§ Mr. Beswickasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what consultation he had, and how far he achieved agreement with the Committee of the 194W Kilimanjaro Native Co-operate Union before drafting the African Produce (Chagga Council) Cess Order, 1953;
(2) what crops or livestock produced in Tanganyika, other than coffee, are liable to a cess or tax similar to that levied by the African Produce (Chagga Council) Cess Order, 1953.
§ Mr. Lyttelton,pursuant to his replies [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th May, 1953; Vol. 515, c. 24] supplied the following further information
The Tanganyika Government had considerable discussion and informal consultation with members of the Kilimanjaro Native Co-operate Union regarding the coffee cess. The committee of the union expressed its dislike of the cess, but agreed to assist in its collection. Cesses are imposed on a wide range of products varying in different areas in accordance with the revenue needs of the local Native Authority and the nature of the principal products of each area. The products thus subject to cess, in addition to coffee, are: grains, pulses, cassava, unginned cotton, ghee, cattle, gum copal, beeswax, oil seed, copra, hides and skins, honey and paddy.
The yield from each cess forms part of the revenues of the local Native Authority. This revenue is applied as far as possible to development expenditure and not to normal recurrent expenditure, so that, in the event of a drop in the market price of any product, the cess can be reduced or abolished without adverse affect on the normal services maintained by the Native Authority.