The abolition of the Coal-tax was opposed by Mr. Harwood
and by several Unionist Members,:but on Mr. Asquith's reminding the House that it had been unanimously condemned by a Royal Commission, and that his predecessor had been pre- pared to abandon it, the clause was agreed to. Mr. Asquith declined to go into such questions as the introduction of a universal Income-tax or the exemption of women from the present tax, though he admitted that he viewed certain aspects of it with considerable dissatisfaction. He under- took at a future time to remit the Hackney Carriage Duty of fifteen shillings, but the matter must be deferred until the whole question of the relations between local and Imperial taxation could be dealt with. The Bill passed through Committee shortly after ten o'clock, and was reported to the House without amendments.
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