§ SIR W. HOULDSWORTH (Manchester, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the Resolution passed by this House on 10th July, 1877, with reference to the Indian Import Duties on cotton goods, he can give an assurance that such duties shall not be re-imposed without an opportunity being given to the House to express its opinion?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThe Resolution of the House of July 10, 1877, with reference to the Indian Import Duties on cotton goods was to the following effect:—
That, in the opinion of this House, the duties now levied upon cotton manufactures imported into India, being protective in their nature, are contrary to sound commercial policy, and ought to be repealed without delay, so soon as the financial condition of India will permit.The Resolution deals with duties that are protective in their nature, and I have already stated to the House that, in my opinion, the Executive Government ought not to sanction steps which would reverse that decision without giving an opportunity for discussion in this House. The imposition of duties which would not be protective in their character are not affected by the Resolution.