MR. J. B. SMITHsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it be his intention to rectify the singular anomaly in our Tariff—namely, that while wooden ships and all' articles manufactured of wood, are allowed to enter British ports free, the raw material wood is subjected to a duty?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, in reply, that the Government were perfectly aware of the anomaly to which his hon. Friend referred. There was, however, more than one way by which that anomaly might be rectified. One mode would be by laying a duty upon ships. He would, however, relieve his hon. Friend's fears on that point by assuring him that Her Majesty's Government had no intention of removing the anomaly in that form. As regarded any further information, he should ask his hon. Friend to exercise his self-denial until the financial statement should be made.