§ MR. E. W. HARCOURTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is his intention to adhere to his promise, which was accepted in perfect good faith on the 24th of February last, to give relief to the ratepayers during the present Session of Parliament from the incidence of rates levied for the maintenance of main roads in England, irrespectively of all fugitive and evanescent legislation? The hon. Member said he really felt almost ashamed to ask the Question.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)And I may say, Sir that I am almost ashamed to answer; but the hon. Member is always so courteous in his proceedings in this House that I wish to approach him in a friendly spirit. I presume that the hon. Member's mind, like the minds of many hon. Gentlemen, has been disturbed by rumors which have been cir- 415 culated on this and other questions. The hon. Member moved at the beginning of this year a Resolution to the effect—
That, in the opinion of this House, some relief should be forthwith afforded to ratepayers from the present unjust incidence of highway rates appropriated for the maintenance of main roads in England;and with the exception of the word "unjust," I accepted in substance the Resolution. At present, however, there has been no opportunity of discussing any practical proposal in reference to that subject. When the Finance of the year came to be examined it was quite plain that I did not possess the means of redeeming my pledge, and, therefore, the course which we were bound to take was to make a proposal to the House to place us in funds for the purpose. We have laid before the House that proposal, and the House will, no doubt, pronounce judgment upon it. We shall do our best to procure its adoption by the House, and thereupon to make an application of the money to the purpose for which it is intended.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEIs it to be understood that the proposal respecting the Carriage Tax will be submitted to the House?
§ MR. E. W. HARCOURTasked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to adhere to the promise which he made on the 24th of February; and, whether the right hon. Gentleman had not stated that this proposal would be submitted to the House detached from any other subject who was likely to cause controversy.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, at the time when I accepted in its spirit the hon. Member's Resolution, the Government had before it the introduction of an important measure with regard to local government. I understood the hon. Gentleman—and I think rightly understood him—to ask that his proposal might not be made to depend on the good or ill-success of that measure, and I gave a promise that we would endeavor to detach it from any measure of the kind. When the hon. Gentleman asks me whether I intend to apply money which I do not possess, that is a question which, I think, answers itself. We 416 shall do our best to place ourselves in funds for the purpose.
§ MR. E. W. HARCOURTsaid he felt it his duty to give Notice that he would, on the first convenient opportunity, bring forward a Resolution on the subject.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, I may, perhaps, take this opportunity of saying that it will be for the convenience of the public if hon. Gentlemen who have given Notices of Motion on the second reading of the Tax Bill will kindly reserve their Motions until the Speaker leaves the Chair. The effect of that will be that after we have obtained the second reading we shall be able to pass the Bill through Committee pro formâ. There are some matters of great interest to the parties concerned, though not much known to the world at large, relating to the coffee and cocoa trade, and it is desirable that the provisions relating to them should be in the form in which it is intended to ask the House to pass them. It will be quite understood, however, that the fullest opportunity shall be afforded for full discussion on going into Committee.