CUSTOMS ACTS.—REPORT. (Hansard, 6 March 1860)

§ MR. E. P. BOUVERIE
said, he wished to ask why the article "books" had been omitted from the schedule?

§ SIR FITZROY KELLY
remarked that as the Resolutions had been passed through Committee on the understanding that they should be afterwards taken more fully into consideration, he wished to know when that would be.

§ MR. LAING
said, that in the absence of his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer he wished to state that it was of extreme importance to the trade of the country, when Resolutions of this description were agreed to in Committee, they should be reported to the House with as little delay as possible. At that late hour of the night it would not be fair to bring forward any of those articles which would be likely to excite serious discussion, which would probably be the case with two of the articles—malt and timber. He thought there was no doubt those two articles might be brought forward to-morrow. With regard to books, that article, as well as all those into the manufacture of which paper entered, was postponed by arrange- 71 ment, until the question of the paper duty should be fairly considered.

§ MR. BASS
remarked, that as it was not intended to make any change in the malt duty for some considerable time, it did not matter whether that article was discussed to-morrow or a month hence.

§ MR. LAING
said, the article on timber would necessarily come on at once. The article on malt would be taken on Friday if possible.