§ MR. NORWOODasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House a statement showing the quantity of wine imported in casks into the United Kingdom in the year 1881 from Spain, Portugal, France, Australia, and other countries, under the heads of degrees of 212 strength, as shown in a statement of importations in 1875 handed by Mr. Seldon to the Select Committee of Wine Duties, 1879?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the statement could be given, but only with great labour and expense, and it is a question whether my hon. Friend would regard the result as of sufficient importance to justify their being incurred. There are no accounts actually in the possession of the Customs which would enable them to give the figures; but they might be obtained by investigation. I would suggest that my hon. Friend should communicate, and in that way he might perhaps attain the object he has in view.