§ Mr. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the standard rate of wages of natives employed in coffee plantations, the average price of maize, the average price of coffee, and the rate of direct taxation levied upon natives in Kenya during the last complete year before the War and during the latest year for which figures are available?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIn the interval between 1913 and 1932 the basis of East African currency has been changed from rupees to sterling, and the data in my possession are in other respects not strictly comparable. The following figures, which are taken from the Blue Books, are therefore approximate only:
— 1913. 1932. Average rate of native agricultural wages (including nations) 10s. 8d. to 16s. Shs. 13.43 Average wholesale price of maize. 3 to 4 cents. per lb. 4 to 5 cents. per lb. Average wholesale price of coffee. 74 cents. Per lb. 70 cents. per lb. Standard rate of native taxation. 4s. per head or hut. l2s. per head or hut. Cents in each case are hundredths of a shilling.
There is no standard rate of wages peculiar to employés on coffee plantations.
§ Mr. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give particulars of the rates of excise duty charged upon the various kinds of produce of Native and European estates, respectively, in Kenya?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe excise duties levied in Kenya are as follow:
On sugar (not including jaggery) 1s. per cwt.
893WOn tea 10 cents of a shilling per lb.
On cigarettes 75 cents per lb.
On manufactured tobacco, other than cigarettes 50 cents per lb.
None of these affect native produce. There is also a duty on locally manufactured beer varying according to gravity, which does not affect native beer.