4 COCONUTS, KERNELS, AND CACAO. 



palm kernels was 8d. per ton, and at Liverpool 3s. 3d. 

 Thus, the English importer started with a handicap of 

 2s. 7d. Another witness put it at 3s. 9d. At Hull there 

 are no quay charges ; and, as a consequence, large oil- 

 crushing mills have been started there. Other reasons 

 are stated in the chapter on Palm Oil and Kernels. 



However, as a result of the aforesaid Committee's 

 inquiries, an export duty of 2 per ton has been recom- 

 mended, although it is not regarded with favour by the 

 natives or their journals on the Coast. 



The result of this export duty of 2 a ton, equal to 

 4 a ton on the oil, should be : (1) Germany should 

 pay the duty of 2 a ton to our West African possessions 

 on the kernels she requires for her own consumption ; 

 (2) British manufacturers should make and sell to 

 Holland the oil for their margarine trade instead of the 

 kernels, as that country has no duty on the oil ; (3) in 

 Great Britain we should have the power to crush what 

 we require for ourselves and do an export trade to 

 Canada, the United States, the River Plate, and many 

 smaller markets. 



One of the large Dutch margarine makers has already 

 given out contracts for the construction of a very large 

 factory indeed on the lower reaches of the Thames, to 

 be rapidly pushed forward as soon as building operations 

 are possible, and it is almost certain that when one large 

 producer finds it to his interest to manufacture here, 

 his competitors will follow. 



Another result of the publication of the Report of 

 the Colonial Office Committee has been a desire on the 

 part of the public for further knowledge concerning 

 oil-seeds and oil-nuts. 



