The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-03 00:00:00

THE SPIRIT DUTIES.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the
following resolution :
" That, in lieu of the duties of customs now charged on
articles undermentioned, the following duties shall be
charged thereon, on importation into Great Britain and
Ireland) viz.: s. d.
Spirits or strong waters not being sweetened or
mixed with any article so that the degree of
strength thereof cannot be ascertained by Sykes'
Hydrometer, for every gallon of the strength of
proof by such Hydrometer, and so on in propor-
tion for any greater or less strength than the
strength of proof, and for any greater or less
quantity than a gallon
Of and from a British possession in America or the
Island of Mauritius, and rum of and from any
British possession within the limits of the East
India Company's charter, in regard to which the
conditions of the Act 4 Vic. c. 8, have or shall
have been fulfilled
Ruin shrub, liqueurs, and cordials of and from a
British possession in America or the Island of
Mauritius, or a British possession within the limits
of the East India Company's charter, qualified as
aforesaid
Rum of and from any foreign country, being the
country of its production
Tafia, of and from any colony of France the gallon 8 3
Other spirits, being sweetened or mixed so that the
degree of strength cannot be ascertained as afore-
said, and perfumed spirits to be used as perfumery
only the gallon 12. 0
Spirits or strong waters, imported into the 'United
Kingdom, mixed with ' any ingredient, and,
although thereby coming under some denomina-
tion,'except varnish, shall nevertheless be.deemed
to be spirits or strong waters, and be subject to
duty as such,
Water, Cologne, the flask (30 of such flasks con-
tainingnot more than one gallon) ......... eaced
Water, Cologne, when not in flasks, as perfum
12 0
spirits
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved as amendment, that the
duty on unsweetened spirits be 9s. instead of Bs. 6d. The
hon. gentleman scud that unless this change was made in
the proposition of the Government, great injustice would
be done to the rectifying distiller, foreign wine
would be made a vehicle for smuggling, and the doors
he feared; quite
would
Bb eA.t hs iso ws
aidria o ptieine
committeefraud.Mr.
had been,
misled. he question they were considering was one be-
tween the rectifiers and the importers of foreign spirits
The proposed alteration of duty from Bs. 2d. to Bs. 6d. of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be quite inadequate.
and he believed that if the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
propositiol3 were persevered with, the trade 0 the rectifying

distillers would be utterly annihilated, while a great ad-
vantage, fully 6s. 6d. per gallon, would accrue to the
French producer. Unless the duty were increased, he
thought, looking to the result of previous reductions of
duty, from 1845 down, that a large diminution of the re-
venue would follow, and that certainly was not a satisfac-
tory state of things. _ _

Sir E. GROGAN thought they ought to learn what was
the reciprocity part of the treaty. Up to this time they had
heard nothing on the subject. If the duties were to bo low-
ered as was proposed, it was only fair that a corresponding
advantage should be given to British distillers.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, with
respect to what had fallen from the hon. gentleman oppo-
site (Sir E. Grogan), he saw every reason to suppose that
there would be a disposition to admit spirits liberally into
France on fair terms, because she was a large exporter her-
self, and had no reason to fear the result. There had been
no decision come to in respect to allowing the drawback on.
foreign grain in distilleries, and the question was open to
consideration. It was hardly possible, however, to discuss
that subject intelligibly in a popular assembly. He had
never found any trade more satisfactory to deal with than
those concerned in the spirit trade, whether in England,
Scotland, or Ireland. They were gentlemen of large capi-
tal and intelligence, and stated their views with great mo-
deration. He did not deny that a gentleman had been sent
over to Paris, as the hon. gentleman the member for Fins-
bury had stated, bat itwas not in any way connected with the
hon. gentleman's amendment. With regard to the duty
being aitered to Bs. 2d., as stated by the hon. member for
Finsbury, he denied the allegation of the hon. gentleman,
that this was done without consulting the Customs and
Excise. No step had been taken in this matter without
the cognisance of the Excise. He was bound to say, and
especially as regarded the. Board of Inland Revenue—the
department most concerned in the arrangement—they could
never hav9 arrived at it except in concerting with these
departments. The basis upon which they had entered into
negotiations with France was with a view to a perfect free-
dom of trade. The right hon. gentleman then said that
after considering the question of a 10s. duty upon the im-
portation of foreign spirits, with the Customs and Excise
authorities, it was ultimately agreed between them that the
proposal which he had submitted to the committee was the
best which could be devised. As to rum, it was in rather
an anomalous position, but being the produce of tropical
countries, British distillers exhibited no jealousy of its
being admitted at the ordinary colonial rate. He had only
to add, that the Government proposed these arrangements
to Parliament as being, upon the whole, well suited to meet
what he admitted was a very complicated question, yet as
tending to solve the whole in the fairest manner possible.
(Hear.)
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE replied, and said that if a com-
mittee were granted to him he would prove that the Excise
and Customs authorities had not been consulted with re-
spect to this proposed arrangement by the Government.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured
the hon. gentleman that the heads of the authorities at
the Excise and Customs had been consulted by him, and
everything he had done had their concurrence.
After a few words from Mr. BLACK,
The committee divided, when there appeared—.
For the ame'ndment 4B
Against it l9l
Majority against —l43
The amendment was therefore lost, and the resolution
was agreed to.
Mr. BYNG gave notice that, on Monday next, after the
resolutions were reported, it was his intention to move a
humble address to her Majesty, expressing the concurrence
and approval of that house of the Commercial Treaty which
had been entered into between her Majesty and the Em-
peror of the French.
Mr. AYRTON said his hon. friend the member for Sun-
derland was going to move an amendment on this address,
and would like, therefore, to be made acquainted with its
terms as early as possible.
Mr. BYNG promised that the hon. gentleman should
have a copy of the address as early as possible on Monday
morning.