Arms Traffic.

21. The Proclamation, and the Regulations thereunder, controlling the Arms Traffic (referred to in the 1923 Report,* paragraph 64), were superseded on 1st April, 1924, by the Arms and Ammunition Ordinance No. 23 of 1921 of the Gold Coast Colony, being applied to the Southern Section, and the Arms and Ammunition Ordinance No. 8 of 1921, of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast, to the Northern Section.

These Ordinances enact the provisions of the Convention for the Control of Trade in Arms and Ammunition, signed at SaintGermain-en-Laye on 10th September, 1919.

22. The number of firearms licensed, the quantity of gunpowder and lead bars (in lb.), and the number of percussion caps and cartridges issued, in the years 1924 and 1925 are given in the comparative tables below:

Southern Sec- 26,655 16,319 117,150 75,750 2,164 2,541 3,100 5,325 tion.

Northern Sec

14,616 1,500 2,750, 1,944 4,000

tion.

Total

26,655 30,935 118,650 78,500 4,108 6,541 3,100 5,325

(23295)

* Non-Parliamentary Publication, Colonial No. 3, 1924.

B

23. To the ordinary observer, not acquainted with the conditions, the figures quoted above may appear excessive, especially those for the Southern Section, but it must be remembered that the guns have been in possession of the people for many years, and only 66 new flint-lock guns and one new cap-gun were introduced during the year.

24. The number of guns is accounted for by the following facts:

(a) That game is plentiful and a number of the natives make their living as hunters;

(b) that farmers require the guns for the protection of their crops against destructive animals;

(c) that a large quantity of powder is used in the celebration of funeral customs, a very ancient institution, and

(d) that the natives welcome the arrival of a high personage by firing their guns.

25. The lead is not only used for bullets, but also for weighting river-fishing nets.

26. During the late administration there were no restrictions regarding the sale of flint-lock guns, lead in bars, pellets and gunpowder, other than the licensing of such guns, for which a fee of 3 marks was paid by the owner for the life of the gun. The importation of cap-guns and the conversion of flint-lock guns into cap-guns were, however, prohibited. A number of flint-lock guns in possession of the natives have at various times been converted into cap-guns by local blacksmiths living in bush villages; immediately this practice was brought to the notice of the Administration, instructions were issued prohibiting any further conversions. During the year under review no case of conversion of flint-lock guns into cap-guns has been brought to the notice of the authorities.

27. Licences to open up establishments for the repairs of firearms have been granted to four blacksmiths of known reputation in the Southern Section.

28. The licence fee of 2s. 6d. a gun valid for five years in the case of flint-lock guns has been superseded, as from 1st July, 1925, by a licence fee of £1 for the life of the gun. This does not apply to arms licensed prior to that date. Licences for arms other than flint-lock and cap-guns remain the same.

There are four licensed private warehouses in the Sphere, situated at Ho, Kpando, Kpando Fessi and Kete-Kratchi.

29. The inhabitants are not permitted to obtain rifles, revolvers or pistols; and shot-guns are issued only to Africans of influence, the number of whom is limited. Europeans resident

in the Territory have the right to possess rifles and revolvers, but before importing them the provisions of the Ordinance and Regulations thereunder must be complied with.

30. The system of issuing arms and ammunition to Head Chiefs and sub-chiefs on behalf of their people is to be found in paragraph 114 of the 1924 Report.*

Trade and Manufacture of Alcohol and Drugs.

31. The requirements of the Convention relating to the Liquor Traffic in Africa, signed at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 10th September, 1919, are embodied in the Second Spirituous Liquor Ordinance, No. 31 of 1920, and the Second Spirituous Liquor Amendment Ordinance No. 35 of 1923, which were applied to the Southern Section of the Mandatory Sphere on 1st April, 1924. The latter forms Appendix "E" to the 1923 Report.†

32. In the Northern Section there is total prohibition; but this applies to the natives only, the European residents being permitted to import liquor for their own personal use. Educated

African clerks are also permitted to import for their own consumption a reasonable quantity by permit from the competent authority. In the extreme north, beer brewed from guinea-corn and millet, and wine prepared from the fruit of a wild tree are popular beverages. In Kete-Kratchi and the Southern Section palm wine from the oil-palm, and beer, prepared from maize, are largely consumed.

33. It has already been stated in previous reports that there is no Customs barrier between the Mandated Territory and the Gold Coast, whence the former derives its supply of imported spirits. Prior to 1st July, 1925, it was impossible to quote any statistics regarding the quantity of spirits imported into the Territory. In order to conform with the wishes of the Permanent Mandates Commission, the British Sphere of Togoland Spirituous Liquors Ascertainment Ordinance, No. 1 of 1925, was passed and became law on the date mentioned above-(Appendix “D” 1. to the Report). This Ordinance has enabled a fair statistical estimate to be prepared for the half-year ending 31st December, 1925. It must, however, be pointed out that the Ordinance only causes to be shown the amount of spirits actually imported and sold by the local licensed store-keepers. There is no check on individuals who are at liberty to proceed to the Gold Coast direct and purchase liquor for their own consumption. The figures presented by the local store-keepers for the period 1st July to 31st December, 1925, are given in Appendix "D" 2. to the Report.

(23295)

* Non-Parliamentary Publication, Colonial No. 14, 1925.
† Non-Parliamentary Publication, Colonial No. 3, 1924.

B 2

34. There are, however, no signs of abnormal supplies entering the Sphere, and it can safely be stated that the almost prohibitive prices act as an effective check in preventing any tendency to import largely from the Gold Coast.

35. Importation overland from the French Sphere into the British Sphere is prohibited by Regulation No. 25 of 1923, made under the Customs Ordinance, 1923. It is impossible to state the quantity of spirits introduced into British Territory from this source by illicit trading. The amount of smuggled spirits detected by the Preventive Service during the years 1923, 1924 and 1925 are recorded below:

Illicit traffic from the British Sphere into the French Sphere is unprofitable, owing to the considerably lower prices of spirits obtaining in the latter, due to the lower rate of duty, and hence any activities in this direction obviously take the reverse course.

36. Cases of drunkenness, which are punishable under Section 139, Sub-section 7 of the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast Colony, are extremely rare in the Territory. The Return of Criminal Cases for 1924 and 1925 show only four cases appearing before the Courts. The people in the British Sphere are particularly abstemious. The African of these parts does not indulge regularly, the only temptations to excess being public festivities, meetings and funerals.

The native is satisfied with only a small amount of European spirit, whereas he can consume quantities of palm wine. Carefully prepared European alcohol is without doubt less injurious, and it will be a difficult problem to prevent the present generation from demanding its alcoholic beverages; if it cannot obtain it by fair means it will revert to other methods.

There is little doubt regarding the future generation that the Missionary Societies can do an immense amount of good, as they have done already in the past, by denouncing the evils of drink and its results, and many of these people are ever ready to listen to the advice of the Missionaries.

37. The issuing of Spirit Licences is carefully watched by the District Commissioners, who are responsible for the licensing, and an endeavour has been made to persuade applicants to purchase a Beer and Wine Licence only. It is particularly noticeable at festivities given by educated natives that there is a tendency to consume beer and wine as refreshments in preference to spirits.

38. The following interesting statement, showing the quantity of potable spirits in gallons of pure alcohol imported into the Gold Coast Colony during each of the calendar years 1913 to 1924 inclusive, together with the quantities imported per head of the population based upon the census returns of 1911 and 1921,

which latter includes the population of the Mandated Area of Togoland, is extracted from the Report on the Customs and Marine Departments of the Gold Coast for the year 1924 :

It will be observed from the above table that the spirit consumption was only 23.5 per cent. of that per head in 1913.

* Increments of population based upon the census of 1911 calculated at 60,000 a year up to and including 1916, and at 61,000 per annum for the remaining years with the exception of the year 1921, for which the actual census figures were taken.

† Fractions of a gallon have been disregarded. The quantity of potable spirits, reduced to gallons of pure alcohol, imported into the Gold Coast and its Dependencies in 1924 was only 34.1 per cent. of similar spirits imported for the year 1913, notwithstanding the fact that the population had increased in the interval by over 52 per cent. It will be seen from the above table that the importation per head in gallons of pure alcohol has fallen in eleven years from 51 gallons per head to 12 gallons per head. This amount is less than the spirit consumption of the United Kingdom, which in 1922 was 37 proof gallons per head of population, being equal to 21 gallons of pure alcohol, or nearly double the quantity of spirits imported per head of population into the Gold Coast in 1924.

The imports of spirits during the years 1918 and 1919 were sub-normal as a result of scarcity of supplies, lack of shipping and war legislation. It is therefore not a matter of surprise that the importation of spirits should have shown an upward tendency as soon as normal trade conditions were restored. It may also be pointed out that the average landed cost of spirits, exclusive of duty, has advanced from 5s. 6d. per gallon in 1913 to £1 2s. 8d. per gallon in 1924. In the same period the duty has risen from a minimum of 5s. 6d. per gallon of 50 degrees by Trailles Alcoholometer. To raise the duty still further would probably lead to an increase of smuggling on the Eastern Frontier, as the duty on spirits in French Togoland is only twenty francs a litre of pure alcohol, which at the current rate of exchange is considerably less than £1 per gallon.