§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to preventing loss to the public by the manipulation of mining values, the Government will announce at the earliest date what proportion of the cost of the South African 725 War, and of the compensations and pensions arising there from, will be met by a tax on the mining products of the territories where the conflict has taken place.
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I think any such announcement would be altogether premature until we have entered upon possession of the country, and received the advice of those on the spot whose advice is eminently necessary. We do not yet know what will be the cost of the war, or the state of the mines at its close.