§ MR. O'DONNELLasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If his attention has been drawn to the annual report of the Cork Commercial Building Society, published in the Cork papers of the 21st ult., and whether he is aware that the sum of "£112 11s. 4d. entry tax," therein mentioned as part of the income of the Company, is derived from moneys levied by the Custom House officers from the traders of Cork upon goods taken out of bond; whether he can inform the House how long this impost has been levied by Her Majesty's Customs for the benefit of the said Company; and, if it is his intention to take any steps in reference to the matter?
§ MR. COURTNEYI have seen the copy of The Cork Examiner which the 1492 hon. Member sent to my right hon. Friend. As nothing was known of the matter in London, the collector at Cork has been communicated with by telegraph. It appears from his telegram that the amount in question is one-half of the proceeds of a special tax of 1s. on each entry in the Port of Cork, with certain exceptions, imposed by an Act of 1814. The object of that Act was to provide funds for commercial improvements within the City and Port of Cork; and one-half of the tax is accordingly paid to this Company, and the other to the Harbour Commissioners of Cork for the maintenance and improvement of the harbour works.