§ 13. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to prevent co-operative societies selling their goods to the general public instead of only to their own members, in view of the fact that co-operative societies are, under the existing law, exempt from the payment of Income Tax?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe answer is in the negative.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at a large number of co-operative stores no distinction 1884 is made with regard to sales to members and to the general public? Does he not recognise the great hardship to the private trader in that he has to pay 23 per cent. of his profits to the Revenue while the co-operator pays nothing to Income Tax?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI could not accept the statement in that form. There is a certain amount of outside sales, but this subject has been discussed over and over again and was considered at great length by the Royal Commission on Income Tax and the Government propose to adhere to the present law.