§ Mr. Jaggerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has approved of the ordinances of the Sierra Leone legislature issued on 8th May, 1939, dealing with deportation, prohibition of undesirable literature, and prohibition of trades unions organisation; what special circumstances called for such drastic restrictions; and until clear proof of the necessity for such complete abolition of elementary freedom has been produced, will he refuse his approval to these ordinances?
Mr. M. MacDonaldNon-disallowance of these Ordinances has not yet been signified. I am unable to accept the hon. Member's general description of these Ordinances. For instance, the Trade Unions Ordinance does not prohibit the formation of trade unions, but only requires them to be registered. I am postponing further consideration of these measures until I receive the reports of the debates upon them in the Legislative Council, and the Governor's report thereon. These will be arriving in the course of the present month.
§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what methods are adopted by the Sierra Leone Government for the collection of house and family taxes; how taxes are assessed and levied upon tribal chiefs; and how these taxes are expended?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe Government tax on natives takes the form of a house tax and there is no separate family tax. In the Freetown district, the administration of the house tax is supervised by an Advisory Board appointed by the Governor. Elsewhere it is supervised by the District Commissioners. In chiefdoms in the Protectorate, assessments are made by Assistant District Commissioners aided by the Paramount Chiefs; and collections are made by chiefs, who receive a remuneration of five per cent, on the collections.
With regard to the second part of the question I am making inquiries of the Governor.
As regards the third part, apart from moneys allocated, in certain districts, for use within the district of collection, the proceeds of the house tax form part of the general revenue of Sierra Leone.
2399WWith the approval of the Governor, a chiefdom tax, administered as a house tax and intended for native administration purposes, may be imposed on chiefdoms in which native treasuries are established. The proceeds of a chiefdom tax are payable into the treasury of the chiefdom or group of chiefdoms concerned.