§ Any person growing tobacco solely for the purpose of manufacturing nicotine for insecticides and other horticultural or agricultural purposes shall be entitled to an allowance or repayment of the duty paid on tobacco under this Act.
§ I move this Clause because the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer has often assured us that he has the interests of agriculture and horticulture very much at heart. I move the Clause in the interests of agriculture, but more especially in the interests of horticulture, because it has been proved by experiments that all the products of horticulture are more specially liable to insect pests, and of all 1596 insecticides now used, whether as fumigants or washes, none is so generally effective as nicotine. Yet, in the provisions of this Bill, its use is prohibited on account of the excessive Excise Duties charged. So far as I can ascertain, the universal opinion of all fruit growers is that if nicotine could be brought within their reach it would do much to improve the prospects of their trade. Speaking in the interests of Kent, part of which I have the honour to represent, I am sure that the general use of so effective an insecticide would to a certain extent mitigate the disastrous results consequent on the failure of the Government to come to the rescue of its greatest industry—hop-growing. According to the report for the present year of the Duke of Bedford's experimental fruit growing farm, the best results were obtained by the spraying with nicotine wash. Not only would such a wash have instant effect in fruit growing, but 1597 it would be invaluable in the case of the hop growing industry. At the present time other washes have been used without effect, whereas experience has proved that one application of nicotine has been effective for the purpose. It might be said that if this Clause was accepted it might lead to an evasion of the law and to the illicit use of tobacco for other purposes, but I am quite sure, by the addition of some noxious ingredient, this would be avoided and guarded against. In fact, I am prepared to offer the Chancellor of the Exchequer a sample of the mixture for the purpose of enabling him to test it personally. The revenue would not suffer by the acceptance of this Clause, because at present practically no tobacco is used for this purpose owing to the prohibitive cost. At any rate, according to a reply given by the Secretary to the Treasury the other day, the amount is comparatively small. The Exchequer would lose nothing, but the Chancellor would gain the gratitude not only of the fruit growers but also of the hop growers if he accepts this Clause. Fruit growing is increasing as an industry throughout the whole country. I remember many years ago the late Mr. Gladstone saying, in answer to a deputation of the hop growers of Kent, "If you cannot grow hops, grow fruit." I earnestly hope the right hon. Gentleman may see his way to accept this Clause.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI fully sympathise with the object the hon. and gallant Gentleman has in view, but I think he will find the existing law really meets the case. At any rate, I should like to have some evidence that it does not. It is purely a matter of regulation, and does not require an Act of Parliament. If the regulations are not satisfactory or liberal enough to cover cases of the kind raised by this Clause, I think they could be adjusted as to give protection in the case of persons who grow tobacco purely for this purpose. The existing regulations allow tobacco, whether imported or home grown, to be used for the manufacture of nicotine for horticultural or agricultural purposes, it is not necessary to make such provision in an Act of Parliament. It might, indeed, be mischievous and might be used for other purposes in the future. Therefore, I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will not press this Clause now. If he will demonstrate to me that the present regulations do not quite meet his case and do all he wants, I think I could suggest regulations by which people would be unable to grow tobacco for this purpose.
§ Colonel WARDEAm I not right in thinking that all tobacco grown for this purpose is liable to pay 3s. or 4s. per lb. duty?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGENo, even under the existing regulations tobacco, whether imported or grown for this purpose, so long as it is properly safeguarded and kept in a proper place, is duty free, and therefore there is no real necessity for putting anything into an Act of Parliament. It is already met under the existing law.
§ Mr. HILLSI think I am right in saying that at present all tobacco has to go into bond, and that practically excludes all home-grown tobacco. You cannot send that to a bonded warehouse in London.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI have no doubt that is a practical difficulty. I will consider the point, and, if necessary, remedy it next year—
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI am glad of the testimony of confidence the hon. Member has in me. I will do my beat to press upon the next Chancellor the desirability of dealing with this matter.
§ Clause withdrawn.
§ Mr. RENWICK moved to insert the following:—