§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Gorman rupees and other silver coins are still current in the territory formerly known as German East Africa; and whether the amount of silver in the German rupee is the same as that in the British East African rupee?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether there is at present an equipose of exchange between India, on the one hand, and British East Africa, Ceylon and Mauritius, on the other; and, if not, what is the present exchange value of the Indian rupee in these three Colonies, respectively?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYIt is understood that the normal par of exchange still exists between India and Ceylon. As regards exchange between India and East Africa and between India and Mauritius, telegraphic correspondence is proceeding between the Colonial Office and the Governors on the very difficult questions involved by the recent movements in sterling exchange with India, and it is not possible to say at the moment what the actual position is in Mauritius and East Africa.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have been taken to prevent the melting of silver coins in Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Gold Coast; and whether any silver coins are or will be specially minted for these West African Colonies?
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§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe British West African Colonial Governments were asked last November to take such steps as they considered necessary and desirable, in addition to such safeguards as already existed, to prevent the disappearance of silver coin. So far, replies have only been received from the Nigerian and Sierra Leone Governments, and neither considers it desirable to pass legislation to deal with melting down of silver coins. The British West African Colonies have had a separate West African silver coinage for several years.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies where the rupees for British East Africa, Mauritius, and Ceylon, and the dollar for Straits Settlements and Hong Kong are minted; whether it is contemplated to reduce the fineness of silver in any of these coins; under what Statute the fineness of these coins is regulated; whether any alteration in fineness can be effected without further statutory enactment; and, if it can be so effected, will the House have any opportunity of discussing the matter before any change is made?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe rupees now in circulation in all the places mentioned are minted in India, and so are the Straits Settlements dollars and British dollars circulating in Hong Kong. It is not yet decided where the proposed new East African rupee will be minted. It is proposed to reduce the fineness of the Straits Settlements dollar, and the proposed new East African rupee will be of less fineness than the Indian. The fineness of these coins has been and will be regulated by Orders of his Majesty in Council, issued at the instance of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It is not possible to promise an opportunity of discussion in the House before any changes of this nature are made, since under present conditions of monetary disturbance throughout the world it is necessary to take emergency measures and in some cases these measures would be defeated in their object unless they were kept strictly confidential.