§ Lord Monteaglerose to move for further returns connected with the subject of illicit distillation in Ireland. When the increased duty on Irish spirits was enacted, he and several other noble Lords had placed a protest upon their Lordship's Journals, on the ground that the increased duly, by promoting a great increase of illicit distillation, would have a deteriorating influence on the morals of the population. It would have been much more gratifying to himself and to all those who had signed that protest if their prophesies had not been fulfilled. But what had been the result of the measure was sufficiently shown by the paper now on their Lordships' Table. In the year 1839, duty had been paid in Ireland on 10,815,000 gallons of spirits. In the last year the the quantity had diminished to 5,000,000 gallons, and the duty, which in the former year amounted to 1,200,000l., had, in the latter been reduced to 900,000l., so that a large augmentation of duty had actually led to a diminution of one-third in the revenue. In 1839, as he had said duty had been paid on 10,815,000 gallons, yielding a revenue of 1,200,000l.. In the next year, 1840, there was an augmentation in the duty of 4d. a gallon, and the effect of that increased duty was to diminish the revenue. In the year just ended, duty had been paid only on 5,290,000 gallons. He had taken the liberty of stating last year, that the augmentation in the duty would tend to the multiplication of crime, and the paper he had begged leave to call for was intended to show the increase that had taken place in prosecutions. In the gaol of Lifford, in the county of Donegal, out of 70 convicted prisoners confined there, 50 had been found guilty of offences connected with illicit distillation. Governmnet could have no wish but to preserve the morals of the country; yet when once the Chancellor of the Exchequer had proposed his budget, it would be too late to bring this matter forward, and he (Lord Monteagle) thought it therefore right to take the earliest opportunity of calling their Lordships attention to the subject, which was one of far greater importance than a mere question of revenue. Nothing could be more likely to counteract the temperance movement in Ireland than an increase of illicit distillation. While a legal trade was carried on in spirits, the movement might continue; 12 but an illicit trade would be certain to arrest it. The noble Lord concluded by moving for a return of the prisoners confined in each gaol in Ireland on charges connected with illicit distillation.
§ Lord Ashburtonsaid, that the reduction in the quantity of spirits brought to charge and the falling off in the duty had commenced before the increased duty had been imposed. In 1839 duty was paid on 10,000,000 gallons, and in 1840 only on 7,000,000 gallons. Yet in 1839 or 1840 there had been no increase of duty. The diminution could not, therefore, have been altogether owing to illicit distillation.
§ Lord Monteaglesaid, that it was in 1840 that an increase of 4d. took place in the duty, which was raised from 2s. 4d. to 2s. 8d. a gallon.
§ Lord Ashburtonsaid, that it was only in the letter part of the year that the duty came into force, and yet there had been a diminution. At the same time, he was not prepared to say that the duty had not been carried too far.
§ The Marquess of Lansdownewas also of opinion that nothing was more likely to arrest the temperance movement than an increase of illicit distillation. The movement had reached its maximum last year. The whole effect of it was felt in the large towns, where the people were placed under the influence of public opinion. In villages, on the contrary, or among a scattered population, that influence was least felt, and in those parts of the country it was that temperance movement was now receding. By checking the fair trader and offering a bounty to the illicit distiller, their Lordships had inflicted a blow upon the temperance movement, which he felt assured they would themselves be grieved at.
§ The Duke of Wellingtondid not believe that there had been any increase of illicit distillation in consequence of the increase of duty. The noble Duke was also understood to deny that the revenue had been less productive in consequence of the last increase of duty. Last year the amount of revenue received had been 904,000l., and in the preceding year it had been 864,000l.
The Earl of Mountcashellsaid, that illicit distillation had of late increased in the South of Ireland to a frightful extent, and was producing the worst effects on the morals of the country. He was certain that if the subject were not taken up by 13 the Parliament this Session, it would force itself on the attention of both Houses at no distant period.
§ Lord Monteaglesaid, that in choosing the series of years he had selected for the returns on the Table, he had been actuated by a wish to deal fairly with the present Government, by showing that the measures adopted by his (Lord Monteagle's) late colleagues had been attended by similar effects. In 1822, Lord Liverpool reduced the duty from 5s. l0d. to 2s. 4d., and, in consequence of that reduction, the consumption was doubled. In 1826 the Government ventured on an increase of 10d. in the duty, and this was followed by a reduction of two millions in the quantity of spirits on which duty was paid. In 1830 Mr. Goulbourn increased the duty to 3s. 4d., and this was followed by a further reduction in the quantity on which duty was paid. Lord Althorp reduced the duty to 2s. 4d., and the consequence was an increase of revenue, as well as the quantity of spirits distilled.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ House adjourned.