§ MR. CONOR O'KELLYI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of raising the £30,000,000 asked for the maintenance of the Navy by a tonnage tax levied on all ships, native and foreign, entering British or Irish ports from oversea ports.
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe suggestion appears to be that the whole cost of the Navy should be paid by a tax which would mainly fall on the mercantile marine of this country in addition to other taxation to which it is now liable, and which would probably involve reprisals from foreign countries on our ships in foreign ports. I do not think this would be a feasible proposal.