§
1. Motion made, and Question proposed—
That in lieu of the duties of Customs now payable on Wine imported into Great Britain or Ireland, there shall be charged, levied, and paid the duties following (that is to say):—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Wine (other than still Wine imported in bottle) not exceeding 30 degrees of proof spirit, the gallon | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Exceeding 30 but not exceeding 42 degrees of proof spirit, the gallon | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| And for every degree or part of a degree, beyond the highest above charged, an additional duty, the gallon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sparkling Wine imported in bottle, an additional duty, the gallon | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Still Wine imported in bottle, the gallon | 0 | 3 | 0 |
In this Resolution the word 'Wine' includes lees of Wine. The word 'degree' includes no fraction of the next higher"degree."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)994
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The financial year which has just closed shows no retrogression in the condition of the people. If we look at the Returns of our bankers' clearing houses throughout the country, or of our railway traffic, we shall see the activity of trade. If we look to our labour statistics we find, I am glad to say, that the ratio of unemployed has been less than the average of the seven preceding years, and that there has been a distinct increase in the rate of wages. Our home trade, generally speaking, has been good for some time past. Our agriculturists have had a good season, especially with regard to the hay harvest. And, lately, our foreign trade has shown a gratifying increase. There have been, from time to time, clouds on the political horizon during the year, such as arose from the war between the United States and Spain, or from our own difficulties on the Niger, the Nile, and in the Far East. But those clouds, happily, passed away, and have had no effect upon our trade or speculation in this country, beyond what was more than compensated for by the rapid and remarkable return of prosperity to India.