§ Mr. M. WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether official approval has been given to all the methods under which the Tanganyika Government proposes to raise revenue, including the proposals to introduce a 4 per cent. tax on profits retrospective to 1st April, 1922, and to give the Government entire liberty to regulate or close all businesses?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs I explained in reply to questions by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on the 11th and 23rd of this month, the raising of revenue by means of a 4 per cent. profit tax is no novelty in Tanganyika Territory. The Germans introduced the system in 1908, and revenue has been raised under it ever since. The Ordinance which replaced the German law was approved by the Secretary of State. Neither that Ordinance nor the Trades Licensing Ordinance can fairly be described as giving the Government entire liberty to regulate or close all businesses. If the provisions of the laws are complied with, the Government cannot interfere in any way. It is true 719W that the Trade Licensing Ordinance empowers the Governor by Proclamation to prohibit, restrict or regulate trading in a particular area to be specified in the Proclamation, but it is understood that this provision would only be required in very exceptional circumstances.