§ Sir George Clerkpresented a Petition from certain Corndistillers of Scotland, against the Act 4th George 4th, which allowed a drawback on spirit made from malt only, and the petitioners therefore prayed, that the drawback should be abolished. He presumed he had no occasion to call the noble Lord's particular attention to the petition, as the revenue, as well as the petitioners, was deeply interested.
§ Lord Althorprecommended an inquiry before a Select Committee, that he might make himself fully master of the subject.
§ Mr. Leadersaid, the appointment of a Committee would cause much delay when the subject was most pressing. The Irish distillers were suffering from the defective state of the law, as well as the Scotch.
§ Lord Althorpassured the hon. Gentleman, that he was most desirous the question should be settled with the least possible delay, and he thought, the most effective way to attain that object was, as he had just stated, to send the case before a Committee,
§ Sir George Clerkagreed with the hon. Gentleman, the member for Kilkenny, that the appointment of a Committee would cause delay only. They had a pretty good specimen of this from the proceedings of the Committee appointed to consider the propriety of admitting molasses to be used in breweries and distilleries. He hoped the noble Lord would bring forward some remedial measure on his own responsibility, when his other avocations (as he knew the noble Lord was at present much engaged) would permit.
§ Mr. Jonessaid, the arrangements at present in existence, had completely put down illicit distillation, and he, therefore, trusted, the utmost caution would be used in making any alteration.