§ MR. CANDLISHsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If, as an early reduction of Duties on articles of import is expected, and as delay and uncertainty is likely both to lessen the revenue and embarrass importers, he will fix an early day on which he will make his financial statement; and if he can now fix a day for that purpose?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, in answering the hon. Gentleman, I beg that I may not be understood as assenting to his hypothesis. I am sorry to say that at this moment, and in the present state of Public Business, I cannot ask a day from my right hon. Friend at the head of the Government; but the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that I am quite as anxious as he can be to get the Budget over before Easter.
§ MR. GRIEVEsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in the event of reducing or altogether removing the Duty on Sugar, an allowance of the Duty paid on the raw article will be allowed on stocks of refined Sugar in the hands of refiners when such reduction takes place?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, in answering this Question, 245 I must not be supposed to concede that there is any possibility of my taking the duty off sugar or off anything else. I can only say that, should it be my good fortune to take the duty off sugar or off anything else, I shall adopt the best means in my power to insure that the interest of those concerned shall not suffer in any manner that is not absolutely unavoidable.