§ MR. SLACK (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that the 1st day of July, 1905, will be a Saturday, and that there will therefore be only four and a-half working hours on that day from the time the Customs House opens at 10 a.m. until 2.30 p.m., when the railway companies cease collecting goods, arrangements will be made whereby the duty on tea at the 820 reduced rate of 6d. per pound may be paid at the Customs House on Friday, June 30th, provided that delivery of such tea is not taken till the following day, so as to facilitate those interested in the tea trade in the execution of their orders.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.The hon. Member will probably have learned from the newspapers that the Board of Customs have already instructed their officers that on tea required for delivery on or after July 1st next, the reduced rate of duty, 6d.per pound, may be accepted, as a deposit, prior to that date. Arrangements will be made for the issue early on July 1st of the delivery orders for parcels of tea upon which the duty has thus been deposited.