§ Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Governor of Kenya Colony to carry out Sir Alan Pim's proposals for the reduction of native taxation on extra huts and the raising of the taxable age; and whether the desirability of substituting a poll tax on male natives for the present hut and poll tax will be considered?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Government of Kenya is considering what steps should be taken to implement Sir Alan Pim's proposals, in connection with its budget for the year 1937 which is still under consideration. I have informed the Governor that in my opinion it is most desirable that these recommendations should be put into force as from the 1st January. As regards the second part of the question, the proposal for the substitution of a universal poll tax for the present system of hut and poll tax was made by the commission appointed by the Governor of Kenya to inquire into alleged abuses. The report of that commission is under the consideration of the Colonial Government but I would draw attention to the reservation made by the Chief Native Commissioner to the effect that he had since discovered many reasons for considering that a poll 2651W tax as suggested would be inequitable and that the present system was preferable.
§ Mr. BANFIELDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the recommendation by the commission appointed to inquire into abuses in the collection of Native taxes in Kenya, that there should be substituted for the present Native hut and poll tax a poll tax upon all males of taxable age, and of the different recommendation of Sir Alan Pim that the tax should be halved and the taxable age raised to 18, what steps it is proposed to take in the matter?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just returned to the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn). I would add that Sir Alan Pim in his report discussed the suggestion of a universal poll tax and pointed out that it would be difficult to collect and check, would have no equity of incidence, and would aggravate the present inequalities. He also said that the present time would be most unfavourable to any attempt to increase native taxation. As I have stated in my previous reply the Chief Native Commissioner came to the same view and recorded his dissent from that particular recommendation of the local Commission. The Commission's report is still under the consideration of the Colonial Government.