On Tuesday the debate on the Finance Bill was resumed
in Committee, Mr. Joseph Walton moving a new clause to repeal the export-duty on coal. Various representatives of the mining centres having supported the Motion on the ground that the tax had diminished the output and export of coal and had reduced wages as well as the number of men employed, the Chancellor of the Exchequer replied. Ad- mitting that these allegations if borne out by facts would make a good case for reconsidering the tax, Mr. Ritchie stated that the official information at his disposal showed a distinct increase in output, export, and the number of men em- ployed. Wages were not so high as in the year 1900, which was an abnormal year, but they were higher than in 1898 and 1899. As for the incidence of the tax, the figures certainly seemed to show that the foreigner paid, though it was not easy to prove it. Hence he could not agree that the retention of the tax was unjustifiable or consent to any change, at any rate this year, in view of the condition of national finance, though he thought the suggestion of substi- tuting an ad valorem duty for the present tax worthy of consideration, provided the duty were to be permanent. The proposed clause having been rejected by 273 votes against 135, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer having stated that he hoped to bring in this Session an omnibus Bill dealing with financial details, the Finance Bill passed through Committee.
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