The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-06-06 00:00:00

THE REPEAL OF THE MALT-TAX.

In refereence to the election oontest already commenced I
In Dorchester, an indication of the course which may I
be taken by the agriculturists is afforded by the resolu-
tions adopted at a meeting held on Tuesday evening
at the committee room of the Anti-Malttax Association,
oornhilL W. Mulish', Esq., was called to the chair,
in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Robert Damen, the
well-known able advocate for the repeal of the
obnoxious impost
The CHAIRMAN, after expressing his regret that '
Mr. R. Demon was not present, remarked that
they all, as agriculturists, had felt the burden
of the tax. It had also pressed very heavily upon the
working classes, and on that amount he considered it to
be the duty of them all to use their beet efforts in aid of
its repeat The aubject was one with which those before I
him were familiar in all its bearings, and therefore it
was unnecessary for him to adduce the array of facts
and arguments that had been net forth in favour of the
repeal of the tax. As an employer of between 200 and
'250 persons—men, women, and children, he considered
that the removal of the duty on malt would be • saying
to him of from £2OO to £3OO • year, while it
would be pecuniarily beneficial to the labourers, and
be produetive of the utmost good amongst them.
If the working man could get good wholesome liquor in
his own cottage, be would not be so apt to frequent the
beer-house. The repeal of the Malt-tax had been
agitated by the egriculturiste of the neighbourhood, at
the farmers' clubs, and at other meetings for a long
time past; and now, when a general election was at
hand, and they were being asked for their votes and
interest, not only once a day, but three or four times,
he felt it to be especially desirable that they should
keep the subject full in view, and adopt such measures
as they conceived beat for the attainment of the end
they desired —the tote/ repeal of the malt duty. An
obvious duty with them was to support only such can-
didates as would vote for the removal of the tax, and not
only that—they must use every means in their power
to induce their friends and so ineigtenees within the
borough and county to promote the return of such
gentlemen to Parliament as would give hearty support
to any motion that mightbe introduced for the extinction
of the malt dnty.
W. WALLAOI Frye, Req., proposed the following
yeeektion :—" That in the opinion ef this meeting the
total repeal of the Malt-tax would be a great boon to
the country, and inasmuch as Dorchester has long been
noted for its beer, the inhabitants of this borough
would be much benefited thereby." He observed that
In the course of !sundry arguments and election conflicts
he had had during the day with various persons in the
town, the opponents of the repeal of the Malt-tax bad
set up the plea that the larger quantity of beer
that would be consurued on the removal of the
tax would be deleterious and injurious to the poor man
Tether than beneficial to him. A greater fallacy could
mot possibly. be. The labourer now enjoyed his beer—
if he did espy it—under totally different circumstances
from what he would if it were an article of domestic
-manufacture and of home consumption, and an free from I
duty as the air he breathes. Now he went so the public.
house to obtain his beer, and the result too frequently
was that he got drunk, under the influent* of the in-
ducements to excess which there not unfrequently I
prevail. At such a place beer was not taken as it would
be after the repeal of the tax, vii., as • regular beverage
and condiment. There would be this great difference be-
tween drinking under the two circumstances. In the
one case they bad the labourer carousing in the ale-
house over his beer, and in the other partaking of whole-
some liquor with certain friends at his own house; and
he ventured to say that the effcet of the repeal of the tax
on this ground alone would be the inculcation of the
maxima of temperance, and in entire opposition to dissi-
pation. That was no new theory. It was well illus.
atrated in the wine countries of the continent of
Benue. In Languedoc and the south of France where
people to • greet extent bad access to the new must of
thegrape,drunkennesswas eoteommen. it weteremarked
by persons who were engaged in the last French war, and
were taken prisoners. and sought for opportunities to
escape, that though the French soldiers were always
drisking they never got drunk. What was the reason?
The English liquor which answered to the wine of
France, via., beer, was taken as a stimulant, and under
the influence of excitement, and not as in the case of the
French, as • daily beverage and refreshment. Now, in
connection with this subject, the town of Dorchester
bad been so much noted for its beer, that as a fiscal
(martial it wee of great importance that the mann-
faders should be extended, and when the Malt.
tax was repealed there could not be the slighest
doubt bat that • considerable impetus would be
given to the great houses to organise more ex.
tansies systems of brewing, and for the manu-
facture of better beer than that at present made—beer
that would contain much more malt than it now did,
and which would extend more widely than ever the
-celebrity of the Dorset ales. Of course the site of the
town where beer was manufactured bad • good deal to
do with the quality of the produce. The excellence of
the Burton ales wu attributable amongst other things
to the suitability of the water there, and the reputation
'the ales of Dorchester had obtained was due to the
town's contiguity to the fine chalk districts that grow
the best barley in the world. If any town in England
was interested in promoting the repeal of the Maletax
It was the town of Dorchester—the centre of the most
-celebrated of our English barley markets.
The motion was duly seconded, and on being sub-
mitted to the meeting was carried unanimously.
Mr. L'Howax concluded a speech on the necessity of
the electors who desired the repeal if the Malt-tax,
taking steps at the present juncture for the attainment
of that object, by proposing :—"That this meeting
pledges itself to use every means in its power to return
such member' to Parliament at the next Election, as
will be disposed to support the measures which may be
&might forward for the repeal of the Malt-tax."
Kr. HAYWARD seconded the motion, and it was
carded aeon. die.
The following resolution was moved by Mr. Hamel in •
brief but telling speech, duly seconded, and adopted
'And it is further resolved, that this meeting will use
Its beet endeavours to indium the farmers and others,
who attend Dorchester market, to assist in carrying out
the repeal of the Malt Tax, by using their influence
among the tradeermen and other burgesses of the Borough
In returning such men to Parliament as will exert them-
selves to carry out these measures."
A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the 11
Proceedings.

WEYMOIJTR.
DUPE'S/AT Alio ROYAL Inmaxeur.--Sermons were
reached on Sunday in aid of this institution in St.
MAry's Church, by the Revs. T. A. Dreamed, and W.
Cooper, when a most liberal response was given to the
rev, gentlemen's appeal, £4l Se. 34d. being oolleeted.
MILANOIIOLY DIASH OF AN INFANT. -An inquest
Was bald on Monday, at the Duke of Cum ' before
Odes Symonds, Esq., Coroner, on the -
Agss.Ws Board, son of Mr. James; White
lord of the -

above-named
- - morning

fivnday
• from