INLAND BONDING BILL.—COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 21 June 1860)

§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY
complained of the absence of precise information as to the meaning of this clause. He wanted to know what was the nature of the power given by this clause to the Town Council of Manchester over the rates. He only received a copy of the Bill that day, and had not, therefore, time to consider its provisions.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
paid, the hon. Member must have been particulary unfortunate in not receiving a copy of the Bill before the time he stated, since it was distributed the day previous. He quite agreed that unless the circumstances were urgent, or there was an universal assent on the part of the House, nothing could be more improper than to read a Bill a second time before it was printed. The nature of the arrangement to which the clause referred was this. The City of Manchester at present enjoyed powers of inland bonding under a Local Act passed twelve or fifteen years ago. Under the arrangement made by the House in the Customs Tariff Act, a certain additional fee was chargeable on goods in warehouses when they had been delivered to places not now enjoying the privilege of inland bonding. Manchester would, therefore, only have to pay this additional fee; and that fee formed a much smaller burden than the whole expense of the customs establishment, which the City had hitherto borne. In fact the object of the clause was to give to Manchester an opportunity of getting rid of the obligation to pay the whole expense of the Customs establishment, by placing itself on the same footing as other towns. But parties representing the sentiments of Manchester had said that as that City entirely agreed with the object in view, it would be better to enact at once that Manchester should be liable to 816 this additional fee, and relieved from the charges of its own establishment.

MR. HENLEY
said, he fully concurred in the principle of placing Manchester upon the equality alluded to, but it was important to ascertain the nature of the Local Act of Manchester in order that they might know whether that City obtained any peculiar advantages uuder it.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, it was true the Local Act contained various other provisions; but they were rather complex than necessary, and were intended merely to adjust the system under which the rates should be collected in the Customs establishment. The effect of the clause would be to leave Manchester, as regarded the public, precisely on the same footing as the other inland places which had bonding.

MR. HENLEY
said, that much depended on what meaning was placed on the word "public" by the right hon. Gentleman. He should like to know whether it would make any difference as between Manchester and the Exchequer.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, he believed Manchester would not obtain any such advantage.

§ MR. BAZLEY
remarked that the Local Act had affected Manchester rather disadvantageously than otherwise, but under the present Bill Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and other places, would be placed upon precisely the same footing.