§ MR. W. EWARTIt appearing from a Return made to this House on the 20th day of January last that there are, in the table of Customs Duties, sixty articles producing to the revenue not more than £200 yearly, each; fifty-three articles producing not more than £100; thirty-six producing not more than £20; and thirteen producing only £5 or less than £5, yearly, each, asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is the intention of the Government to consider the expediency of abolishing any of these duties, in the interests of commerce, and for further simplifying the tariff of Customs Duties?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the subject was under consideration, and there would be no objection to abolish the greater portion of the table of duties to which the hon. Gentleman had referred. But at the same time he would 835 remind the hon. Gentleman that the list would require careful revision, because there were some of the articles to which reference had been made, included in the tariff on special grounds. Paper, malt, and hops, being subject to an Excise duty, it would, therefore, be necessary to impose a countervailing Customs duty on beer, paper, and pasteboard, all of which were included in the duties to which the hon. Member referred.