§ MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the place of residence, country of birth, professional experience, and qualifications of the individual members of the Whisky Commission; whether any representations were made to the Government by the Scottish whisky blenders and distillers, or any of their representatives, with reference to the constitution, membership, or terms of reference of the Commission; whether he will request the Commissioners to issue an ad interim Report as soon as possible on the question of what constitutes whisky; whether the interests affected may be represented by counsel before the Commission; whether the Commission will sit in Ireland; and whether the evidence will be taken on oath.
1749 I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to expressions of dissatisfaction at the constitution of the Whisky Commission, and at the ignoring of Irish interests in the appointment of the Commissioners; whether he is aware that, in consequence of what the Irish distillers describe as the unfair tactics of the Scottish blenders and distillers in connection with the question of what is whisky, the Irish distillery trade has already suffered heavily, three Irish distillers having failed and three others being at present in the hands of the receiver in bankruptcy; and whether, in view of the injustice to an important Irish industry, he will amend the constitution of the Commission at the earliest possible moment by the appointment of additional members possessing the lull confidence of the Irish interests involved.
I beg further to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the reason why Sir Henry Robinson was consulted with reference to the appointment of a representative of Ireland on the Whisky Commission; what special qualification Sir Henry Robinson possesses to entitle him to recommend any such representative; whether Professor Adeney, the member of the Commission appointed to represent Ireland, is not an Irishman, was connected with South Kensington and Birmingham University, has no knowledge whatever of the Irish distillery trade or of the position of the Irish barley growers, whose interests are most deeply affected by the Commission, and is not known in Ireland outside his own laboratory; whether the origin of the Commission was the question as to what was whisky; whether he is aware that the issue of the question is of vital importance to Irish distillers and barley growers; that the Scottish blenders and distillers expended over £10,000 in connection with the trial of the issue in the Law Courts; and that a decision in favour of the Scottish whisky blenders and distillers will kill the Irish whisky trade in Great Britain; and whether, seeing that the Commission is composed of a majority of Scotsmen or of men favourable to the Scottish interests involved 1750 in the case, and in view of all the circumstances, he will take steps to have the interests of Ireland adequately represented by the appointment of an equal number of Irishmen to that of the Scotsmen now serving on the Commission, or at least by the appointment of one Irish representative in whom Irish distillers and barley growers can have confidence.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaI will answer together the three Questions which stand in the name of the hon. Member and relate to the Royal Commission on Whisky. The Commission consists of Lord James of Hereford, of whose legal knowledge and experience in dealing with conflicting trade interests it is unnecessary that I should say anything; of two officials representing the Board of Inland Revenue and the Local Government Board; of two gentlemen nominated by the Secretary for Scotland and the Irish Local Government Board respectively; and of three other members who are experienced men possessing scientific or professional attainments which should enable them to form a sound judgment on the various scientific matters referred to them. I carefully considered the question whether representatives of the trade interests involved should be placed on the Commission, and I came to the conclusion that the better course was to refer the whole question to impartial men, none of whom were in any way committed to trade views or nominated by the trade, but who would take evidence as to the trade interests concerned, and consider not only these interests, but also those of the consumer and of the public health in relation to the matter. I cannot in answer to a Question go into details respecting the members of the Commission, but I may say that I am not aware that a majority of them are Scotsmen or men favourable to the Scottish interests involved, or that representations were made by the Scottish whisky blenders and distillers with reference to the points mentioned in the first Question. I have not received expressions of dissatisfaction at the constitution of the Commission. I fully 1751 realise the importance to Ireland of the questions involved, but I do not think there is any ground for considering that Ireland has been unfairly treated in the matter. As I have already stated, the Irish Local Government Board were asked to nominate a member, and Sir Henry Robinson, acting on behalf of that Board, nominated Professor Adeney, who, I understand, has been connected with Ireland for more than thirty years. I see no sufficient reasons for advising any alteration in the constitution of the Commission. They are holding their first meeting to-day, and I understand that whisky will be the first question considered by them. It will rest with them to settle their own procedure and to determine where they will sit, and whether or not they will hear counsel. They will have no power to take evidence on oath. I have no doubt they will ascertain the facts as speedily as practicable, and consider fairly all the interests involved.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)May I ask what precedent there is for asking the Local Government Board in Ireland to nominate a member of a Commission of this kind? I understand the right hon. Gentleman asked the Secretary for Scotland to nominate a Scottish member, but why was not the Irish Secretary asked to recommend an Irish member, instead of the Local Government Board?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe reason is that it was felt by everybody that the condition of the whisky trade in England, Ireland and Scotland affected not only public health, but morals as well, and that it was in the interests of health and morals as well as the scientific aspect that the Local Government Boards of the three countries should be consulted. I may add that in an article in the Freeman's Journal two columns long yesterday a pot-still distiller said a question of the public health had been ignored to the detriment of the Irish pot-still trade. That is why the Irish Local Government Board was consulted.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDThen am I to understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that he did not ask the Irish 1752 Government to make the nomination, because it was a subject which concerned morals?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI consulted the Local Government Board both in Ireland and in Scotland, because it was a question affecting the public health, and without good public health you cannot get good morals.
§ MR. J. DEVLINThe right hon. Gentleman states that he consulted the Irish Local Government Board, but is it not a fact that Sir Henry Robinson is only one of the members of that Board, and that the Chief Secretary is President, and why was Sir Henry Robinson allowed to make the nomination?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSIn the first place, the Chief Secretary for Ireland is President and was consulted, but owing to his regrettable illness and absence the Vice-President sent a reply to the Local Government Board in England. I presume it was done with the sanction of the Chief Secretary.
§ MR. J. DEVLINDid Sir Henry Robinson consult his colleagues on the Local Government Board, or did he make the recommendation on his own initiative?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have no information, but I presume he did so.
§ SIR F. BANBURY (City of London)Will the right hon. Gentleman appoint Lord Pirrie on this Commission?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSCertainly not.
§ *MR. YOUNGER (Ayr Burghs)Is it a fact that after the Commission is appointed the right hon. Gentleman has no control over its procedure or sittings, and that the Commissioners will be entitled to do whatever they think proper and to sit in Ireland or Scotland, or anywhere else?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThat is so.