§ MR. BUCHANAN) (Edinburgh, W.Do I understand that the Government propose on Monday next to take the Second Reading of the Local Taxation Bill?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI hope it will be possible to do so immediately after the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill.
§ MR. BUCHANANWill it be put down immediately after the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHYes.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI think that the course the Government are about to adopt in the matter amounts to a breach of faith, inasmuch as the Bill does not apply to Ireland. In England and Scotland the Local Authorities will be allowed to suspend licences, and why should fresh licences be created in Ireland? My object is to prevent new licences being created in Ireland.
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThat is a fair question for Committee.
§ *THE PRESIDENT OP THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George'sThe money will accumulate, and cannot be used for any other purpose.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL) (Tyrone, S.May I ask whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not distinctly say that the Bill would apply to Ireland?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThen I beg to give notice that I shall oppose the Second Reading of the Bill unless it is made to apply to Ireland.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR,who had been temporarily absent, said: I understand that some question has been raised in my absence with regard to the extension of the provisions of the Licensing Bill to Ireland. Not having, as yet, County Councils in Ireland, it is not possible to apply the whole of the English machinery of the Licensing Bill to Ireland, but I have no objection to the principle of the suspension of licences being extended to Ireland. I will consider that point in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIf I bring in a Bill for the purpose of suspending licences in Ireland, I presume that I should receive the support of Her Majesty's Government?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLWhen Mr. Bruce, in 1871, introduced a Bill for the suspension of licences the Bill covered the whole of the three Kingdoms. Why, then, should Ireland be excluded from the present Bill?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have already stated that, at present, Ireland has not got the local machinery.
§ MR. CHANCEWe are told that the money is to accumulate. Is it to accumulate at interest, and who is to get the benefit?
§ *MR. GOSCHENIt will be in the hands of the National Debt Commissioners, who will allow an interest of 2½ per cent. upon it.