§ On the second reading of the Spirit Drawback Suspension Bill, counsel were called in, and Mr. Dauncey, on the part of the Distillers in and round London, and Mr. Warren, for certain Distillers in Scotland, were heard against the Bill.
§ Earl Bathurststated, that the object in framing the Bill had been to give every security to the English and Scots distiller, and that therefore it was directed that the Irish distiller should warehouse his spirits intended for exportation, the quantity and strength being first ascertained: and the quantity and strength on exportation, and being imported into this country, being also ascertained, in order to prevent fraud. He was aware that from these warehouses a part of the spirit might be withdrawn for home consumption, and replaced by other spirit; but to prevent this was impossible, without indirectly prohibiting the intercourse altogether. It was suggested that the Irish distillers should have distilleries appropriated only for exportation, but as this Bill was only a temporary measure, it could not be expected that they would incur the expence of having distilleries appropriated only for that purpose, and therefore to make such a provision, would in fact amount to a prohibition of the intercourse.
The Earl of Lauderdalecontended that the Bill would, in its operation, be ruinous to the English and Scots distiller, by giving a decided preference in the market to the Irish distiller. He wanted nothing but a fair intercourse, that neither might have the advantage of the other; but under the present Bill the Irish distiller would have the means of bearing down all competition in the English market, by the undue advantage given to him in importing hither his spirit. Either under these circumstances, the intercourse ought to be altogether prohibited or else the Irish distiller 711 Ought not to be allowed to export without having distilleries appropriated solely for the manufacture of spirit for exportation, it being perfectly evident that unless this regulation was established, numerous frauds would be committed in withdrawing spirits for home consumption from the warehouses entered for exportation, which would render the warehousing system of little or no use.
§ Earl Bathurstcould not consent to the introduction of any provision into the Bill for not allowing the Irish distillers to export without appropriating distilleries solely for that purpose, as that would, under the circumstances he had already mentioned, amount to a prohibition of the intercourse.
§ The Bill was read a second time and committed for Monday.