§ Mr. Gillonsaid, that in an Act passed in the 42nd year of George 2nd, a clause had been introduced which prevented the recovery of debts contracted for spirituous liquors, when the sum did not amount, at one time, to 20s. sterling. The object of this clause had been, no doubt, to protect the health and morals of the people. However this clause might have been suited to the time in which it was passed, it was found in the present day totally inefficient in preventing drunkenness, while it had anything rather than a beneficial tendency on the morals of the people. In fact, to the crime of drunkenness, its tendency was to add fraud and dishonesty. It had also an effect which had never been contemplated by its framers upon the spirit merchants, a class of persons who pursued an honest calling, and were fully as much entitled to protection as any class of his Ma- 465 jesty's subjects. In Scotland, especially, where grocers carried on also the trade of spirit dealers, they were in the habit of supplying families with small quantities from time to time. The purchaser had it in his power to plead the Tippling Act, and to set the honest trader at defiance. He (Mr. Gillon) had in his hand various instances of the most gross frauds committed in this way. He rested his case also on the recommendation of the Commission of Excise Inquiry, who in the second part of the 7th Report observed, "that no benefit can result from the continuance of the Tippling Act to outweigh the strong objections which may be urged against it, from its direct tendency to encourage dishonest dealing, and to interfere with the just rights of the honest trader. We therefore recommend that an early opportunity should be taken to repeal this Act." The hon. Member concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal so much of the 42nd George 2nd, cap. 20, and 6th George 4th, cap. 48, as prevents the recovery of debts for spirituous liquors, when the debt contracted at one time shall not amount to the sum of 20s. sterling.
§ Leave was given to bring in the Bill.