§ SIR H. WILLOUGHBYasked whether the Government would have any objection to lay before the House documents to show why the stage-carriage duties had been remitted in certain cases to persons in this metropolis. It would be very satisfactory to have the memorials presented by those persons on the subject, with copies of the answers given and the grounds upon which this remission was based.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERhad already explained to the House that these compositions of duty were not the acts of the Government, but of the Board of Inland Revenue. He was not able to state whether any documents existed beyond the memorials presented to that Board, which could throw light upon the transactions to which the hon. Baronet alluded; but if there were any such papers he should be quite ready to produce them.
§ First, Second, and Third Resolution agreed to.
§
Fourth Resolution—
That no exemption from Stamp Duty contained in or granted by any Act relating to
609
Friendly Societies, nor any other exemption from Stamp Duty than such as is contained in section 8 of the Act 6th and 7th of Will. IV., c. 32, for the regulation of Benefit Building Societies, shall be deemed to extend to any form of assurance, or any conveyance, mortgage, transfer, agreement, bond, or other instrument made to or on behalf of any Benefit Building Society by any member of such Society to whom any sum or sums exceeding in the whole the sum of 240l. shall be advanced by such Society, except such deeds or instruments as may be made on behalf of a member of such Society admitted before the 5th day of July, 1855, in pursuance of engagements made between such member and the said Society before that date.
§ Read a second time.
§ MR. SCHOLEFIELD rose to object. These Resolutions were passed last evening without the cognisance of most of the Members of that House. He did not wish to impute anything like deceit to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he had not the smallest expectation that any matter relating to Friendly Societies would be included in a Bill entitled Stage Carriage Duties, &c. It had been suggested to him that there was only one reason why it should be so included, namely, that the Stage Carriage Duties Bill must necessarily be a Bill de omnibus, and, therefore, that it might be made to contain any clause about anything. He was not going to discuss this particular clause now. In the other House it had been struck out from the Friendly Societies Bill on the ground that it had nothing to do with that Bill, and ought to be introduced in a measure relating to Building Societies generally, and there was of course a ten times more valid objection against its insertion in a Stage Carriages Bill.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in answer to the statement that the House had been taken by surprise, said, if the hon. Member referred to the notice paper, he would find this notice given at length—
The Chancellor of the Exchequer—That this House will now resolve itself into a Committee to consider the Acts relating to the Duties payable on Stage Carriages in Great Britain and the Stamp Act.
§ MR. SCHOLEFIELDobserved that in yesterday's notice there was not one word of that stated.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the abbreviated heading was not his production. He was only responsible for the full notice.
§ MR. WILSONsaid, the Resolution had been framed in order to carry out an arrangement that he had entered into with 610 a deputation which had conferred with him upon the subject. A proviso, in accordance with that arrangement, was introduced into the Friendly Societies Bill, and passed this House, but was rejected by the House of Lords. It was now proposed, therefore, that a similar provision should be inserted as a revenue clause in a revenue Bill. He should be ready to insert any words in conformity with the arrangement to which he had referred.
§ SIR J. SHELLEYsuggested the postponement of the Resolution.
§ SIR C. WOODhoped the Resolution would be agreed to, as the difficulty which had been raised might be met previous to the introduction of the Bill.
§ MR. J. MOWBRAY and MR. MURROUGHobjected to passing the Resolution before time had been given for the examination.
§ Motion made and Question put, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution.
§ The House divided:—Ayes 65; Noes 39: Majority 26.
§ Bill or Bills ordered to be brought in by Mr. FITZROY, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and Mr. WILSON.
§ House adjourned at half after One o'clock till Monday next.