§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)On behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of imposing a tax upon options and future contracts representing fictitious grain, flour, and other commodities, in view of the volume and value of these transactions.
§ MR. RITCHIEThis question has often been considered; but I doubt whether it would be possible to devise a tax which would hit speculative options without falling upon genuine and legitimate transactions at the same time.