CO129-346 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [1-3] — Page 297

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20 per centum deduction for Military Contribution. I would

submit to Your Lordship that this special fund raised for

a very special purpose, by a temporary levy cannot properly

be considered a part of the permanent Revenues of the

Colony. There has been a certain amount of agitation in

the local Press, and in the community on the subject of

the Military Contribution and I venture to submit to Your

Lordship that the equity of this concession on the part

of the Imperial Government would produce a good effect.

8.

The balance to credit of the

oves

Colony at the end of last year was estimated at $1,400,000

and in view of the large sums which have in recent years

been spent out of the ordinary revenue of the Colony on

Public Works Extraordinary, I trust that Your Lordship

will approve the proposal whereby half the cost of this

necessary and urgent work may be met without resorting to

increased taxation, and more especially in view of the fact

that in all probability it will be necessary to increase

taxation next year in order to meet the increasing charges

for interest on Railway advances. I shall address Your

Lordship further on this matter in connection with the

Estimates for 1909. The principle that the shipping should

be taxed to provide for Harbour improvements has been

affirmed