§ Sir WATSON RUTHERFORDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under the Budget proposals Colonial wines under 30 degrees are apparently to be admitted into this country at a duty of 9d. per gallon whilst 585W British wine makers, who have a very extensive trade, are charged much more by reason of the duties imposed upon the ingredients used in their manufacture, e.g., upon ginger, wine containing 24.8 degrees, which is a less strength than that of most Colonial wines, the duty amounts to Is. 8 3–10d. per gallon, showing a difference of nearly 1s. a gallon against British wines as compared with Colonial; and whether he would be prepared to take this matter into consideration for examination and any necessary alteration in order that there should be no preference given as against the home producer?'
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware that some of the materials,e.g., sugar and dried fruit, often used in the manufacture of British wines, are subject to taxation, but the use of taxed materials to any large extent is optional. I have no means of checking the amount of taxation in the case of the ginger wine referred to as I do not know its ingredients, but I cannot admit that the question of Preference conies in at all. The articles known as British wines are quite distinct in their nature from imported wines, and for this reason are not taxed as wines.