HC Deb 09 June 1884 vol 288 cc1881-2

Order for Committee read.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

Sir, with the intention of going into Committee on this Bill pro formd only, I beg to move that you do now leave the Chair.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH

asked whether the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury would not consider it reasonable to introduce into the Bill a provision for the relief of persons surcharged under Schedules A and B with excessive duties which, by the indulgence of the Department, had not been collected during the agricultural depression, otherwise a great hardship would be sustained by persons whose farms had deteriorated and by those who had large tracks of land out of cultivation and who had, in consequence, been deprived of their incomes?

MR. COURTNEY

said, that since the right hon. Gentleman had spoken to him upon the subject, he had arrived at a conclusion adverse to the view the right hon. Gentleman took of this question. He was happy to say that during last year the number of farms in the condition described by the right hon. Gentleman had very greatly diminished.

Motion agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clauses 1 to 3 agreed to.

Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow, at Two of the clock.