THE EVENING SITTING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2109, 7 October 1875, Page 2

THE EVENING SITTING.

This day. ■ Upon tbe House resumincat 7.30 p.m. — Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Customs Duties Repeal Bill, the object of which, he said, wa» to reduce the taxation upon the principal necessaries of life. The hon. gentleman argued that the Government should have introduced some such measure. He contended that the people could be relieved of taxation by the bill to about two hundred and twenty thousand pounds (£220,000); that, together with the saving of £130,000 or £15Q,C03 which might and ought to be saved on the year's estimates, would be a great relief to the country ; and if property owners were compelled to contribute their • fair share towards the Government of the country instead of getting off comparatively ft'ee as at present, the country would be greatly benefited. If the Government would not meet him half way, he hoped they would be prepared to put a tax of a halfpenny per pound on wool. Mr Atkiusou opposed the bill, and quoted a series of tables to show that the working man was not over taxed as was sought to be made out, an>i that the wealthier classes contributed more towards the revenue than they were generally credited with. The following members opposed the bill on the grounds that it was inopporj tune and not brought down in proper form : —Messrs O'Connor, Andrew, Reyj nolds, Hunter, Joseph Shepherd, McLean, McGlashan, Bunny and Harrison. After Sir George Grey's reply, the bill was thrown out by 41 to 15. The House adjourned at 12.50.