§ Lord APSLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the Trades Licensing Bill in Zanzibar; and what are the chief reasons which are being urged by the trading community against the adoption of this Measure?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERA Trades Licensing Bill has been introduced into the Legislative Council in Zanzibar. It is, I understand, urged in opposition to the Bill, that it introduces a restrictive element in the free movement of trade, and that in the present depressed trade conditions shortage of revenue should be met by reductions in expenditure rather than by additional taxation. I may add that the proposal to institute trade licences was put forward by Sir Alan Pim, who investigated the finances of Zanzibar last year. Several of his recommendations for economies have been adopted and others are under consideration.