§ 14. Mr. ERNEST BROWNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the gin imported into the told Coast, West Africa, is classified as trade spirits because it is of a kind not generally consumed by Europeans; and, if so, will he state the total number of gallons of spirits so imported in the last convenient period and the percentage of gin included in the total?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir. The importation of "trade spirits" has been prohibited since 1919 in the Gold Coast, and no gin which is classed as trade spirits is allowed to enter. In 1925 and 1926 the total importation of spirits was 943,487 and 805,642 gallons respectively, of which 91.1 and 91.3 per cent. was gin. The total importation in 1927 was 1,295,712 gallons, but I have not yet received detailed figures of each kind of liquor.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this gin is drunk only by Europeans and not by natives?
§ Mr. AMERYI do not know how far some liquor is consumed by natives, but the point is that since 1919 trade spirits have been excluded.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre we not under an obligation to prevent any gin getting into the hands of the natives?