§ MR. CALLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, What reasons, if any, exist for subjecting the stores of corn 1411 merchants in Ireland to the visits and inspection at all hours of the Officers of Excise; whether any such regulations are in force in England; and, if not, why Irish merchants should be subjected to regulations which do not exist in England; and, whether under the circumstances instructions will be given to have the necessary steps taken to remove this anomaly?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, it is not stores, but mills and kilns, which are under Excise inspection in Ireland, the object being to prevent the malting or preparation of corn for illicit distillation. The power of inspection and the reason for it is contained in the Act 1 & 2 Will. IV., c. 55. Similar regulations are not in force in England, as it does not appear that the practice of illicit malting ever prevailed in that part of the United Kingdom. The duty of inspecting mills and kilns in Ireland is both troublesome and expensive to the revenue, and will be gladly given up whenever it shall appear practicable without encouraging the demoralizing practice of illicit distillation, which, happily, for the country, is rapidly decreasing.