The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-04-15 00:00:00

MICTISIQF OF TIM; MALT TAX.

The Prtmemstir said that, as they were all
fully aware, the subject for that evening's
discussion was the further consideration of
the-Revision of the Malt Tax. As one of the members
of the committee appoiated at their last meeting to
draw up • series of resolutions to be submitted to them
on the present occasion, he would simply remark that
they had given the subject their most series' considera-
tion. He thought it would not become him at that
part of the proceedings to go into the question they
were to have brought before them, as he felt quite
satisfied that it had been placed in very able hands.
He would therefore at once esll upon Mr. Floyer to
move the first resolution. (Applause.)
Mr. FtovEn, on rising, said: In taking part in the
proceedings that evening, which he proposed to do by
the kind invitation of his good friend in the chair and
the committee appointed by the Int meeting, he was
most anxious, in the first place, to meet ,an objection
which had been raised before now, an/ which he dare
say had suggested itself to the consideration even of
some present, that, in dealing with the question which
was about to come under discussion that night, they
sougot to interfere with a tax, the produce of which
was of so large a character, the amount so great, that
to repeal it or even so diminish it in any material
degree, would interfere with the revenue if this
country diminish it so far as to greatly affect the public
credit. Now, having at one time had the honour of a
seat in the House of Commons as one of the conserva-
tive members of this county, in coming here to take
part in their proosedicp, he should be out of place if ho
gave his assent or contributed his aid to aay scheme
which should be said to affect, in . ny degree, the
public credit of this country. The agriculturists of
England were also known to look upon the mainte-
nance of the public credit as ono of the first public
duties they were called upon to perform. They be-
lieved that to find a proper amount of public blooms—
to provide means for paying the public creditor—above
all, to find the necessary &meant that is requisite for
the due defence of the country by sea and land, is one
of the first obligations this country has planed upon
them. He believed that he should be able to show
that, looking back to past experience, that in obtaining
• repeal of the Malt Tax they would not, in so doing,
affect the public, which it was their object to uphold.
The question which that evening claimed their con-
sideration had been raised before, even in the House of
Commons. It was raised some 10 or 12 years ago by
that good and true friend of the agricultural interests,
the late Mr. Cayley, whom loss in the House of
Commons they, as agrieulturists, had cause te
It was objected at that time, that the credit nrteht
wintry would be seriously affected by any material re-
duction of the malt duty. It was said it could not be
spared from the public, revenue. He (Mr. Floyek), and
these in the House tette were favourable to the repeal,
made the best they could of their case at that tune ;
but since then there had arisen • stronger grounds
on which to bass their-orguinent, especially when we
found that taxes had 'beet repealed, which, if not re-
pealed, would have enabled the malt tax to be, if not
wholly repealed, at least reduced to a very large
extent. To go back si• farther than 1860. In that
year the Chancellor of the Exchequer repealed taxes
on home and foreign produce to an extols%
of three millions and upwards ster'llg, a nal
equal in amount to half the malt tax. Them,
were the total repeal of the paper duties, the reduction
ef the seine chties, together with a revision of the
tariff on Customs. Now, be WAS not ping to say
whether it would have been preferable to remit the..
duties rather than the malt tax—that question was out
of the argument. if. simply said those duties were
remitted, and if it had pleased the Chancellor of the
Exchequer at that time, instead of dealing with those
duties to have dealt with the Malt Tax, he might have
reduced the latter one-half for the 10-s of the raw
amount to the revenue. But passing to another phase
in this subject, he asked upon what principle this Malt
Tax was felt to press heavily apes them. He did not
look at the subject as respect the brewer. He thought
the brewer stood in such • position that he was hardly
prepared to take up the question on his behalf; but
there was no doubt about its affecting the growth of
barley, and as such, that it operated prejudicelly against
the interests of agriculturieta. There could be ne
doubt that with respect to the tax it increased the
cost of production in the manufactured state of the
malt, and with it, increased the price of beer, and
therefore, must necessarily tend to cheek the eonanutp-
ties of malt honor, and consequently of the barley of
which it is made. His resolution said "That all taxes
and duties levied by legislative enactment on the staple
produce of this country, either in he natural or
manufactured mute, operate injuriously on it. produc-
tion and press down the springs of industry." New
the Malt Tax checked the growth of barley, inasmuch as
it checked consumption. It mattered not what might
be the object of the purchaser, or the nature of the
articles purchased; the higher this price of the article
the less ability would there be to purchne it, and conse-
quently, if the price of hoer WM high, the consumption
ef that article would necessarily be less than if the
price were low. This, then, was an agricultural ques-
tion, as the tax, checking the consumption of malt,
was injurious to the original producer of that article
the farmer. He WM not at that moment prepared to
say to what extent it might be desirable to malt
barley for the use of cattle. He was not
prepared to state what was its relative value
when employed as food for cattle, but
this he did our, that the agriculturist was justly
entitled to apply, with the least possible restrictions,
all the means it wag deemed desirable for the carrying
on of his business. Let them look at the question in
the light of increased Goat of producstion. It might be
a question whether beer was necoessary to life
whether it was possible for their labourers to work sod
give their hard toil, and suffer toil as they do, without
the stimulous and sustenance of beer. This they knew,
was • general fact, Abet beer es,as One of those sources
of sustenance which* loqught largely in the support
of the physical [remit' e of tire "labourer. In hay-making
and harvesting, the eatirnmption of beer, as long back I
as we could remembir, allo as hi as we could look back,
to, was meanie'e of coniumption: If so, the tax upon
malt, wbighio largely Increases the price
,of the beer of 1
the farmer, is • homey burden upon him is the carrying 1
on of his Waffle's. Those then were some of the
prints that might fairly be urged against this impost.
Again, he might say, with Tepid to the labourer
himself, there might be a question raised as to the
probability, were the malt tax repealed, of the labourer I
brewing in his own hoist Thera wall be no question, 11
he thought, if it were . possible for them to produce a 1
good wholesome beverage—if they could have it as I
their ordinary drink with their wives and families,—
that their °and tion,morally and physically, would Ussery
materially improved. He thought there was no other
mode—no other way in which a step could be taken
more likely or better calculated to put down intemper-
ance at public houses than to give to labourers the
power of taking their beer with their families. Bet
apart from this view of the ease, he would
wish to point the meeting to the bearing of this tax as
regards the admitted principle of taxatiou in the
present day. What was the great feature of the doctrine
of taxation as set forth by our haling financiers of the
present day? It was this—that there ought to be no
taxation of those articles., prime necessity which enter
most materially in the food and sustenance of the
great mass of the labouring population. Let them
look back at our own political history.
What was the object of the great poli-
tical struggle which convulsed this country
from one end to the other, and which led to the break-
ing-up of the great Conservative party? What was it
that led to the erubseription of upwards of one hundred
thousand pounds in the manufacturing counties bettor
the carrying the principle that taxation should' not be
levied upon articles of prime necessity? But it might
be said that the principle aimed at pointed chiefly to
bread. Wheat stood first upon the list—that was an
affair of the highest important* to the people. But what
stood next? Was it not barley? If so, what tram the
great grievance to be overthrown? What was the
SOMA and everbeariug duty which by a paltry struggle
was to be set aside It was a duty going up, at the
highest point, to its. per quarter on wheat, and med.
mg to the vanishing point of is. It was a duty, taking
the avenges, of ss. per quarter. But what was the tax-
ation of which this meeting now oomplained as com-
pared with that which raised so much commotion a few ,1
years ago? The import duty on wheat could not rise
to more than 15 or 20 per oent on the coat of the
article; the malt tam had sometimes been as high as 100
per cent, on the article taxed. Many of them mild, no
doubt, remember the time when barley was sold in
their market at a guinea per quarter. It might be sold
at that price again, and if so, the duty would be upon
that barley, convorteclinto malt, 100 per. cent. Bailiff
then such to he the MS/ WAS IS not their duty to

agitate for a revision of the malt tax, emecially when
those great champiorsa for the repeal of the cern laws
could sit by and, perhaps, if they did nothing worse.,
could go into the lobby of the House of Commons au/
vote against it. So much for the political bearing of
the case. But it might be asked, if the burden presses
se heavily upon the grower of the barley, bow was it
that the impost had never been repealed! He believed
it was because the agriculturists had never yet made np
their minds that it should he repealed. He thought the
barley growers and beer drinkers should take • lesson
of the cider growers and cider drinker & About the
year 1763, (he believed it was), the then annalist of
the Exchequer made • proposal of putting • tax of 10a.
per hogshead on eider. What did the eider growers
and Mier drinkers do under fliese eircuinstanees! They
did not sit still; but on the other baud they stirred up
the country throughout its whole length and beegdeli_
they even stirred up the city of London, one of the
least likely places one would have supposed to get up
an agitation of that sort. Alderman Beckford, • eels.
bested man of that day, who had recently been ideated
one of the members for London, mime up to the Reese
of Comment with these pedaloes Irons the spay modest
the obnoxious tax. So greatly were the feeling of time
people stirred up, that the great Lord
Chatham went down to the ileum of Calumets
and there thundered with his well-known voicie at
the trembling ministry. It was then be gave utterance
to that famous saying, which at the pretreat finite, when
they were expecting the doinioilary visits of the excise
under the proposed-regulations of Mr. Gladstone, was
most arpropriste, that "every Englishman's boas, is
his castle." Then it was that the famous Greaville
obtained the name of the "Gentle Shepherd." It was
the resolution of the cider growers and eider driakens
of that day that whatever happened they would 00000 my
• tax upon cider. The consequence was, tho tax of 10a,
that was first proposed was reduced to 4a. • hogshead,
and very speedily the tax was taken off altogether. Their
loyalty was never for • moment disputed, but it aria
their firm determination that they would not submit to
what they felt was an unfair and inequitable tax. The
agriculturists had no hopes of a champion such as Lord
Chatham to conduct their case; but this he did asp that
if they were of opinion that this tax pressed unfairly
and heavily upon theta —although they did not wish
it abolished to interfere with the public revenue of the
country—when the time arrived that it could be
abolished with safety in that respect; then it would be
for the agriculturist to assert his rights, and maintain
his claims with moderation, yet with • resolution
which should snake itself beard and foil at the Treasury
Office. If they urged their claims with a trainees seeh
as their cause demanded, the Government would give
them • patient hearing; and they would not have their
demands postponed to th-osie who werrinnore Ohlutrearona,
though with not greater cause for clamour their thesis
wino advocated a redress of that grawstice widish they
advocate:ll6st 'evening.' With these remorke be belied
to propose That the members of the Dorchester nib,
and their agricultural friends attending this meeting,
are deeply impressed with the conviction that all taxes
arid duties levied by legislative enactment on the staple
produce of this country, either in its natural or mana•
factored state, operate injuriously on its production,
and press down the springs of industry."
Mr. 0 A tros,lll.ayor of Itiorelmster, said: In obedience
to the call made upon him, he had very great pleasure
in mounding the resolution. Mr. Floyer had gone so
fully into the merits of this question' that he felt it
would be quite unnecessary for him to take op the time
of the meeting by any lengthened remarks. The spirit
of the resolution was one to which he could soot Me-
dially assent. It bore not only upon the tax which *se
the subject of that evening's consideration, but it ia.
volved the principle that all taxes and duties lolled
upon this country operated upon it. prodistion in-
juriously, and touched upon the springs of industry.
Seeing, then, that this was so, he was prepared to join
them in asking for the repeal of the milt duty. But
he thought that if they would 'named in their efforts,
they ought to evince • timer attitude than they
bad hitherto. The mode of action they had adopted
was such, that their object appeared to be now in •
fairer way of aocomplishineat than when the subject
was dna introduced to their notice; nevertheless, if
I it was intended that their views should have their due
weight with the Government, it must be by
11
Strenuous exertions of tbe whole country. On. lea
meeting from one particular part ef the emus .
be futile in obtaining the object they sougbt.
always glad to lend his co-operation for .
, manufacturing interests, and be should al
, to co-operate, with his egriealuiral l
relief from the malt tax. He had, , great
, pleasure in seconding the resolution. ';-,,-e
The resolution was then put fromJihe chair, and
I tarried unanimously. ...
g , Mr. Daman said he rose with pleasure to pree.
pose the second reeolution, altho he felt himegft
rather unfortunately placed, as another gentleman whit
-
was unavoidably absent was to have had it plass* I fir
his care. The resolution was as follows :—" That thir
enormous tax levied on malt, by limiting It, use awthed
for man and beast, obstructs one of the most valuable
kinds of corn for which the climate and soil of Ingham'
are peculiarly adapted." He scarcely need say that he
fully concurred in that resolution. He believed that
barley wag on* of time moat valuable crops. One of the
great improvements in modern agriculture was the ea-
tousles growth of roots—turnips; end the natural crop
following that of turnips was barley. Instead, there-
fore, of there being any trammels placed in the way of
the growth of that useful crop, every encouragement
ought to be afforded tar it. cultivation. It was generally
admitted that English barley wee the best barley in the
world. A great deal that was grown was not so valu-
able, and coasequently is not used.. for malting pur-
poses. The breeders uniformly berths beet. contending
that the inferior samples do not produce a milkiest
quantity of saccharine matter to induce them te use ii,
and they therefore employ sugar to ambit in their
brewing', batted of employing a sufficient gauntly
of malt. Now he believed it wages good in beet.won
good wholesome best is pure malt or bops. It wee
thin-rejected gringo, the inferior barley, that created the
difficulty. It was thrown upon the market and mold
for grinding purPoses, add consequently wea net re-
mnnerative. It would not pay to malt it, as it would
have to bear the same tel as good barley, whereas
in the absence of the duty, this barley could be cos-
mated into malt for theft Men and their beasts
Perhaps lar ought not take up the time of the ineet4
in speaking of the commersial and theist aviator
subject, but he would say a few worth upon tli
polithal bearing of this tax. It was Ottaroely poestlisi
to speak upon this without mixing the bream up with,
the question. He had no wish to say one word against
the brewers as individuate. As • body they were • very
honourable and respectable class of met ; nevertheless
they could not help seeing that they numbered a vast
amount of political influence. It was well known that
If a person wished to represent even one of our small
boroughs, the teat thing hei had to do was to sound the
hbeer-Usrel. The Malt Tax give the brewer mid the beer.
house a monopoly—in his opinion an unfair
in the representation of this country. But thirsu=t-
miss of this duty was seen as it more particular,* aliheted
the poor man. They %lust all of them have been
forcibly struck with one item in the late very clever aad
excellent budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He stated that sines the passing 0 the commernal
tariff en foreign imports, the importation of wino has
greatly increased, and he also say that to further extend
the importation of foreign wine, the duty under •
certain percentage of alcoholic strength shall be radiated
to a shilling • gallon. Now let • poor man go for •
gallon of beer, for which he pays 2.1. 'um shilling of
which goes to pay the malt tax. Was Aria fair—that the
poor man should pay so heavy • duty on his gallon id
beer as the rich Men paid for his plias of
I
wine? The great bugbear against the . , .
of the malt tax was the piping err
the Chancellor of the Exchequer '
riot do without it' but he asked could he not do'
oat it? If they looked back they would And
during the last 20 yeast the revenue of the country
increased 20 millions yearly, and that during the keit,
(oar years the increase had been nine millions yearly,
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed us when.
he made his lest fixancial statement that the present
large expenditure was exceptional. We had had'p
li
Crimean war, a China war, and an Indian invitib and
later still we had been obliged to make great' s ra-
tions to avert a rupture with America. We now
got abetter navy than any nation; we had a Ana army
and brave vohinteerf; and he thought we were now ie a
position, without Wash farther national outlay, in •
position to bind- all other nations to keep the peace.
He did not blame the Government for expending
money in the protection of our omits, but now that
the revenue Vali 'so great be asked for the repeal
of the Malt Tax,-notis &favour but as a right.
Mr. HATNZ 'said lid had much pleasure In seconding
the resolution. He well 11firlhat Wig so Ca ad.
yenned in the evening -of life they would not aspect
from him along 'Wet. When the manufacturers or
traders bad • (doyen& to complain ef they all met to-
gether and worked nallaimously for what was to pro',
mote their isilierestallnik.whest they adlooked that tba,
agricultural interest Was 'Cie 'greatest dad most on
portant of all interests ; he Gould but regret at their'
supineness in reference to matters connected with
their welfare. There was nut • more loyal set of men
in England than the egrictilturists. AA to demomacv,
he hated the very word. That was a weed which would
not vegetate in the soil of old England; it withered the
hand that planted it, and poisoned all who partook of ,
its fruit. Rethought it was the duty of .the fanner to
look well to his labourer's interests. What he weeM '
like to see was for every Dhow er. to have • capital
cottage to reside in and a good garden. Having made
these observations he was sure they would allow an old
man of 83 years from entering on the subject at greater
length. He had great pleasure in seconding the
resolution.
(For remainder of discussion see Second Edition.)

MORDIII.—A horrible a:larder Vair pernstratad at a
public-house knew& as Ibis Ham anti Hound., Mask
Lane End, about three miles from Coins, on tatardar
night. The landlord bad • Diem with him as big
servant, who was married to a tailor named Walker
Moore, but who, in cmasequeneo et ill-usage, had left
her husband. Moore, and a man named Metcalfe, bad,
it appears, gone to the Hare and Hound. for the
purpose of seeing his wife. and after they bad emnothiag
to drink, Moore mined bold el the unfortunate 'omits
while she wee kneeling at his aide slimming lire-irstsas
and ent her throat from ear to ear. The ruffian waa
at once appreheaded, and he disclosed to the pelim
oonstable that he had visited hie wife for the express
purpose ef taking her Wm An tautest was bold ea
the body of the murdered woman on Wednesday, when
the jury rotaraed • versliol of wilted 'wieder against
the husband. Te. motive under the ALA NAOS Of which
Moore perpetrated his crime comae to Dave bees
lenieusy, and he stated that he would ham imea better
satiated had he suommlod in murdering Lie wil.„(et
amain. The greatest excitement, it ia said, preraulta
in Coine while the inquest was promeding, htuidreils
of 'Kepi* having assembled about the door of the hotel
In which it was held.

STATISTICS Or ATTOIIIIIIITIL—There are 11.8 porton&
seeking to be made " Gentlemen by Aet of Parliament"
next term, commensiag on Tuesday. Of that number
76 ars new eandidates. and tho reminder are for re-
newed ow-titbit's. The New Law List exhibits WOO
10,000 members of the profession.

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