On Wednesday in the Commons Mr. Samuel moved that the
new Financial Resolution be agreed to. He said that grants, or bounties, on exports of goods were prohibited by the Bill, but that if bounties injurious to British trade were given to Irish industries the Imperial Parliament could take action. Mr. Balfour in an extremely able and minute criticism, such as he excels in when be likes, denounced the plan of giving the Exchequer Board powers which now belong to the central authority. The Board would be able to help the Irish Parliament to treat infant industries in a protective manner, and against its decisions there would be no appeal. Another thing he criticised strongly was the scheme to let British officials collect the Irish taxes. The Irish Exchequer would not in the least mind imposing a tax very costly to collect because the cost of collection would not fall upon Ireland. The cost of collection was a cheek on every Exchequer, and it was an absurd policy to dispense with that check. Sir John Simon and Mr. Birrell also spoke, and the Resolution was carried on report by 317 votes to 195.
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