Mr. CHAMBERLAINNow as to the date on which preference will take effect. The general date which I 200 propose is 1st September, so as to allow time for administative machinery to be set up. But tea requires special treatment as the great bulk of the supply comes from the Empire. To postpone the introduction of the new rate too long might lead to the withholding of stocks, and the consumer going short. After consulting the distributing trade, I propose that the reduced duty should come into force on 2nd June. If these results are small, it must be remembered that the immediate bulk of Colonial products affected is small, but the results, both on the Revenue and, as I hope, on the trade, will proceed increasingly as the years go on.
Now I come to the new taxation which I propose to impose.