HC Deb 14 March 1927 vol 203 cc1620-2
21 and 25. Mr. KELLY

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies {1) what were the prices paid to native suppliers in Nigeria for palm oil and palm kernels during the period of control; and what evidence with regard to the price paid to native suppliers was furnished by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in connection with the question of controlled prices in 1919;

(2) what were the actual prices in 1913 and 1918 for palm kernels and palm oil in Lagos, on which Sir Frederick Lugard based the statement in his Report on the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria [Cmd. 468, 1920], that prices in 1918 were below pre-War prices by £3 18s. per ton for palm oil and £3 10s. 10d. per ton for kernels; and what were the prices in each year from 1900 to 1926 at Lagos and other centres, such as Benin and Ibadan?

Mr. AMERY

With the hon. Member's permission, I propose to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the replies to these questions which consist mainly of detailed figures.

Following are the details:

The average prices per ton of palm oil and palm kernels at Lagos were £21 14s. 5d. and £13 8s. 4d. in 1917 and £21 4s. 2d. and £14 2s. 3d. in 1918. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce pointed out that the prices paid to natives in the control period were less than the pre-War prices, and gave the following figures:

Palm Oil.
January May
1914. 1918.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Lagos 25 0 0 21 0 0
Freetown 20 0 0 24 0 0
Palm Kernels.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Lagos 18 0 0 13 12 6
Freetown 18 10 0 14 0 0

I do not know the actual prices used by Sir F. Lugard in his Report, but the average prices of palm oil and palm kernels at Lagos in 1913 were £21 15s. and £18 17s. 8d.; the corresponding prices in 1918 were £21 4s. 2d. and £14 2s. 3d. Particulars of average prices for 20 years to 1920 are as follows:

Southern Nigeria.
Oil. Kernels.
1901 £24 £14
1902 £24 to £26 £12 to £14
1903 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.
1904 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.
1905 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.

Southern Nigeria.
Central and Eastern Provinces.
1906 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.
1907 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.
1908 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.
1909 £12 to £13 £7 to £7 10s.
Western Province.
Oil. Kernels.
1906 £17 to £21 £11 to £13
1907 £17 to £21 £11 to £13
1908 £17 to £21 £11 to £13
1909 £14 to £21 £11 15s. to £14 5s.
Southern Nigeria.
Eastern Province.
Oil. Kernels.
1910 £13 5s. to £25 10s. £8 to £19
1911 £13 5s. to £25 10s. £8 to £19
1912 £22 6s. £16 7s.
1913 £23 3s. 4d. £19 2s. 7d.
1914 £18 to £20 £13 to £14
Central Province.
Gil. Kernels.
1910 £12 to £21 £9 to £17 10s.
1911 £12 to £21 £9 to £17 10s.
1912 £19 10s. £14
1913 £20 3s. 4d. £15 178. 2d.
1914 £18 £13
Western Province.
Oil. Kernels.
1910 £18 to £24 £12 to £16
1911 £23 12s. 6d. £15 0s. 5d.
1912 £21 19s. £15 2s.
1913 £24 5s. £18 14s. 2d.
1914 £21 15s. £14 10s.
Lagos.
Oil. Kernels.
1915 £18 15s. 2d. £10 4s. 1d.
1916 £17 5s. 6d. £9 18s. 4d.
1917 £21 14s. 5d. £13 8s. 4d.
1918 £21 4s. 2d. £14 2s. 3d.
Opobo.
Oil. Kernels.
1915 £15 14s. 9d. £10 3s. 11d.
1916 £19 14s. 11d. £12 12s. 1d.
1917 £20 16s. £12 2s.
1918 £20 19s. 2d. £12 7s. 8d.
Nigeria.
Oil. Kernels.
1919 £33 £18
1920 £42 7s. 6d. £25 19s. 6d.
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