Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an ordinance has recently been passed by the Legislative Council of the Gold Coast empowering the paramount chiefs to levy a poll tax in their States; whether the people of the Gold Coast have been consulted as to this new taxation power; whether any limit has been placed upon the amount of the levy; and whether, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction caused by the adoption of the ordinance throughout the Gold Coast Colony, he will inquire into the matter?
Mr. THOMASAt the February meeting of the Gold Coast Legislative Council an ordinance was enacted to amend the Native Administration Ordinance, 1927, so as to make it lawful for the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative Council, to make regulations in respect of the imposition of levies or tribute by the paramount chief of a State with the concurrence of the State Council. It is contemplated that any levy so imposed should be an annual levy, and should normally be in lieu of, and not in addition to the customary and irregular tributes which have been imposed in the past. Where there have been no such tributes it is intended that a levy should not be imposed except with the voluntary consent of the people. I understand that before the introduction of the Bill into the Legislative Council, the proposal was referred to the chiefs and their councils. The introduction of such a levy will be entirely optional to a native authority, and it is intended that the native authority should determine the amount of such levy, the approval of the Governor being necessary before collection. I am not aware that widespread dissatisfaction 31W has been caused throughout the Gold Coast Colony by the adoption of the Amending Ordinance.
Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, under an Ordinance (Ashanti, No. 1, 1936) issued by the Governor of the Gold Coast, Kofi Sechere, the ex-Dadiasuabahene of Kumasi, has been deported and placed under supervision in Banda, on the western frontier of Ashanti and the French Ivory Coast, during His Majesty's pleasure; and whether, as it is specially provided by the Ordinance that no writ of habeas corpus or other process calling in question the legality of the detention shall have any effect within Ashinta, he will say if these steps were taken with the knowledge and approval of His Majesty's Government?