§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 1 agreed to.
§ Clause 2 (Additional Rates of Duty to be charged on half-yearly and quarterly Assessments.)
§ MR. CHILDERSsaid, that this was the first time such a Bill had been introduced after the commencement of the second half year, and that there were several Indian and other securities on which both the half yearly dividends had been already paid. He wished, therefore, to know whether the Government proposed to adopt any plan for making those dividends chargeable?
§ MR. HUNTsaid, the attention of the Government had been given to this point, but they were advised that the amount in question was so infinitesimal that it was not worth while to make any special provision for bringing it into charge. The amount, as they were advised, that could in any case be collected did not exceed £18,000, and they saw no method of bringing it into charge.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Clause 3 (Relief to Persons whose Incomes are under two hundred a Year.)
§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHpointed out that the effect of the Bill would be to double the tax for the last quarter of the year, which would be a serious burden on persons of limited incomes. He wished 522 for an explanation of this clause, which was taken from the Act of 1863, and was very obscurely worded. He believed, indeed, when first adopted, very few Members understood it.
§ MR. HUNTreplied, that he was unable to say whether very few Members understood the provision when first introduced. He perfectly understood it himself, and had not till now heard it charged with ambiguity. No doubt, such provisions were often drawn in rather technical language by officials skilled in the management of the public finances; but this clause had been in operation without leading to any difficulty, and he hoped therefore his hon. Friend would not suggest any.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Remaining clauses agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time To-morrow.