HC Deb 20 May 1853 vol 127 cc430-1

On the Motion that the House at its rising should adjourn till Monday next,

CAPTAIN JONES

said, he must express a hope that the right hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer would postpone the consideration in Committee of the Spirit Duties Bill until a later day than that which had been fixed upon. The distillers in Ireland would be most materially affected by the provisisns of that Bill, and it was but fair that they should have an opportunity of urging their views in connexion with that measure upon the attention of Government.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, that the parties who were likely to be affected by the provisions of the Spirit Duties Bill had had ample time since the Bill had been printed to consider those provisions. To his own knowledge persons who lived at a considerable dis- tance from London were at present in town for the purpose of communicating with Government, and with the revenue department, with respect to the measure in question. He did not think that there was the slightest occasion to fear that any person would be taken by surprise; but he should, at the same time, state to the hon. and gallant Member the position in which the Government were placed with reference to the progress of public business. It was exceedingly important that there should be no needless delay in taking the opinion of the House upon the main question in connexion with the Spirit Duties Bill—merely the increase of the duty to a certain amount. What he should propose was to go into that point after the House should have disposed of the Customs Resolutions. Assuming that the Income Tax Bill was read a second time that evening, he proposed to go into Committee upon this Bill on Monday. The Customs Duty Resolutions would be taken afterwards, and then the House might go into Committee upon the Spirit Duties Bill.

MR. MAGUIRE

said, he was of opinion that the right hon. Gentleman laboured under some misapprehension, in supposing that parties throughout the country who were interested in the measure would not be taken by surprise. He had travelled within the last few days with distillers from the south of Ireland, who were deeply interested in the passing of the Spirit Duties Bill, and who were anxious to communicate with Government before that Bill went into Committee. Prom his own experience he could say that those parties would not be prepared to visit London before the middle of next week.