HC Deb 12 June 1856 vol 142 cc1327-8
MR. MILNER GIBSON

wished to put a question to the hon. Member for the University of Dublin (Mr. G. A. Hamilton). The hon. Member and his right hon. Colleague had introduced a Bill, entitled "a Bill to repeal and amend certain laws and statutes relating to the University of Dublin." In that Bill there was a clause by which the hon. Gentleman proposed to extend the exemption now allowed from the Excise duty charged on paper used in the printing of Bibles, Testaments, Psalm books, and books of Common Prayer to educational books used in the University of Dublin and printed at the University press. The extension of exemption from paper duty to educational works was a subject in which he had taken great interest. He was very glad to find that the hon. Members for the University of Dublin admitted by this proposal the important influence which the paper duty had in the checking diffusion of knowledge and preventing education. He wished therefore to ask the hon. Member whether this Bill was to be proceeded with, and when? And, further, he wished to ask whether the hon. Gentleman would communicate with his right hon. Colleague and consider the propriety of joining him in asking the Government to make a larger concession than the one he proposed, and extend the exemption from paper duty to educational works used not only in the University of Dublin, but generally throughout the country, and to school books.

MR. G. A. HAMILTON

begged to state that the Bill in question had been prepared in conformity with the Report made by certain Commissioners who were appointed to inquire into the state of the University of Dublin, and who made their Report in the year 1853; the Archbishop of Dublin, the present Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Lord Rosse, and other eminent gentlemen having been Members of the Commission. The Commissioners stated that the University of Dublin possessed, under the 2 Vict. c. 23—which was but a continuation of former enactments—certain privileges with regard to the duty on paper, and that the college was entitled to a drawback upon all Latin and Greek books, as well as religious books, printed by the University. The Commissioners added that— If the duty upon paper should continue in force that privilege ought to be extended to all books published by the University for educational purposes, and that the University had been very liberal in encouraging the printing of educational books by defraying a large portion of the expense from their funds. He (Mr. Hamilton) was sorry to say that it depended upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether they could persevere with the Bill; but he might state that he should certainly be very glad to see the privilege of the University referred to by the hon. Gentleman extended to all books connected with education.