§ MR. CALLANasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is a fact 534 that Mr. Turlett, who runs the Ovoca coach from Dublin to the Wooden Bridge, in Ireland, has been obliged to pay £8 carriage licence for same, whilst the gentlemen who run the Dorking and Brighton coaches from Hatchett's Hotel, Piccadilly, pay only £2 as carriage licence; and, if so, whether he will have this inequality rectified forthwith?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, (Mr. CHILDERS)Sir, in reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that this is a question which does not concern me in any way, for it is not a Revenue question, the sums to be paid for stage coaches in Dublin and London being fixed by the Dublin Carriage Amendment Act and the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act respectively. I have nothing to do with the administration of these Acts; but I find, on reference to the Irish Office, that the question of Turlett's payment was brought before the late Duke of Marlborough in 1879, who was advised that no change could legally be made in the rate then charged, and I believe that the law is the same now as in 1879. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that in Ireland no Excise licence is paid on carriages; whereas in England the owner of a stage coach of this character pays two guineas.
§ MR. CALLANwished to know if the right hon. Gentleman admitted, as a fact, that an inequality really existed, and that the Government would not take any step to remove it?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS), in reply, said, as he had said before, that he had nothing to do with the Dublin or the London Police Acts on the subject.