§ Sir T. BENNETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he 1711W has received from Tanganyika traders protests against three new commercial taxing Ordinances, which are alleged to be unbearable in the present depressed state of trade in the territory and to threaten bankruptcy to numerous small Indian traders; whether European, as well as Indian and Arab, traders are urging the Governor either to repeal this legislation or to postpone its operation until trade recovers; whether he is aware that practically every Indian trader in Tanganyika territory has closed his business rather -than apply for a licence, and that the keeping of books in English and Swahili has been insisted upon, notwithstanding that most small Indian traders cannot even write their own language; and whether the Secretary of State will consider the advisability of suspending these Ordinances until he has had the claims of the communities affected placed before him by their representative, who is now on his way to this country'?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs I informed the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on the 11th of April, representations of the nature referred to have been received. It is true that there has been a general closing of shops by the Indian section of the trading community. The local chamber of commerce has also taken exception to the Ordinances, but when submitted to it in draft, it pronounced them to be, generally speaking, fair and equitable. That they are no novelty and lay no seriously increased burden on trade is shown by the fact that in the last three years they were estimated to produce £35,000, £40,000 and £40,000; whereas the estimate for this year is £45,000. There is no Income Tax in Tanganyika territory, and the Profits Tax (4 per cent.) is not levied on annual profits below £100. The Governor may give exemption where desirable in the interests of the community. The keeping of accounts for Profits Tax purposes in English and Swahili is not compulsory but if they are not kept in either language the assessor may require translation into English. Under the Trade Licensing Ordinance the alternative keeping of accounts in English or Swahili is not compulsory until a year hence. After careful consideration, the Secretary of State has decided not to direct the suspension of the Ordinances.