§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he is aware that some wholesale whisky merchants in Ireland have supplied retailers with whisky of a less strength than shown on permit; and, whether he will direct that police stations in Ireland be supplied with a hydrometer, or some other kind of tester, that publicans may have the whisky they buy tested to insure it is the strength shown on permit?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.No recent case of this kind has been reported to the Inland Revenue. When such a case is reported to them, they of course take proceedings in the interest of the Revenue, but whether the police should be equipped so as to protect the publican against the risk of fraud in buying his goods is not a question with which the Chancellor of the Exchequer can deal. It might be better for the public that the whisky should be weaker.