§ Sir CHARLES W. DILKE (for Mr. Silcock)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the total yield of the proposed licences for the manufacture and sale of cider will, in all probability, be very small; and, if this is so, and having regard to the fact that the percentage of alcohol in cider is very low, and that the proposed licences would prohibit many farmers from continuing the manufacture, will he consider the advisability of excluding these licences from the Finance Bill?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe only licence at present required for the sale of cider is a licence for the sale of cider by retail. It is proposed by the Bill to require licences to be taken out by manufacturers of cider and wholesale dealers in cider, so as to establish uniformity of principle as respects the requirement for licences to be taken out for the manufacture and sale of all liquors. The Bill contains provisions exempting from these new Licence Duties occupiers of land making and selling by wholesale cider from fruit mainly grown on their own land. My right hon. Friend does not suppose that a large amount of revenue will be received from the yield of the proposed new cider licences, but the establishing of uniformity in Licence Duties is a matter of principle which he is endeavouring to carry out in the Bill.
§ Sir C. W. DILKEIs it proposed to adhere to the present form? It is much higher in small cases than in beer.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThat may be so. Any alteration will be in the direction of uniformity.