§ 69. Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the grant to British barley-growers of the same privilege as is given to British hop-growers; and whether he will now consider the desirability of assisting the distressed state of agriculture by the imposition of a duty of 10s. per quarter on foreign malting barley or its equivalent on foreign malt?
Mr. GUINNESSI cannot anticipate the provisions of the next Budget, but the hon. and gallant Member is, I think, 17 mistaken in supposing that there is an analogy between the case of malting barley and that of hops, which were the subject of special war restrictions.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNIs it not a fact that the last Conservative Government did actually propose a duty on imported malting barley?
Mr. GUINNESSThere was a proposal for Excise Duty which was found to be inconsistent with the provisions of certain commercial treaties. There was no mention made of this matter in either of the last two Election programmes of the Conservative party.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that where people grow hops the conditions of the soil are quite different from those in which you grow barley, and where the latter is so poor, should not assistance be given to barley-growers?