The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-20 00:00:00

TRADE LICENCES.

Mr. PHINN asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
whether her Majesty's Government had considered the
resolutions for imposing increased duties on certain
trade licences, and if so, when they would be prepared
to lay the amended resolutions on the table of the house?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
it would be for the convenience of the house if in answer
to the question of the hon. member he adverted to the
several financial measures which had been a considerable
time before the house, and stated the course which the
Government proposed to take with respect to them. As
regarded the licer en, to which the question immediately
applied, it was obvious, on an examination of the scale
as originally proposed, that it would be attended by
very great inconvenience, and in particular cases, by
what might be called oppression to the parties
whom it affected, and he therefore made it his busi-
ness to consider how the scale could be revised, and
in what shape it could be put so as to remove
those objections, but he found the effect would be to
materially reduce the proceeds arising from the scale,
and in some hiegree to raise the question whether they
were in a condition as to be able to spare the money.
The way in which the matter now stood was this :—lt
was impossible for him, until he knew what was the de-
cision of the house on the several questions that were
now pending, and in regard to which notices had been
given by hon. members which bore on the state of the
Exchequer, to give any absolute pledge with respect to
these licences ; therefore the Government had not at
present come to any absolute conclusion on the subject ;
but he thought he might venture to say, provided no
other inroad was made in the finances which were avail-
able for the public service, that it might be in their
power to dispense altogether with making, at the present
time, any proposal with regard to licenc3s. (Hear.)
With respect to the question of the soap duties,he proposed
to take a stage of that measure to night. As regarded
the stamp duties, three notices of motion had been given
by hon. members : one by the hon. member for Pomfret,
respecting a penny receipt stamp ; another by the
noble lord the member for Middlesex, in regard
to attorneys' certificates ; and the third by the
right hon. gentleman the member for Manchester as to
the advertisement duty. He might remind the house
that the resolutions which he had placed on the table
respecting these duties were not required by the forms of
the house, but were simply printed for the informa-
tion of hon. members. It would be extremely convenient
to the community to go forward with the resolutions
speedily respecting the penny receipt stamp, as it was
available for bankers' checks, orders, and so forth. (Hear.)
Thspeacttwtonvhhiecrlever, not one of the measures with re-
the vote of the they could immediately proceed to obtain
stamp
of of
foaroguoespe as it was necessary to protect that
fiery, that could only be done on the
strength
Nvaaarliment already passed. What
he proposed to dod
..esthis—only to bring in a bill con-
taining those
Heutip
to which no objection had
been taken.
?oad to lay the resolutions
on the table to
regard to the assessedqt:xene:eboafd ,ia,eken a longer time in
resolutions with
t
extreme] compli•
preparation, in conse
now held the
cated nature of the acts on the subjeect!
resolutions in his hand, and be would
honourable
them on the table to-night. The readyrighetio to lay
gentleman then stated that he had now a list of
ks on which an extra customs duty of five per cenet.aLtasi-
sctill chargeable, and he would move that it be laid on
the table.
The motion for laying the resolutions on the table was
agreed to.
EXCISE DUTIES ON SPIRITS BILL.
Succession Duty Bill oc-
Mr. CONNOLLY wished to know whether, in the
event of the committee on the it
was
offing the time of the 120W30 up to 12 o'clock,

the intention of the Government then to bring on the
Excise Duties on Spirits Bill ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
was impossible for him to pledge himself on this subject;
but if the committee extended to 12 o'clock, he would
take the other measure on Thursday, in the day-time.