§ MR. D. GRAY (Dublin, St. Stephen's Green)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is true that 24 tons of snuff, upon which duty had not been paid, were recently thrown by the Customs authorities into Dublin Bay; and, 799 whether it would not be possible either to distribute confiscated snuff and tobacco amongst the poor of the hospitals and workhouses, or to sell it, and devote the proceeds to some public purpose?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhapton, E.), in reply, said, it was true that authority was given by the Board of Customs for the destruction, in the manner stated, of the quantity of snuff mentioned. But it had not been confiscated. It was snuff on which the duty had been paid, and on which the manufacturers had claimed and received drawback. The authorities did not think it right to distribute the snuff among the hospitals and workhouses. Confiscated tobacco was not sold, because the expense of doing so, independent of the duty, would not warrant that course.