the Liquor Traffic Convention of 1919 to prohibit only trade spirits and injurious spirits, and the importation of other spirits consequently became more normal. As the imports of spirits in 1924 were not much more than one-third of the imports in 1913, there seems no sufficient ground for altering the present restrictions.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether this 527,000 gallons now imported excludes trade spirits, or whether it includes any of the trade spirits smuggled in over the borders from adjoining territory?
§ Mr. AMERYAnything that is smuggled would not, I fancy, come into these statistics. I imagine this total includes all the spirit allowed into the Gold Coast.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI should not have used the word" smuggled"; I should have said brought in in contravention of the Regulations we enforce as to the importation of spirits. Does it include trade spirits?
§ Mr. AMERYI think it does, but if the right hon. and gallant Member will ask a specific question on that point, I will give him a definite answer.