§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the yield in Trinidad of taxation per head for the years 1878 to 1908 inclusive; and what taxes, if any, have been remitted during that time, and what fresh taxes have been imposed, and when?
725W
§ Colonel SEELYParticulars of the receipts from taxation in Trinidad are given in the Reports on the annual Blue Book which are presented each year to Parliament. The various taxes in force in any year are shown in detail in the Blue Book for that year, which can be consulted in the library at the Colonial Office. The different taxes and their rates cover several foolscap pages in each Blue Book, and, as many of them have been varied during the 30 years in question, if not actually "remitted" or "imposed," it would be quite impracticable to give the information asked for within the limits of an answer to a question. If my hon. Friend will limit the scope of his question I will endeavour to supply him with the information he desires.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether the Trinidad Government are arranging to hand over the telephone service to an outside company, giving at the same time power to restrict use and increase prices; and, if so, can he state whether it is the intention of the Government to intercede with a view to preventing such handing over, and so retain the telephones in the hands of the Government, the same as decided in this country?
§ Colonel SEELYThe telephone system is not the property of the Government; the Legislative Council have had before them a Bill providing for the transfer of the telephone system from the present owners, namely, the Commercial Telephone Company, to a new company on certain conditions. This Bill has not yet received the Governor's assent, and its provisions are engaging the attention of the Secretary of State.