HC Deb 17 July 1838 vol 44 cc284-7
The Chancellor of Exchequer

moved the third reading of the Glass Duties Bill.

Sir C. B. Vere

wished to put a question to the right hon. Gentleman with respect to an invention of a gentleman of the name of Rutledge, of an instrument for ascertaining the quality and quantity of spirits distilled during the process of distillation. Such an invention would be a benefit to the distillers and also to the country. A report had been made by Dr. Birkbeck, which was favourable to the invention, and, he understood, that Professors Lubbock and Brande also spoke favourably of it. He wished to know whether any step had been taken by Government to test the invention?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said, it was true that, for some time, the attention of the Government had been called to the invention of Mr. Rutledge, and he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was satisfied, that if the experiment proved successful the result would be most important to the trade of this country and to the revenue. When he recollected the amount of public revenue that was derived from spirits, he felt it was his duty to approach such a subject with the greatest caution. He had availed himself of the services of some eminent men of science to consider this subject. Dr. Birkbeck entered into the fullest details, and he was, at the present time, of opinion, that the instrument would answer all the purposes for which it was intended. Two other eminent men, Professors Lubbock and Brande, had also expressed a favourable opinion, but they had not given the subject quite so much of their attention as Dr. Birkbeck. Three experiments had been tried in connexion with the Board of Excise, but no experiment testing the amount used as compared with the total amount of spirits produced had as yet been brought to a final result. He could only add, that he was taking the best means of bringing the matter to a final result, and if it succeeded no man would be more gratified than himself at such success.

The bill read a third time.

Mr. Hawkes

then moved the insertion of the following clause: "And be it further enacted, that no maker or makers of glass shall make of common bottle metal any bottle or bottles smaller, or of less size or content, than what is commonly deemed or reputed an half-pint bottle; and if any maker or makers of glass shall make of common bottle metal, any bottle or bottles smaller, or of less size or content than aforesaid, the maker or makers of glass so offending shall, for every such offence, forfeit and lose the sum of fifty pounds." The object of the clause was to protect the makers of flint-glass, who, paying a much higher duty than the green-glass manufacturers, were in the habit of converting their refuse materials into small medical bottles, in which they would be unequally competed with by the green-glass manufacturers, unless this provision was inserted.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said, that, upon a review of the whole subject, and after consulting the parties interested in it out of door, who were, of course, much divided upon it, he was inclined to think, that a case had not been made out for the insertion of this restriction, and he should maintain the bill as it stood.

The House divided: Ayes 28; Noes 66; Majority 38.

List of the AYES.
Egerton, W. T. Richards, R.
Estcourt, T. Rolleston, R.
Filmer, Sir E. Rushbrooke, Col.
Freshfield, J. W. Scarlett, J. Y.
Grimsditch, T. Sheppard, T.
Hope, hon. C. Sibthorp, Colonel
Hope, G. W. Vere, Sir C. B.
Houldsworth, T. Vivian, J. E.
Hughes, W.B. Waddington, H.
Lowther, J. H. White, A.
Lygon, hon. Gen. Wood, T.
Parker, R. T. Wyndham, W.
Perceval, hon. G. J.
Philips, M. TELLERS.
Praed, W. M. Blackburne, J. J.
Reid, Sir J. R. Hawkes, T.
List of the NOES.
Aglionby, H. A. Hawes, B.
Alston, R. Heathcote, G. J.
Anson, hon. Colonel Hector, C. J.
Archbold, R. Hobhouse, Sir J.
Bannerman, A. Hodges, T. L.
Barnard, E. G. Hoskins, K.
Bernal, R. Howick, Viscount
Blake, W. J. Hume, J.
Briscoe, J. I. Ingham, R.
Brotherton, J. Irving, J.
Brownrigg, S. James, W.
Byng, G. James, Sir W. C.
Campbell, Sir J. Lefevre, C. S.
Collins, W. Lushington, Dr.
Conyngham, Lord A. Lushington, C.
Craig, W. G. Martin, J.
Douglas, Sir C. E. Parker, J.
Dundas, F. Pechell, Captain
Dundas, hon. T. Price, Sir R.
Ebrington, Viscount Rice, rt. hon. T. S.
Edwards, Sir J. Rolfe, Sir R. M.
Elliot, hon. J. E. Salwey, Col.
Finch, F. Smith, J. A.
Hastie, A. Somerville, Sir W.
Stansfield, W. R. Ward, H. G.
Surrey, Earl of Wilbraham, G.
Tancred, H. W. Williams, W.
Thornely, T. Wood, C.
Turner, E. Wood, G. W.
Vigors, N. A. Worsley, Lord
Villiers, C. P. Yates, J. A.
Vivian, J. H.
Wall, C. B. TELLERS
Wallace, R. Seymour, Lord
Warburton, H. Steuart, R.

Clause rejected, and bill passed.