§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that tobacco manufacturers have increased the price of dry snuff by 10d. per pound, which is an addition of 2d. per pound on the increased duty on this commodity; and, seeing that this increase in the price of dry snuff is in contrast with no increase in the wholesale or retail price of cigars and cigarettes, and with the increase in wet snuffs of only 6d. to 8d. per pound, whether, in the interests of old people, many of them pensioners and, in some parts of the country, Irish poor, he will take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have no information in regard to this particular case. But I would point out to my right hon. Friend that the amount of duty represented by a given quantity of dry snuff would be greater than the amount of1780W duty borne by an equal quantity of wet snuff. I am also informed that, as the moisture content of dry snuff may be actually less than that of the tobacco leaf of which it is made, the incidence of the increased duty upon a pound of dry snuff as sold to the public may be heavier than that upon a pound of unmanufactured tobacco on which the increase of duty is 8d.