§ The provision as to the minimum duty payable for publican's and beerhouse licences as enacted in Section forty-three of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and in Scale 3 of the First Schedule thereto, shall cease to have effect during the continuance of the present War and one year thereafter, and that Sub-section (4) of Section forty-five of the said Act and any other provisions of the said Act referring to the said minimum duty shall be modified accordingly.
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
§ Colonel WALKERI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."
The object is to suspend the minimum duties which apply to Great Britain, and in a far less degree to Ireland. I propose it on account of the extreme hardships 1749 that arise in the case of licensed premises which are hardly hit by the new taxation in the large areas and towns. It is a Clause which I hardly think will impose any great burden on the Exchequer, although it may be the means of removing a great number of hardships.
§ Mr. MONTAGUI hope the hon. Gentleman will not press this Clause. He has three Clauses on the Paper dealing with this and kindred subjects. With regard to the first, the Government are endeavouring to meet him, although with a different drafting. With regard to the third, we propose also to meet him by a small addition to the drafting. I hope, therefore, he will not persist in this particular proposal, which has already been defeated once in the House of Commons.
§ Colonel WALKERI am quite willing to withdraw it.
§ Motion and Clause, by leave, withdrawn.