§ MR. FAWCETTpresented a Petition, signed by 8,200 inhabitants of Bombay, both Europeans and Natives, against the proposed new taxes in India. He was informed by one who was well competent to judge that there was not a single mercantile firm in Bombay a representative of which had not signed the Petition. The petitioners objected in the strongest possible way to any increase of the salt duty upon people who had only recently recovered from a severe famine. The proposal of a licence tax from which all professional and official parties should be exempted also met with their strongest opposition. Considering the importance of the Petition, he should move that it be printed.
§ MR. SPEAKERpointed out that, in the ordinary course, the Petition would go before the Committee on Public Petitions, and if they considered it of sufficient importance, they would recommend that it be printed. If the Committee did not take that course, it would be competent for the hon. Member to move that it be printed.
§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, that after the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman, he would defer his Motion till he saw what action the Committee would take.