§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the formation in the Transvaal of a league for the taxation of unworked mining rights; and whether the Government will consider the advantage of similar taxation or rating in this country with a view to increasing the supply, and reducing the price, of coal.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH, Fifeshire, E.)I am aware that the suggestion is one which has been canvassed in the Transvaal; but I do not think that the political and economic conditions of the two industries are sufficiently similar to make the analogy drawn by my hon. friend a very close one. His suggestion shall, however, receive due consideration in common with other proposals for improving the incidence of taxation.