§ 30. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the unreal inflation of the price of Irish land caused by the debasement of the currency through the use of paper money without an equivalent gold reserve; that 2734 Death Duties are levied on the fictitious prices; that some persons are unable to take up farms from inability to pay the Death Duties; and that a man named William O'Brien has been during the last six months and is still in Limerick Gaol from inability to pay Death Duty on. a farm; and, having regard to the hardship and confusion to which persistence in the practice of levying Death Duty on the basis of fictitious prices would give rise, whether that duty; will henceforth be levied on the value of the land as already ascertained by official valuers?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe precise effect of the issue of currency notes upon price is not a subject which lends itself to discussion by way of question and answer, but I must not be taken as accepting the view expressed in the first part of the question. I am informed that Mr. William O'Brien was imprisoned by order of the Irish High Court for contempt of Court arising out of the non-payment of Death Duties. I am not aware that any representation of inability to pay was made to the Court. Although the matter is one within the sole discretion of the Court, the Board of Inland Revenue wrote on the 20th instant reminding Mr. O'Brien's son of the fact that it is open to Mr. O'Brien at any time to apply to the Court for his release.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the latter part of the question asking why Death Duty is not levied on the real value of the land as ascertained by the official valuer?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn the first part of my answer I did not accept the hon. Member's view that there was any inflation of price.