§ On the bringing up of the Report on the Customs and Excise,
MR. SMITH O'BRIENrose, and said, he was desirous to obtain a pledge from the Government that they would give the distilling interest some time before proceeding with their measures for allowing the use of sugar in breweries and distilleries, and reducing the duty on rum. He had that morning received a letter which stated, that the distillers of Dublin regarded the Government measure with alarm, and were apprehensive that its effect would be utterly ruinous to them, and to every distiller in Ireland. The right hon. Gentleman stated, the other night, that he trusted a large quantity of corn, which was now used in breweries and distilleries, would be superseded by the use of sugar. In that desire he cordially concurred; and he would go so far as to say, that, in the present circumstances of the country, grain ought not to be used in distilleries at all, but that every possible facility should be given for the introduction of sugar and molasses, as a substitute, or any other article that might be available for conversion into spirits. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, had taken advantage of the feeling which existed upon the subject, and had accompanied this measure with another, which was, in point of fact, a measure of free trade, and which would have the effect of destroying the protection now enjoyed by the Irish distillers — a protection which, he confessed, at the same time, amounted nearly to prohibition. He was not prepared to say, that the existing protection was not too high — the duty levied on rum introduced into Ireland being 8s. 10d. per gallon—but it was now proposed that the duty should be at 3s. 2d., so that the protection would be only 6d. per gallon; and at the same time the use of molasses was to be prohibited. All he wished to say further was, that it was not fair that one of the few remaining branches of manufacture in Ireland should be ruined by surprise; and he hoped to have a pledge from the right 482 hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the parties should have a little time for the consideration of the measure.
CAPTAIN GORDONalso urged upon the Government the propriety of not proceeding hastily with the measure.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERcould not see that any delay would enable the House to discuss the measure with greater advantage than at present, though it might give parties an opportunity of raising an agitation upon the subject. No doubt the proposed measure would effect a considerable reduction in the amount of protection which the Scotch and Irish distillers at present enjoyed; but he had merely placed them in precisely the same relative position as the distillers in England; and thus, what the hon. Gentleman had so often asked for, equal law, would be established in each country.
An HON. MEMBERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if it was his intention to lay upon the Table of the House the report of the experiments which had been made for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of molasses which was equivalent to a quarter of malt?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERreplied, that he had considered the subject, and, upon the whole, he did not think it would be advisable to do so; because the experiments were conducted upon a very small scale, by persons who had no very great experience in breweries and distilleries; and, as he did not rest his statement upon the results arrived at by those experiments, he thought that it would not be fair to lay them upon the Table.
§ Report agreed to.
§ House adjourned.