§ Mr. STEADMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the increased duty of 8d. per pound on unmanufactured tobacco has resulted in a number of men and women employed at cigar making being discharged or suspended from employment, and the trade paralysed, owing to the difficulty of dividing that amount over 100 cigars, if it is his intention to continue the increased duty on leaf tobacco taken out of bond for cigar-manufacturing purposes, seeing the amount of unemployment and poverty now existing and the permanent future injury it will inflict upon the work-people engaged in the trade?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEMy hon. Friend is aware that I have received deputations from both the Cigar Manufacturers' and the Cigar-Makers' Union on this subject, and that I have personally inquired most carefully into the matter. I cannot, in view of my investigations, agree with him that such derangement as has been caused to the cigar-making industry by the imposition of the additional duty on unmanufactured tobacco, is likely to prove more than a transitory disturbance while the trade is adjusting itself to the new conditions. I am afraid I cannot see my way to grant lower rates of duty in the case of tobacco destined for this particular purpose.