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

SECOND EDITION.

ExPasse Orman, Tuesday Evening.

DORCHHSTER FARMERS' CLUB.

Contimiect frost 411 Page of the Dorset Corsity Xrprest.
Mr. 011011 moved the third resolution: "That in
the opinion of this meeting, the entire removal of this
tax would so far reduce the price Df malt as to place
it within the reach of farmers and gustier,, as profitable
food for cattle and sheep." He stated that.. mach had
.been said about the Malt Tax, that it-would ill become
hint to make any very lengthened remarks. He could
not help thinking this was a very unjust tor, as the
agriculturists of this country havuigie oompete with ,
the whole world, were debarred by the reclnetions the
tax imposed, from using their barley to the greatest
advantage to themselves in the feeding of cattle and
sheep. -Perhaps he should be told that cthere were no
restrictions; that if they sent thejr barley to the
monitor, paid the duty, and the shilling per bushel for
malting, they could, after they got it home, upon making
affidavit that the malt was used wholly for feeding
cattle receive back the money again. But he main-
tained that this was a restriction, and for this reason
that the system was never resorted to. As had bee;
already stated, it was the boat description of barley that
was at present used for making malt, but he was tally
of opinion that if the secondary description Gould be
also malted without the payment of the duty, it could
be put to • profitable use for the feeding of stook.
- Suppose for example, this secondary description of
barley cost 30s. per quarter, this would produce about
280 pounds of malt. It would therefore require sight
quarters of barley to make a ton of malt, which would
cad just 142. This was jest the price he had been
mime for his cloaks per ton, and he bad no doubt ;
that a ton ef malt would make mere beef and mutton
than oil oaks. The wholeeontinent had beenransooked
to ascertain whet articles could be imported into this
country free of duty, yet the Malt Tax—a tax on our,
own produce—was atill retained. It was of no loss to
. the brewer, that the malt duty should be imposed,
because by the aid of other substances he was able to pro-
duce • spurious article. The Chancellor of the
Exchequet had cheapened the wines of the rich, and if he
was an honest man, be must feel it his duty to cheapen
beer, so insocesary to the poor man. The fact of his
reducing the wine duties he felt to be so strong an argu-
ment in favour ot the canes for which they contended,
that he felt that when the time came for the repeal of
taxes, there must be • reduction in the malt tea.
Kr. HILL, of Came, said he had not sufficiently
studied the subject to enter largely upon the discussion.
He thought Mr. (lenge had put the case in so clear a
light that all must be convinced that malt, as an article
of food for cattle, was most desirable. He had long
known that malt was used as food for horses to get
up their condition. The malt duty was a war tor, and
be considered that it ought not to be levied on agricul-
ture in times of peso*. He had heard • ma:Aster make
use of the remark—and it bad been the practice in his
own time—that persons used to take their bag of barley
to the monster and take away • bag of malt for it, the
Wire'se by the process of molting being deemed suffici-
ent to pay the cost of labour in malting. Be thought
that if the question had been taken up by the fanners
with the energy the hop duty repeal was takers up by
:the hop growers, the former would now have been in
the poen:ion of theiatter, and they would have got rid
of this iniquitous imposition. He had great pleasure in
seconding the proposition.
The resolution en being put from the chairmas carried
unanimously.
Mr. WILLIew MaNPRILD said he rose with very
grestpleasure to move the fourth resolution, inasmuch
as it applied to the poor man and his labour. There was
no tax premed mere hard upon labour than the malt
tax. If a poor man could not have a pie! of beer when
he had hard work to do, how could he perform that
labour properly and efficiently! And in hay time, and
during the long dais ef harvest, how often was it that
they wanted a lit* extra, after six o'clock came, the
man was from home, tired and exhausted. You particu-
larly wanted something done but money would not
induce him, he said he wanted east; but let them offer
him a pint of good beer,and he would take it, and after
he had drank it he would say, " Now, master, I feel as
strong again, (could work all night." He had heard it
said that men *paid work on tea as well as they amid
upon beer. He was willing to admit for argument's
sake, that in • general way a man might work noon tea,
but when they wanted to push him, as they sometimes
did—when they wanted two days' work out of him for
ono—then they mast give him beer; tea would not do
it. He never yet saw a teetotaler who was a fit man
for a day's labour when there was • great deal of hard
work to do. He hod known farms on which teetotalers
were employed. What was the result'? He had seen
the morn out in the fields in the last week of October,
and he believed he lad in the first week in Noveusher.
He maintained. then that beer was necessary to sustain
• man when be had work to perform. He did not hold
with intoxication, but he thought the labourer wanted
• stimulant to keep him up to a certain point. If then
this was so, that heer was necessary, his labour was
taxed in the malt duty. The rich man drunk but •
small portion of the beer that was made in this omintry,
the greater portion was drunk by the poor man, and as
a consequence the tax bore heavily npon him. It had
been argued that the Chancellor of the Exchequer could
, not do without it. lie thought it always advisable,
when they eemplaised of an evil, to offer some sugges-
tion for a remedy. He did not wish to dictate to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, or to tell him how he was
to raise a revenue, but he egoist suggest, perhaps, that
• tax might be put upon rellwayAicketa—a very small
amount on each, say • penny, would be sufficient for
the purpose of creating • large revenue from that source.
Then there were many oher things might be taxed by
pieces of paper, called penny stamps, upon them. We
had lately had pibsny stamps for cheques, and no doubt
considerable sum had been raised from this source,
but he did not 'appose that • less number of cheques
were issued in consequence, than there were
Wore. l!or his own part, he did not find
that he had ,leoi cheques than formerly.
Now, if they were to proceed with this question, he
thought they should ask to be relieved of the whole of
the tax„ and net • part bf it; as, if it were only reduced,
the roost al coliestion would lie the same as now. What
- they wanted was to get the whole of the tax removed,
and placed 'pen such things and in such small sums as
to be least felt, and to extend over the whole popula-
tion of the 'aviary, that that ill-used body of men, the
labourers, sight be relieved of the burden that now

pressed so heavily upon them. •filr. Damon had alluded
to the fact that the hop duty was gone, and so far so
geed. It was a great benefit, inasmuch as it would
offer an inducement for the brewers now wholly to use
hope instead of deleterious drugs as a substitute; but
could not brewers also use substitutes for malt, such as
mangold warted, auger, and other substances? It was
most desirable that they should use pure malt and pare
hops in the manufacture of beer, and the malt duty
repeal would be a great induoement for them to do so,
sad then the greet body of beer drinkers would be tone.
flied. The subjest had that evening been very ably
argued by previous speakers, and he would therefore 4
eouclude by roadie( the following resolution, whioh eke
had great pleasure in proposing:—" That as malt
liquor is rather to be considered as a commonly used
beverage of the poor than as • luxury of the rich, the
duty cannot be retained on the plea of its being a tax
on one of the luxuries of life, and this meeting con.
riders the tax as unequal in its operations, inasmuch al
the lower dasses are the largest consumers of beer."
. .

Mr. IuZIODALI said he Cad very great pleasure in
seconding the resolution. He had often known • pint
of beer go • long way alter six o'clock, when important
work was te be +llene. He did not believe that t e
removal of the Mgt Tax would in the least degree tend
to the increase of crime in this eountry,but that, on the
contrary, it would have the opposite effect; that if the
labourers brewed at home and always had it by them,
they would not have shat craving for beer they now
bad when they could not get at it.
This resolution, like all the former, was carried
unanimously. . .

Mr. CRANE next moved "That this meeting believes
the cause of temperance would be better served by the
remission than by the retention of the tax, as the
licensed beerhouses present peculiar temptations to the
intemperate and the improvident, whilst thelemperate
and thrifty of the poor, and those who live at • distance
from the beershops, are debarred the wholesome use
of the liquor." He certainly did think that this reso-
lution correctly stated the case. His own labourers,
during mowing and harvest time, were in the habit of
having their malt given them, and allowed to brew
their beer in their own houses instead of being supplied
with beer from the farm house, and he could say that
he had seldom been one of them the worse for liquor,
where'', when they had it not by them, there seemed
to be such • craving for it that they drank as much as
they could get. They had each their own cask, and he
had a set of brewing utensils for them which went from
one to the other. Now, supposing the Malt Tax were re-
moved, not only at harvest time, but at all times, they
oosildbrew their own beer. God forbid that he should ever
wish to prevent any poor man frem having his pint of
beer, but in consequence of this Malt Tax, they were
prevented from brewing at home, and they therefore
went to the abominable beer shops, where temptations
of all kinds were thrown in their way, and how often
was it that they stayed longer than they intended on
amount of the company, drank more than was necessary,
and went home intoxicated! He firmly believed
that according to the present system, intemperance was
more rife than it would be were the Malt Tax wholly
removed. The farmers might make their inferior
barley into malt, and let their men have it at a cheap
rate. They would then always have a good wholesome
beverage at home, and would sot want to go to the
beer shop. There would then be a diminution of crime,
and the labourers would themselves be at home with
their families, and all would be more comfortable and

happy.
Mr. DUNIIAN, in seconding the resolution, said he felt
great interest in this question. Mr. Damon told them,
when he first introduced this subject to their notice,
that tra more malt was consumed now than there was
half a century ago, and be believed that under their
present laws they might go on for another century and
the consumption would not increase, especially if they
brewed such beer as Mr. Gladstone did—using only
two bushels of malt to a barrel. He himself used four
bushels of malt for his home brewed. He had nothing
to say against the brewers as men. They were •
I a wealthy and a highly respectable body of men. He
could remember the time when malt was
very cheap, and he mould remember the time
when it was very dear, yet the beer was
sold at the same price. He could remember
the time when there were free houses in that town, but
he did not know where to look for them now; they were
got into the hands of the brewers. There was • time
when men not only lived in free houses, but when they
made their own malt and brewed their own beer.
There was oempetition then in the market. If one
would not purchase their barley another would, but
now it was got into few hands, and the farmers must
sell to them or keep their grain. He did not blame the
men but it was the system he complained of that
oreaienth is moo ipoly. Where there were, perhape,4o who
brewed beer for sale at one ticne,there was but one now,
and this monopoly enabled them to manufacture their
beer as they pleased. Suppose one brewer brewed
KO hogsheads of beer in the year, and saved one bushel
of malt from what would be used under the old system,
here would be a loss to the revenue in that one
man of 500 guineas a year through this monopoly.
The fact was, the system was as hollow as
• drum, and as rotten at the roots as spear, and he
eould not expect any great amount of benefit from the
repeal of the malt system without • revision of the
licensing system. He would like to see trade thrown
open,so as to allow • man to go and buy his pint of beer
over the counter as he would go and buy his loaf of
bread or any other artiele he needed. He believed that
if the milt duty were repealed and the trade thrown
open, there would not be • tithe of the drunkenness
there now was. There were no doubt a great many
people who did not think as he did, but he believed
thet Mr. Gladstone oocld see the matter in the same
light se he saw it—he saw that not half the malthouses
were in work—and his object was to break down the
monopoly as much as possible by his ”stem of short
credit on the malt duties. He considered the Malt Tax
was • very serious tax; he felt it so on his own farm,
and he would be very happy to see it repealed, but he
was satisfied that unless the present licensing system
was also revised, the repeal of the Malt Tax to the
community at large would be bereft of half its benefit.
He had great pleasure in seconding the resolution.
Thoegmaitas then put the resolution to the meet-
ing, and it was unanimously carried.
Mr. Howse said he had been asked to propose the
6th resolution, and he did so with a great deal of plea.
sure. It was as follows:—" That this meeting is folly
aware of the large amount by which the national
revenue would be reduced by the abolition of the Malt
Tax, yet it also entertains a conviction of the reseal-me
of the Government in faroviding for its substitution in •
more equal ,
manner, and,
itmadders the Government
virtually pledged to the remission of the
duty on molt by the rewission of many other taxes

on the manufactures of this country." He WAS happy
to take part in these proceedings. This was a subject
which applied to our own country, and to our own •
locality in particular, seeing that we in this county
were peat barley growers. It had been the aim of the ,
present Government to relieve native industry, by re- ,
lieving articles of home production from the trammels
of taxation, and he thought in justice and in truth, •
agricultural productions for home use ought to have its .
turn next, in regard tolthe application of this prin-
ciple. There was no sentiment he more readily re•
clewed or more cordially assented to than that relief
should be given as much as possible to native industry. I
'Hitherto the agricultural body had never come forward I
for the remission of taxes, or taken any step which •
would for a moment trench or infringe upon
the national resources at ho,e or abroad, at a tune
they deemed the taxation levied necessary for the carry-
ing on of the government of this country. Following
in that step they had but lately moved in regard to the •
taxation of this country; but he believed the time had
arrived when the agricultural body might be said to be
fairly entitled to be heard upon that point. He believed
that at the end of the present year, if the aspect of
affairs were bright, there would be no necessity for con-
tinuing the large outlay we had been put to during the
last three or four years and that it was quite feasible to
supped' that a large reduction int the national expendi-
ture would take place. Then, he thought, the agricul-
tural body might come forward and combine for the
removal of the tax which so greatly affected their
interests. He had said the agricultural body hitherto
had not been very active. He would recommend them
moat earnestly to keep the result of the agitation of
the hop growers of Kent and Sussex constantly in view.
No body of men had ever shown greater determination
and perseverance than those men had done, and it was
most laudable in them to persevere as they did. They
bombarded the Chancellor of the Exchequer session
after session, if not for the abolition of the hop duty, at
least for the postponement of the same. 'ff'he speaker
detailed some scenes he had witnessed cl deputations of
hop growers going to see the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, and said that the duty on the malt used in beer
of the strongest kind, amounted to something like 4d. a
gallon.
Mr. CHICK thought that after the very many excellent
speeches that had been made that evening, he ought
not to take up the time of the meeting. He fully con-
curred in all that had been said, and begged most cor-
dially to second the resolution.
The resolution was then put from the chair, and
carried unanimously.
Mr. HARDING thought that after what the last
speaker had said, he ought to follow his example, and
sit down by simply moving Ids resolution. He had,
however, but a very few words to say, but this he did
say—he had long and was still strongly of opinion that
the malt tax was a curse upon the homestead and the
cottage. In the first place with respeet to the labourers.
Was at not written that they should receive of the first
fruits of their labours, and that "thou shalt not muzzle
the ox that treadeth out the core" Bat he maintained
that their labourers were muzzled, and so were their
oxen too, by this iniquitous tax. He said this iniqui-
tous tax—as it debarred every poor man in the kingdom
of much of the happiness and comfort he would other-
who enjoy. They might talk of their labourers being
their country's pride, but he would ask what pleasure
was there in going into the peer man's cottage, and in-
stead of seeing them enjoying that most healthy and
invigorating beverage—a drop of good home-brewed
beer—find that their only drink was wiehey-washy tea.
He was quite sure they would be unanimous, and not
only the Dorchester Club, but every Farmers' Club in
the kingdom would be unanimous, in demanding the
repeal of the obnoxious impost, and thus enable every
poor man to have what was the right and due of every
Englishman, a barrel of geed home-brewed beer in his
cottage, that he might enjoy it with his wife and
family. By continuing this tax they drove the unfor-
tunate poor man to the puhliohouw; and who, he asked,
would have to answer for the sin of driving them there,
and thus initiating them to whatever wrong they learned
, there, but their great men, professing to, and sent to
, parliament for the (Purpose of representing the interests
of this great agricultural country? But instead of
, honestly representing them, they picked the farmers'
, pockets, lowered their produce, and caused sin to
, abound by driviag the poor man to the beershops, by
, continuing this Mir/tritons tax. He knew it had been
said that the farmers did not pay mere than other
people. New, he consumed in brewing 150 bushels of
; malt every year, the greater portion, of course, he gave
; to his worlcpeople to sustain them in their labours. Did
; he not pay duty? Ile had to pay £lB a year on the
, malt duty, but was it right be should have to pay it
; when it went to sustain the poor man in his labour?
; and ought he not to be relieved from the impost? And
, ought he not also to be allowed to sell his secondary
• qbality of barley at a remunerative price? If the far-
mers of England would only look at the robbery of this
, most iniquitous and rascally tax, they would bestir
, themselves in the way those noble fellows in another
I place had bestirred themselves—the hop growers—and
give the Chancellor of the Exchequer no rest till he
; relieved them of this unjust and obnoxious burden. He
; only hoped to see the time when they should have de-
putations of barley growers; besieging the office of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in the way it was besieged
by the hop planters, and he should be most happy to
• fotmone of such deputation next year. Mr. Harding
r concluded by moving " That the members
; of this club and their friends present, pledgethemselves
, to use all constitutional means within their power to
I obtain the legal removal of the tax."
, Mr. HOMER, ill seconding the resolution, said he
would offer but few remarks at that time ofthe evening.
; Now it struck his that the first thing they had to do
was to show the country generally that this tax pressed
chiefly upon the landed and agricultural interests,
although not in a direct, yet in an indirect manlier.
In the next place, with, regard to themselves and their
• labourers, they ought to petition to show that they con-
sidered it the duty of the legislature to repeal the
obnoxious tax; and thirdly, with regard to their county
members, they should endeavour to convince them that
it was their ditty to support them in reference to this
meawre in Die Ilense of Commons. This he thought
- was perfectly constitutional, and in Accordance with
their own duty. Now supposing the Malt Tax were
repealed, they could let their labourers have malt after
• paying the malster's charge, at Sc. per bushel, at the
, present price of barley; and if malt were cheaper,
perhaps at 4s. a bushel. Now the malt and hops he
; savable labourers for the purpose of brewing their own
• ,beer It harvest time, coat him about 18a. per barrel.
; Then a labourer, if the tax were repealed, would be
; able to have a barrel of good home-brewed beer in his
; cottage, and be would be in a much better position
than at present, as he would be enabled to have a

wholesome and cheap beverage, and be enabled to enjoy
it at home with his own family, instead of having to go
to the publiehonse. From the experience he had had,
he was quite -aura the repeal would have a beneficial
effect on the morals of the people, and go far to repress
drunkenneu. When he had given malt to the men to
brew their own beer, he had found them always keep
perfectly sober. He had never seen them intoxicated.
It was their own,and they seemed to appreciate as such,
And to take tare of it. But when they had not the beer
as their own, there seemed to be a greater craving for
it, and they would drink oftentimes as much as they
could get until it overcame them. The Malt Tax was
evidently an unjust tax, and pressed heavily upon both
the farmer and thatabottrer, and he believed that its
repeal would confer on the Gauntry an incalculable
benefit. And now that restrictions had been,taken off
foreign produce, and the foreiper was enabled to:com-
pete with the English farmer, it was only justrawands
them that the tax should be removed,' and he .aon-
sidered the Chancellor of the Exohequer was bound to
relieve them of it.

The resolution on being put to the meeting by the
Chairman, was adopted unanimously.
Mr. DUNNING was then called upon by the Chairman
to move the Bth, and last resolution as follows :—That
petitions to Parliament, embodying the views and
objects of this meeting, and of • others feeling an
equal interest in the subjeot, be prepared for presenta-
tion to both Houses, and that copies of these resolutions
be sent to the Central Farmers' Club, and also to all
dubs in this country, earnestly inviting their active
co-operation."

Mr. THOMAS HOWIE SAUNDERS RSA moat happy to
seeond this resolution. He believed this was the first
meeting of the kind they had had in the oountry, and
he thought the question that night had seen fairly
placed before them. If this restrietion -could .he ...re-
moved they might then malt their secondary hurley for
home brewing 'and fattening purposes, and he
considered that as they were now thrown into
competition with all the world, the farmers of
England had a perfect right, morally, to make
the most of their own produce without the interference
of legislation. He also fully agreed with Mr. Manfield
that a shilling in money would not go as far as sixpenny-
worth of beer with their men after six o'clock. He bad
not a beershop within two or three miles of his home,
but he had known some of his men, after they had done
their day's work, walk those two or three miles, and
the brewers' beer had been so strong, and the company
so enticing to them to stay, that they had got drunk,
and to prevent being seen by the policeman, .had got
into the field and lay down in •ditch. Iris. sett day
some did appear at their work, and some did not appear.
He thought that if they were enabled to have their own
malt and brew at home, it would keep them at home,
and not give them that craving for publichouse beer.
And, besides, it would have this effect, it would keep
them out of many temptations; for when they went to
the publiehouse often, they did not meet the best of
company, and they would naturally and necessarily im-
bibe the principles in a greater or less degree of their
associates. The subject that night had been ably
handled, and at that late hour he would not occupy
more of their time, but merely state that he cordially
seconded the resolution.

This also, like all the former ones, was unanimously
carried.
The CHAIRMAN said if there bad been warmth of ex-
pression manifested by any of the speakers that evening,
he thought it might well be excused, seeing the subject
had been so strongly and pointedly placed before them.
That the Malt Tax was a great incubus he thought
could not be denied, and he thought it to be quite in
uniformity with the view whioh had been taken of the
matter, that they should use ,their best endeavours to
get rid of a tax which had been found, to press, not only
upon one class, but upon every elan of the community.
The question had been raised whether this was the
proper time for the club to move in this matter,
especially considering the point at which the parlia-
mentary session had arrived, and after the Budget had
been brought forward by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer. He had obtained privately the opinion of a few
friends, and there were some who seemed to think
that this was not the proper time to move in the
matter, but it appeared to him that this was the proper
time, rather than the contrary. They all knew the
character of their brother farmers, that they were at all
times somewhat slow to move, and this was a vast ques-
tion, and involved a. very important point in reference
to the revenue, and it could not be supposed in abort
time the question would have the affect upon!the minds
the farmers of England as was desirable. They did
not expect that they would be able to do anything this
Session, the question would require to be agitated two
or three years, or perhaps Ave years. What they
wanted was, unanimity of the landed interest and the
farmers of England. And if this were accomplished,
great as was the question in point of revenue, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer would doubtless be able
to end the ways- and means for the remission of the
duty. Now the subject M the last resolution was the
practical question before them. It said that petitions
should be prepared, embodying their views and senti-
ments on the subject, but when should they be proceeded
wilds? This was rather a serious question to consider.
Were they to petition at once, or should they carefully
prepare their petition, endeavour to enlist the sym-
pathies of their brother farmers elsewhere, and get all
in readiness for the next session? The other question
was that of enlisting the co-operation of 'the Central
Fanners' Club, and all the other clubs of the country.
He believed there should be no tune lost in sending a
copy of the resolutions in proper form to these clubs, if
they wished them to co-operate with them, and they in-
tended to commence proceedings during the present
sessions.

M. PLOYS% on being sppealed to, said he scarcely
knew that he was competent to advise them for the
best. Petitions, as a rule, had not much weight in the
House of Commons, unless they came in in pretty good
numbers, backed. up with a pretty good list of names.
If they were.to Move in the matter, as he supposed they
would,there would not be a sufficiently reasonable time
to bring their exertions into operation between this and
the end of the seasion, so as to obtain a sufficiently large
number of signatures to compel the House to pay any
attention to their request. His own opinion was that
they shool 1 endeavour to obtain ;a large number of peti-
tions to be laid before the House if they would make
themselves heard,

Mr. HoMFi proposed,that as the Committee who had
been appointed to draw up the resolutions had done
their work so well, the question should be referred to
them to act as they considered best, and the proposi-
tion being seconded, it was unanimously adopted, and
the meeting separated.