§ Order for Second Reading read.? Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
CAPTAIN JONESsaid, if the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had informed him when he intended to propose his Resolution for the imposition of an additional duty of 8d. on' Irish spirits, he should have opposed it. Being precluded from taking that course at present, he would not detain the House with any lengthened remarks. He felt bound, however, to express his opinion as to what would be the result of the change. In 1842, when Sir Robert Peel proposed an 381 addition of 1s. to the duty on Irish spirits, he ventured to tell the right hon. Baronet that he must not expect any increase of revenue—that he would fill all the gaols, and encourage illicit distillation, and would be compelled to retrace his steps. Before a year had passed, his prophecy was verified, and the additional duty was removed. He now told the Government that they were about to repeat the experiment, and that the result would be precisely the same. It was true that the addition was now to be 8d. instead of a shilling; but that amount was quite sufficient to produce the effect. From a return moved for by the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Brotherton), it appeared that, in the five consecutive years from 1834 to 1839, the consumption of spirits in Ireland varied from 12,000,000 to 10,800,000 gallons. After the addition made in 1842 the quantity brought to charge came down to 5,000,000 gallons. It was not to be supposed that one drop of whisky less was consumed; the deficiency was made up entirely by illicit spirits. After the additional duty had been removed, the quantity of spirits gradually increased until the year 1851. In the financial year, ending March, 1852, the quantity was 7,500,000 gallons; in the year just passed it was 8,208,000 gallons; and if the present duty were allowed to continue, he had no doubt the consumption would soon be 10,000,000 gallons. In this way, the Chancellor of the Exchequer might expect to obtain some addition to the revenue; but none could be got by means of an increase of the tax on spirits. It was, from the nature of the country, utterly impossible to prevent illicit distillation, so long as there was a premium upon it. It was not his intention to divide the House against the second reading, but he must be allowed to enter his protest against the proposed increase of the duty.
§ Bill read 2°.