§ MR. FIRTHasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, What steps he proposes to take to arrest the importation and cir- 53 culation of the French dix-centimes piece in England?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS),in reply, said, that this subject had been for some time past occupying some attention. As to what steps the Government would take to arrest the importation, he could only reply in the negative, for he was afraid that such an interference with persons bringing coin from France would be useless, vexatious, and unwarrantable. There was no reason to believe that French coin was imported commercially. If it were, the profit would only be 4 per cent, against which would have to be set the freight and insurance, to say nothing of the difficulty of putting any large amount in circulation. As to the circulation in this country, all that the Government could do was to refuse to accept these coins if tendered; and this was done at the Post Office, the Custom House, and the Inland Revenue Office. The English penny piece was largely circulated in Paris, just as the French dix-centimes piece was brought over here in the pockets of travellers.