§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India (1) whether there are grounds for the belief that there is a tendency to increase the number of out stills in Bengal where they already exist, and whether the introduction of the out still system in some districts where it does not now exist is also in the contemplation of the Government; (2) whether in 18 districts where the out still system is already in force the annual average number of stills for the five-year period, 1890 to 1895, was 1,286, while the number licensed in 1896 was 1,456, showing an increase of nearly 200: and (3) whether the Excise Revenues of Bengal have increased nearly 1,000 per cent. in 60 years?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI am not aware of any grounds for the belief that there is a tendency to extend the out still system in Bengal; the information in my possession points rather in the other direction. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I believe that there 379 are 30 districts in which the out still system is wholly or partially in force. The annual average of licensed out still liquor shops in Bengal was 3,441 for the five years 1885–90, and 1,949 for the five years 1890–95. No fair comparison can be made between the Excise Revenues of Bengal 60 years ago and those of the present day: but it is certain that on every exciseable article a larger revenue is now paid, and that evasion of duty is much more difficult than in 1837.