§ SIR JOSEPH M'KENNAasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, with a view to the ultimate abolition of the Duty on silver plate and for the purpose of alleviating the present depression in the manufacturing trade in silver goods, he would take into consideration the expediency of permitting new silver plate to be "hall-marked" without Duty, on the defacement and reduction to the condition of bar silver of an equal weight of old hall-marked Duty-paid plate?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE), in reply, said, that the question of the abolition of the duty on silver plate was difficult and complicated. He could not say that he was prepared to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member conveyed in the Question; but if the hon. Gentleman wished to have his views carefully considered, he would recommend him to 307 send him a written statement, setting forth the recommendations he wished to make, and the reasons by which he supported them.