§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government will, in the Recess, examine the laws against the adulteration of food in force in other places, for example, the City of Paris, where, in the case of a first offence, the offender is fined, upon the second offence the premises are temporarily closed and the cause of their being closed nailed upon the door, imprisonment following upon a third offence, with a view, if it be found necessary, of introducing a Bill in the ensuing Session to grant further powers to prevent adulteration of beer?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)The Inland Revenue officers do not consider that their powers are insufficient for preventing the adulteration of beer; and as I doubt whether the House of Commons would mould the punishments for offences against the law on the example of the City of Paris, I am not prepared to answer the Question of the hon. Member in the affirmative.