§ SIR DAVID WEDDERBURNasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether his attention has been directed to the fact that an important native industry of India is hampered by the duty on all silver work imported into the United Kingdom; and, whether he will consider the question of abolishing the duty upon imported silver work, in the interests of free trade as well as of Indian industry?
MR. GLADSTONE,in reply, said, that, though this was not a matter of great financial importance, yet, as it was a financial matter, if he refrained from giving any positive answer it would form a somewhat dangerous precedent. He had carefully considered the subject of the bearing of these duties upon silver work imported into the United Kingdom from India; and he would continue that consideration of the subject in the hope that circumstances might enable him at the proper time to make some proposal to the House.