§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the second time."—(Mr. Hunt.)
§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, that raising money in this short way was very objectionable, and in fact he looked upon it as a sort of political luxury. The necessity for this money arose not from any matter which had occupied any great interest or attention in the country. As for clerks and employées with small incomes, it would appear that the abstract honour of the country was a great abstraction to them. The Abyssinian expedition was an amateur expedition that had been got up as a consequence of a diplomatic discussion, and the House had expressed no real opinion on the subject. In the Committee he should move that all persons whose incomes do not exceed £200 a year should be exempted from the Income Tax that would be imposed by this Bill.
§ MR. HUNTsaid, he had often heard talk about luxuries and about necessaries; but he had never until then heard war described as a political luxury. He would ask the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Darby Griffith) to re-consider his determination, because he should remember this was a supplemental Bill, and that it would be an exceedingly inconvenient thing to make any special exemptions. The Amendment, of which his hon. Friend had given notice, might be well worthy of consideration at the proper time, but it would hardly apply to supplemental tax, and in fact he doubted if it would be possible in this Bill to alter the terms of the original basis upon which the tax was then imposed.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read the second time, and committed for Monday.
§ House adjourned at half after Twelve o'clock, till Monday.