§ MR. POTTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is prepared to lay upon the Table of the House Mr. Rowsell's Report as regards Malta, which has been in the hands of the Government for more than six months; and, if he will tell the House what action the Government is prepared to take on that Report in reference to the Food Taxes of Malta; and, whether it is the intention of Government to lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the Commission appointed in Ceylon on the subject of the Food Taxes in that island; and, what steps the Government will take in reference thereto?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by presenting Mr. Rowsell's Report on the taxation of Malta to the House until Her Majesty's Government have decided what course shall be taken upon the question to which it relates. And, considering the difficulty and importance of the proposals which have been made, affecting a system of taxation which has been in force for three-quarters of a century, I think it is scarcely reasonable that I should be expected to state what action 1042 will be taken upon them within so short a time after my appointment to my present office. My answer to the second Question must be similar to the preceding. I think it would be better that the Report on the Food Taxes of Ceylon should be laid on the Table with the decision of the Government on the subject when that decision has been arrived at, and that the Papers should not be presented in parts.