Diseases of Animals.

In the class of minor diseases, 72 clinical cases were treated, principally myiasis, deformed feet, and foot rot. Among the major diseases there have been five outbreaks of cattle plague, one of anthrax and one of lung plague, besides which a number of sheep have died from wire-worm (Haemonchus contortus).

Protective inoculation with anti-cattle plague serum was practised on cattle against cattle plague. 179 cattle were inoculated by the serovaccine method and 1,117 cattle were inoculated by the serum-alone method in the areas affected with cattle plague.

TRADE.

Customs Preventive Service.

202. The primary object of this force is the protection of Revenue and the fostering of trade. Although the members are armed with a carbine of the Lee-Enfield pattern, it cannot be termed an armed force from a military point of view as the carbines are issued for self-protection. The service performs duties for the Gold Coast as well as for the British Sphere.

203. The authorised strength is as follows:

3 European Civil Officers (Collectors of Customs),

2 First Class Superintendents,

5 Second Class Superintendents,

18 Third Class Superintendents,

7 Sergeants,

12 Corporals,

31 First Class Constables and,

59 Second Class Constables,

total strength 137.

204. The force is divided into three sections:-

(i) The Northern Section, which consists of the following
stations:

Siari, Dadiase, Pampawe, Kadjebi (Headquarters),
Borada, and Baglo.

(ii) The Central Section, with the following stations:-
Apegame, Wati, Leklebi-Dafo, (Headquarters),
Ashanti, Honuta, and British Nyive.

(iii) The Southern Section, with the following stations :Kpetoe and Sope.

205. Recruiting is voluntary, preference being given to Reservists of the Gold Coast Regiment and to members of tribes in the Northern Territories.

Trade Statistics.

206. In order to expedite the Report in time for submission by the prescribed date, the trade statistics are quoted for the Financial Year 1923-24, and the six months April to September, 1924:

207. Exports. A quantity of cocoa, which is mainly exported into the French Sphere, is grown in the vicinity of Tchito, Anyirawase, Bame, and Kpeve in the Gold Coast, and this enters the British Sphere on account of the close proximity of the French railway at Palime to which it is conveyed by motor lorry.

208. Imports.-The whole of the imports mentioned in the above schedule cross the frontier from the French into the British Sphere.

209. Trade has greatly improved during the past twelve months, and this is evidenced by the increased quantity of goods entering the local markets and the influx of people.

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GENERAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

210. All the Gold Coast Ordinances have been applied to the British Sphere of Togoland with the sole exception of the Native Jurisdiction Ordinance, and excepting the proclamations given in the appendix to the First Schedule of the British Sphere of Togoland Administration Ordinance, 1924-Appendix A to this Report-all Togoland proclamations have been revoked as from the 1st April, 1924.

211. The following International Conventions have been. applied to the British Sphere ;—

(a) The Berne Convention of 26th September, 1906, for the suppression of night work for women. The provisions of this Convention have been incorporated in the Regulation of Employment Ordinance of the Gold Coast Colony, No. 11, of 1921, which Ordinance applies to the British Sphere of Togoland.

(b) The Berne Convention of 26th September, 1906, concerning the prohibition of the use of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches. This Convention was applied to the British Mandated Sphere by the Ordinance entitled "The White Phosphorus Matches Prohibition Ordinance" of the 11th July, 1911 (Chapter 145 of the Laws of the Gold Coast Colony). (c) Conventions of 18th May, 1904, and 4th May, 1910, regarding the suppression of White Slave Traffic. The objects of this Convention are regulated by the provisions of Section 433 of the Criminal Code (Chapter 16).

(d) Convention of 4th May, 1910, regarding the suppression of obscene publications. Section 432 of the Criminal Code deals with this matter.

(e) The Opium Convention, signed at The Hague on 23rd
January, 1912, and brought into force by Article 295
of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, has been
applied by the "Opium Ordinance" of the Gold
Coast Colony (Chapter 60).

(f) The General Act of the Brussels Anti-Slavery Conference
of 1890, brought into force by Ordinances entitled
"The Slave Dealing Abolition Ordinance" (Chapter
5) and The Gold Coast Emancipation Ordinance
(Chapter 6) of the Gold Coast have been applied to
the Mandated Sphere.

(g) The Convention for the control of the trade in spirits (Convention of Brussels of 3rd November, 1906, and the Liquor Traffic Convention signed at SaintGermain-en-Laye, on the 10th September, 1919, are

embodied in the Second Spirituous Liquors Ordinance,
1920, of the Gold Coast. This Ordinance applies to
the British Sphere.

(h) The Convention for the control of the traffic in arms and
ammunition in Africa, signed at Saint-Germain-
en-Laye, on the 10th September, 1919, was brought
into force in the British Sphere by the application
thereto of the Arms and Ammunition Ordinance, No. 23,
of 1921, of the Gold Coast Colony, and No. 8, of 1921,
of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast.
(i) The international arrangements relating to extradition
of persons charged with extraditable offences have
been brought into force in the British Sphere by the
"British Sphere of Togoland Ordinance, No. 2, of
1924, entitled "The Fugitive Criminals Surrender
Ordinance, 1924."

DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS.

212. The information required under this head has been dealt with under the various heads of the Report.

213. Legal Marriage is licensed under the Marriage Ordinance of the Gold Coast (Chapter 71 of the Laws of the Colony).

214. No figures are available regarding births and deaths, but the Sanitary Department has continued to keep record of those reported, more or less for the detection of the presence of any unusual occurrence.

215. No control is exercised on emigration and immigration and no statistics are available. As stated in the previous year's Report, emigration to the Gold Coast during the cocoa season has continued to be active, and residence there is for the duration of the cocoa season only.

PUBLIC FINANCES.

216. The fiscal resources of the British Sphere are inadequate to meet the cost of the policy of progress of the people and development of the country applied by the Mandatory Power to its own colonies and, accordingly, the balance of the funds required for the British Sphere are supplied by the Gold Coast, on whose finances the British Sphere thus forms a charge The financial statement given in Appendix D shows the approximate extent to which the Territory is financially dependent on the Gold Coast.

217. There is no independent budget system, and the financial administration of the Territory is subject to the provisions made in the Gold Coast Estimates.

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218. Taxation is mainly indirect, and direct taxation, as represented by the following licence fees, is subject to fixed rates:(i) Firearms and ammunition :

Flintlock and cap gun 2s. 6d. for every five years.
Shot guns and air guns 2s. 6d. a year.

(ii) Public letter writer :

219. British West African alloy and nickel coins as well as British West African currency notes are the recognised medium of currency. The alloy coins are the 2s., 1s., 6d., and 3d. pieces; the nickel are pennies, half-pennies and one-tenth pennies, while the currency notes are of the value of 20s., 10s., 2s., and 1s. All these are accepted at their face value, and the requirements of the Territory are regulated by the West African Currency Board.

220. There are no banks operating in the British Sphere, but facilities for cash remittances are provided by the Treasury and Post Office, the latter department possessing a Savings Bank, under the control of the Gold Coast Government.