§ 1. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if the suggestion recommended by the High Commissioner for increasing the national income of Swaziland by the authorisation of a distinctive postage stamp to be used in the Protectorate has been approved and its adoption sanctioned, in view of the present financial stress due to the general economic depression?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)Swaziland has hitherto used Union of South Africa postage stamps. Recently, however, a separate issue for Swaziland was approved, which came into use at the beginning of January.
§ 2. Mr. GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, having regard to the fact that the estimated yield of taxation of natives in Swaziland amounts to £39,500 as compared with a total of £3,800 paid by Europeans, he will consider whether the proposed land tax, estimated to yield 781 £4,500 a year, represents a fair contribution by Europeans to the revenue of the country or whether some readjustment will be made?
Mr. THOMASThe considerations which led to the proposal for instituting a land tax in Swaziland are fully set out in the Report of the Financial and Economic Mission which visited the territory recently (see Command Paper 4114), and the matter is now under examination.
§ Mr. GRENFELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope of transferring a larger part of the burden of the maintenance of these services to Europeans, rather than further impoverishing the natives?
Mr. THOMASI have already said that the circumstances governing this matter are now under consideration. I will leave it at that.