§ Sir J. Newportbegged to ask a right hon. gentleman opposite, if the Irish Militia officers had been yet exempted from the payment of the property tax.
Mr. Secretary Ryderreplied, that in future they should be so exempt, and that whoever had paid property tax in the Irish Militia should have it refunded.
§ Sir J. Newportsaid, that when the Bill for the interchange of the militia was before the House, the right hon. gentleman positively stated that they should be exempted-
§ Sir J. Newportpersevered in his declaration; and added, that the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had concurred in the statement.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerassured the right hon. baronet, that as far as his recollection served him, what was said, when the Bill was before the House, was, that the officers generally should be exempt from the assessed taxes. When the right hon. baronet said, that he understood it in another way, certainly the right hon. baronet must think so; but he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was persuaded that it had been just as he now stated it. When the Bill was pending, he looked upon the Irish officers in the light of persons compelled to be resident here, and therefore liable to pay taxes only accordingly. Arrangements were, however, now made completely calculated to remove every ground of complaint on the part of the officers.
§ Sir H. Montgomeryquoted the words em- 279 ployed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the occasion alluded to.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerremarked, that the exemption applied to the property of the officers, and not to their pay. In consequence, however, of representations made, it had been determined by government to concede the point.
§ Sir J. Newportadded, that the tax was deducted out of the pay of the last quarter.
§ Mr. W Poleacknowledged that it had been charged up to the present time; but an order had been sent to the Commissioners, in future not to deduct the properly tax from the pay of the Irish militia officers.
§ Sir J. Newportrejoined, that so strictly had the deduction been attended to, that it had been made from the very moment some of the officers embarked for England, from Ireland.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerterminated the conversation by stating, that the delay had originated in a question whether the exemption could be made under the old act, or whether a new bill would be required. It had now been determined, that by the construction of the former statute no new enactment was necessary.