Mr. O'Ferrallpresented a Petition from certain Distillers, complaining of the disadvantage under which they laboured, in consequence of the drawback allowed on Scotch whisky distilled from malt, which enabled the Scotch distillers to sell their whisky in Ireland twenty per cent cheaper than that distilled there. The Irish Members, he could assure Ministers, were unanimous in requiring this system to be altered, as it was the cause of great discontent in that country. The Scotch distillers had received, since 1828, nearly 2,000,000l. on drawbacks, and the Irish only 300,00l. He was wholly at a loss to understand the policy of exacting a tax with one hand, to pay it back with the other.
§ Mr. Leadersupported the prayer of the petition. The system of which it complained was most unjust and injurious to the Irish distiller, and necessarily detrimental to the Irish farmer. The revenue sustained much loss by drawbacks, and even the Scotch distillers, for whose benefit they were continued, complained that they were disadvantageous to the fair dealer. When it was recollected what the hon. and learned member for Kerry had asserted, that only 16,000,000 gallons of Scotch spirits had paid duty, while a drawback had been allowed for 17,000,000 gallons, this was quite sufficient to show, that the subject could no longer be neglected.
Colonel Conollysaid, he knew the petitioners were most respectable, and that they, as well as the whole agriculturists of Ireland, sustained great losses by the 826 existing system. He would corroborate what had been before asserted, viz., that the Irish Members had but one opinion on the subject, and he hoped, therefore, Government would speedily attend to the question.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.