§ COLONEL BERESFORDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Messrs. Delarue and Co. have been directly or indirectly employed by the Government, during any portion of the last three months, in manufacturing label stamps which, had the proposed Match Tax become Law, would have been affixed to the match boxes; and, if so, what has been the cost of the labels so prepared, and out of what fund are they to be paid? [Cheers.]
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I judge by the cheers of hon. Gentlemen opposite that they consider it was the duty of the Government to have endeavoured to pass a Bill for the purpose of placing a stamp upon matches without taking the precaution to be provided with the stamp in case the Bill passed. That was not the view we took of our duty. Therefore we did directly instruct Messrs. Delarue to prepare stamps; they have been employed in preparing them, and I am told the expense will be less than £1,000.