NSAWAM,
3RD OCTOBER, 1916.
EXPORT DUTY ON COCOA.
DEAR SIR,
With reference to the above subject, which I understand is being brought into force to this Colony, you Honourable will doubtlessly ruin this Colony, and as a farmer I deem it my bounding duty to approach Members of the Legislative Council of this Colony whether you will be able to do something towards and the welfare of your countrymen.
2. I will also mention that although the land and Forestry Bill have been deleted in the mind of the Government which was caused through the patriotic influence of the Aborigines Society, yet in the other hand the Export Duty forms a piller of the Land and Forestry Bill and the land is being taxed in a way
poor farmers, which we as native farmers will not understand; although nothing have been made for the
I would also like you to know that we are paying two duties:-Import and Export.
3. As much as the Colony is in need of proper Secondry Schools, it is also necessary for Agricultural colleges and good roads as well as bonus to the farmers who are doing good work in absence of these privi- leges yet they are being called upon to pay taxes which should not have been levied.
4. I would also like to mention the expenses which the poor farmers are subjected to, in planting and other produce, although I have no knowledge of proper agriculturist yet as a native farmer I append the following for your information.
EXPENSES.
548
( 107 )
your
and 8. After consulting your Hon. Members with this matter, I have full confidence that you, colleagues will endeavour to do something as patriotic men to see that some change is modified in this Export Duty; so as to relieve the poor farmers from their cry, and in so doing it will manifest to all concern, that your places as members of the Legislative Council are not there for any other purpose, but for the improve- ment of your mother country. I am forwarding copy of this letter to other un-official members.
Your favourable reply will be highly esteemed.
THE HON.
CASELY HAYFORD,
SECCONDEE.
1st year clearing the bush
£4
Felling large trees
8
Planting young cocoa trees, etc. Clearing weeds
2
£22
SIB,
To clear and maintain a farm of 200 ft. by 400 ft.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. NORTEI ALEMA,
Farmer.
Enclosure III in Gold Coast Confidential Despatch of 15th August, 1917.
ACCRA,
GOLD COAST, WEST AFRICA,
16TH JANUARY, 1917.
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :---
mmmmmCO.885/25
The above are estimated with the greatest economy.
5. The trees generally commence yielding from the 4th year as follows:-
4th year 3 loads @ 20-
£3
5th year
6 loads 20/- 6th &c. 12 loads 20/-
6
"
12
51
£21
During these years the payment to the overseers for plucking and drying the cocoa is 3/- on a load, and transport at a distance of 20 miles where there are no good roads is 4/- a load, also expenses of clearing weeds during the yielding season of the crops are estimated to be £6 a year.
In 1911 a Bill was in contemplation to introduce this Export Dury on cocoa and rubber, but through the instrumentality of the Hon. Grey and others it was not put forward.
6. It is not my intention whatever to protest any taxation which the Government deem necessary to tax in order to help the proper management of the affairs of the Government; but this particular tax which will hinder the progress of the Colony in general as far as farmers are concerned; and especially as the native farmers have not known the Cocoa fermentation thoroughly and without good implements to work with.
7. I think in other part of the world under the British Flag where agriculture is the main business of the natives somethings are being done to the farmers as encouragement in their undertakings.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your cominunication of the 29th ultimo, No. 115/71M. P. 19657/16, on the subject of the recommendations of the Paris Conference, and on the questions propounded to the "Commercial and Industrial Policy Committee," and asking my opinion thereon; also enclosing a memo- randum by Mr. Mitchell, the Assistant Comptroller of Customs.
I may say that in the main I am in agreement with Mr. Mitchell's report. All the recommendations of the Paris Conference as to the measures to be adopted during the war have already been carried out in this Colony and I think with general approval, so that we are really only concerned with the measures recommended for adoption during the period of reconstruction after the war, and with the permanent arrangements which should be made between the allies in regard to their trades relations.
With regard to enemy businesses in this Colony now closed up but which might seek to re-establish in the Colony after the war, I am of opinion that it is in the interest of the Colony that such firms should not be allowed to re-establish themselves if only on account of the bad influence they have on the native population. The best plan will be to forbid enemy firms or any firm having an enemy share-holder or supported by enemy money from trading at all in the Colony. As an alternative some such proposal for taxation as suggested by Mr. Mitchell might be adopted.
With reference to reserving our exports for the British Empire and her allies, I consider that our exports should have a free market, and that it would be against the interests of the Colony to close enemy markets to our products. The one exception to this is Palm Kernels, and the principal of imposing an export duty on shipments of Palm Kernels to places outside the British Empire has already been approved, but this is done with the object of transferring what was a German monopoly before and making it a British monopoly, and the Kernels are as likely to have as good a market amongst British crushing firms as formerly amongst German crushing firms. With Cocoa in which the Gold Coast is mainly interested, if the market is res- tricted the price will be affected.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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"A"
NSAWAM,
3RD OCTOBER, 1916.
EXPORT DUTY ON COCOA.
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