Northern Nigeria

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 863607721

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-45464

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Lugard, Frederick John Dealtry http://d-nb.info/gnd/117667412

Title:: Northern Nigeria

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: His Maj. Stat. Off.

Year of publication:: 1907

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (65 Seiten)

Collection:: Economics Books

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20 COLONIAL REPORTS—MISCELLANEOUS. the Protectorate been converted into broad (unmetalled) roads, stumps of trees, and rocks removed, streams ramped, and the track made passable for laden animals. On the more important routes good roads with bridges over the streams are gradually being made. 'Caravans can now make two journeys where formerly they only made one. In substitution for the ancient tolls, &c., a fixed tax of 5 per cent, advalorem, paid in each pro vince traversed, up to a maximum of three provinces (15 per cent.) was levied, and this was appropriated to the revenue of the country. Overwhelming evidence has been obtained to prove that this reform was immensely appreciated by the traders. It is a form of tax thoroughly understood by the people, and sanctioned by long usage, and a Resident of the longest experi ence reports that it is in no way harmful either to trade, administration, or policy, and that there is no tax which is so little resented, while the amount realised could not be replaced by any other method. Prices of produce from Kano and Bornu fell at Illorin much below their former selling rates. Trade increased and is increasing in a wonderful way, so much so that it has become a matter of serious consideration whether the attrac tions of trade are not withdrawing an undue proportion of the population from productive industry. But as highway robbery became more and more rare, and the redress of the Courts gave greater security, it no longer was necessary for the traders to combine in large numbers, nor was it necessary to follow the main routes. To-day, traders travel singly, and every by-path is utilised, so that the collection of the tolls has become increasingly difficult, and evasion is more and more easy. Nevertheless, receipts from tolls continue to increase largely each year. Incidentally, these factors have had a remarkable effect in opening up areas hitherto untraversed by traders, and thus enlarging the area of production of marketable produce, and consumption of imported goods. Moreover, as the caravans no longer kidnap the children of the pagans, and the latter no longer loot the traders, the chronic feud between the two is being replaced by reciprocal benefits—the one providing supplies, and the other paying for them to the great benefit of the country. 20. I have dealt with the subject of these tolls in my Annual Reports for 1904 and 1905* at considerable length, for they have been, not unnaturally, condemned by European merchants as being opposed to the development of trade. As an abstract theory, I am, myself, very strongly in favour of a system which, instead of taxing imports, should rather secure to them a series of rebates from the initial taxation imposed on the coast the further they penetrated into the interior. (Pro duce for export over-seas is already exempted from tolls.) In * Colonial Reports—Annual Nos. 476 and 516,

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