§ MR. H. WILSON (York, W.R., Holmfirth)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is true that a shipping house has offered duties in plate to re-land the plate which has been exported, so as to enable them to re-ship it again?
§ *MR. GOSCHENI have heard of that plan—or that scheme, perhaps, would be the more proper appellation; but, fortunately, there are existing means to check it and I am glad to be able to state the fact publicly, namely, that the drawback will only be paid where a declaration is made that the plate was exported without any intention of re-landing or re-importing it. Therefore, any persons 1418 who would re-export plate under the invitation of such a circular would probably render themselves liable to an action for having signed a bond under what might possibly be considered false pretences. At all events, I am glad to say that, though a shipping agent did send circulars to the whole trade, there has been little or no response to the tempting invitation, and the great bulk of the trade have abstained from having recourse to such methods.
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is correctly reported as having said that he has not yet decided as to the Plate Duty, and if in any case, having regard to the large number of intricate technical questions involved in the abolition of the duty which, unless carefully considered with the advice of experts, will involve the trade in serious loss, he proposes to postpone the coming into operation of the new order of things?
§ *MR. GOSCHENI must have been misreported yesterday. The only question I understood to be put to me was with regard to the question of gold plate and not silver plate. With regard to silver plate, there has been no hesitation whatever. It would be most inconvenient to postpone the date, especially in view of measures which might be taken, such as were alluded to by the hon. Gentleman opposite. Every measure necessary has been taken in concert with men thoroughly acquainted with the trade, and little difficulty is expected in carrying out the matter satisfactorily.