§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the experiments being made in tobacco growing in Ireland, he could arrange for an abatement of the duty on Irish-grown tobacco in order to encourage the industry.
§ *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonWhile the matter has been in an experimental stage I understand that arrangements have been made by the Department of Agriculture to prevent the burden of the duty falling upon individual growers. I need hardly say that I shall watch the result of the experiments with great interest, but I cannot hold out any hope 799 that in the event of the industry developing beyond the experimental stage a lower duty could be charged on homegrown than on imported tobacco.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIn view of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman I beg to say that I will put another Question on the Paper on the same subject, but addressed to the Colonial Secretary.