§ MR. GIBBS (Bristol, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that many merchants have heavy stocks of sugar on which duty has already been paid, he can extend the time to 1st June.
§ MR. JOYNSON-HICKS (Manchester, N.W.)I beg at the same time to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his 1132 attention has been drawn to the hardships which will be incurred by many traders in sugar owing to his proposal that rebate on duty-paid stocks of sugar unsold on the 18th instant will not be allowed; if he is aware that in consequence of insufficient accommodation for bonding duties have already been paid on large quantities of sugar which otherwise would have remained in bond; whether, under the circumstances, he can prolong the period of ten days, or else allow a drawback Upon stocks held on the 18th of this month; and whether he would be prepared to receive representations on the subject from the traders affected.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE,) Carnarvon BoroughsI have undertaken to receive representations this afternoon on the subject both from those who desire a postponement of the date at which the reduced duty comes into force and from those who deprecate such a course.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)asked whether those dealers who had sugar in bond would get a rebate, but that there would be no rebate on stock in the warehouses.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is so.
§ MR. FELLasked whether manufacturers who held large stocks of preserves made by duty-paid sugar would have their case considered.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGETheir case is being considered.