§ Order for Second Reading read.
§
Motion made and Question proposed—
That the Bill be now read a Second Time.
§ SIR FITZROY KELLYsaid that, after the discussion which had already taken place upon the earlier stages of this Bill, and in the present state of information before the House as to what would be the future policy of the Government in regard to it, he felt it would be a waste of the public time at all to oppose the further stages of the measure. In making this statement, however, he reserved to himself the right hereafter, whenever the measure should come before the House in Committee, of calling for further information from Her Majesty's Government upon several points affecting the financial condition of the country, and connected with this Bill; and it would depend upon the nature and extent of the information which the Government might give him whether he should offer any opposition either to the further progress of the measure, or to the levying of the tax in its doubled form during the first half year.
§ MR. SPOONERsaid he had not been able to hear the purport of what his hon. and learned Friend said, but he wished to observe that, though he did not intend to offer the slightest opposition to the second reading of this Bill, he guarded himself against the supposition that by allowing the measure to pass he was to be supposed to agree in its provisions. Should the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer propose any addition to the tax during this Session, he did not wish it to be supposed by the course he now adopted that he in any way gave his sanction to the measure, because he had no hesitation in saying that he considered the provisions of this Bill to be so unjust that he should think it his duty to do what he could to oppose it in the event of a second application respecting it being made to the House.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read 2o.