ISLE OF MAN (CUSTOMS) BILL. (Hansard, 19 July 1922)

§ Mr. KILEY
May we have some information with regard to this Bill?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Baird)
As the House knows, this is an annual Bill, and its purpose is to give effect to the Resolutions passed by the Tynwald, the local Parliament of the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man has a separate financial existence; it levies its own taxes, and defrays its own expenses. In par ticular—and this will interest the hon. Member for Whitechapel (Mr. Kiley)—it has complete liberty in regard to Customs and Excise, While the Resolutions require confirmation by the Imperial Parliament, it would be quite unprecedented for us to alter them. Undoubtedly, any action of that kind would produce a most serious breach in the relations of the two countries. That would be a position which, I am sure, the hon. Member would not desire to see.
I do not know whether the House wishes that I should go through the various Resolutions. If that is the desire 2239 of the House it is possible to do so, but I may perhaps give a summary of them. Certain existing import duties, annually imposed, are continued for a further year. The Isle of Man adopts the British Budget and levies on cocoa, and there is Imperial preference as regards imports. [HON MEM BERS: "Oh!"] There is no use discussing this, and what I invite the House to do, in agreeing to the Second Reading of this Measure, is to carry on the good old custom that has been respected from time immemorial, namely to confirm the Resolutions of the Tynwald.

HON. MEMBERS
You have already spoken.

§ Mr. KILEY
No, I have not spoken. Mr. Speaker is conducting the proceedings, and he will call me to order if I infringe the Rules. As the Under-Secretary has said, this Bill is to confirm the desires of the Isle of Man Parliament. I am not sure whether that Parliament quite realised what an import duties tariff means. They may possibly not have had full information. I am sure if they realise what many hon. Members of this House—

§ major WARING
On a point of Order. Has not the hon. Member exhausted his right to speak?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
I think that would be rather stretching the Rule. The hon. Member asked for an explanation of the Bill.

§ Mr. KILEY
If my hon. and gallant Friend is anxious to get away, I am sure the House will agree to his going. The point I was endeavouring to make, when I was interrupted, was that I am sure Members of the Parliament in the Isle of Man concerned with the proposals we are now considering did not altogether realise what is involved in the acceptance of the proposal of import duties. The hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) asked a question of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury some time ago. He wanted to know why it was that if you imported, say, mouth organs from Paris—

§ Sir J. BAIRD
On a point of Order. Is this—

§ Mr. SPEAKER
The hon. Member is really going beyond the question.

§ Mr. KILEY
I was calling attention to an absurdity that exists, and which, I am quite sure, was not in the minds of those concerned with this Bill. It is quite open to me, if I so desire, to move that this Bill be read a Second time upon this day three months, in order to enable me to make any observations I may desire.

§ Sir J. BAIRD
On the point of Order. I do not see anything about mouth organs in this Bill.

§ Mr. SPEAKER
That would be out of order.

§ Mr. KILEY
Import duties would include mouth organs, but I think I shall be consulting the desires of hon. Members present if I refrain from taking any further action now.