The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-06 00:00:00

MALT DUTY.

A Meeting was yesterday held at the York Hotel.
Bridge-street, Blackfrilrs, to consider of the expe-
diency of " Petitioning Ministers for the total re-
peal, or at least a material reduction, of the Duty on
Malt."

The Meeting was very respectably, but not nu-
merously attended. Mr. Curteis, son of the Mem-
bar for Sussex, took the Chair, on the proposition
of Mr. Ellis, which was unanimously agreed to by
the company assembled.
Mr. Ews then rose to move the Resolutions
which had been prepared for the purpose of being
laid before the Meeting. The great object, he ob-
served, was to enable the labourer to supply himself
at a cheap rate with the wholesome beverage of
beer—which, owing to the heavy duty on Malt, the
• pour could not at present procure. The consequence
of the Malt Tax was, that although the population
• of the country had been doubled in the course of a
century, there was scarcely as much beer consumed
now as was consumed a century ago. He was con-
vinced that the abolition of the Malt Tax would be
attended with the greatest benefit, not orgy to the
agricultural interests, but also to the manufacturing
and commercial interests ; and that, above all, it
would be attended with the greatest advantage to
the poor and the labouringclasses of thecommunity.
Ile then gave a strong picture of the injury done
to the health, and even morals of the labourer, from
the impossibility of his enjoying the wholesome
beverage to which the English labourer had been in
past times accustomed, and which, considering
how remarkably well the soil and climate of
England were adapted to the production of
barley, might be considered the natural beverage of
the country. lle was also convinced that this very ob-
noxious tax might be abolished without much injury
to the revenue, and without the necessity of having
recourse to a property tax, which in time of peace
he thought highly objectionable. If a Deputation
were to wait on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to
propose and urge the repeal of this tax, he perhaps
would admit that the tax was objectionable, but
would contend that it was necessary that those who
insisted on its repeal should show either that there
was a surplus revenue, or that a substitute might be
found. He did not mean, at that time, to enter at
length into the discussion of that subject; but he
believed that he was prepared with a good answer
to the objection. To be sure, the beer was taxed
as well as the malt ; and some might, perhaps, sup-
pose that it would be of more advantage to the
poorer classes to have the beer duty repealed than
to have the malt duty abolished. But it bad always
been a point with him not to petition the Govern-
ment fur what he himself thought was unreasonable,
and he was convinced that Ministers could not af-
ford to abolish the duties both on malt and beer ;
but of the two he thought it was better to apply
for the abolition of the duty on malt, because that
would afford relief to all classes of the community.
Mr. Ellis concluded by moving the first Resolution,
which was seconded by Mr. Bentley. The object
of that, and of the other Resolutions, was to show
that in the opinion of the Meeting the abolition of
the malt duty was expedient, mid specially called
for by the actual situation of the labouring classes
of the community.
Mr. FOSTER expressed his concurrence in the
object of the Meeting; and stated that he was old
enough to remember when the labourer brewed his
own beer, and lie was convinced that he would
still do so, were it not for this very obnoxious tax,—
Its abolition would be attended \VIII] the most bene-
ficial consequences to the labouring classes of the
community, whether agricultural, manufacturing, or
commercial.

Mr. QUIRTER observed that the labouring classes
were in the most serious distress at this moment,
and that it was the duty of the Government to re-
lieve them if possible. The distress had arisen to a
pitch that could hardly be endured; and the best
modes of relief would be to abolish the tax on malt,
or the tax on beer, or to abolish both. The worthy
Gentleman then stated his objections to the system
of free trade, as it was called. It was said to be
founded on the principle of reciprocity; but there
was no reciprocity at all in the matter, considering that
this nation was loaded with a debt of 800 millions
sterling. Under such a state of things the system
was absurd, and made us be regarded by other na-
tions as simpletons in legislation. As for a substi-
tute for the Malt Tax, they were not bound to find
out one. It was for the Government to find out a
substitute, or reduce its expenccs. The Honourable
Gentleman then proceeded to make some remarks
on the last Corn Bill, but was called to order, the
matter being considered as irrelevant to the purposes
of the Meeting.

Mr. FIFE also argued strongly in favour of the
abolition of the tax, and the importance of the re-
peal to the health and comforts of the labouring
classes. Had it not been for this tax the landlords
and farmers would apply much of their barley to
the production of a most invigorating and healthy
beverage for their labourers, which, as matters
stood, they now throw to their hogs. It was the
want of this healthy and old English beverage
which exhausted the labourer, and rendered him
reckless, which often drove him to poaching, and
then to robbery. The taxes on malt and beer led
to the demoralization of the country, and ought to
be got rid of as soon as possible; and instead of
confining themselves to one of them, he conceived
that it would be better to attack them both toge-
ther. These duties, were, with respect to the la-
bouring classes, acts of oppression, and of such an
oppression as the Despot of Constantinople would
not have ventured upon. It could only have been
caused in such a country as this, where there was a
partial freedom. Certainly, if the nation had been
fully and properly represented in Parliament,no such
oppressive enactments would have been tolerated.
Mr. HEALY stated that he supplied his labourers,
of whom he had a great many, with beer of the
same quality as he used at his own table—(Hear,
hear ;)—but he would be able to supply them in
much more abundance if these obnoxious taxes
were repealed, and he was certain that the effect
would be that the labourers would do much more
work with comfort to themselves. If horses were
sent to the plough from the straw-yard, it would be
in vain to expect that they would do as much work
as if they had been fed on oats and beans : and so
it would be vain to expect the same quantity of
work from the labourer, in his present comparatively
famished state, as might fairly be expected from
him if he were well supplied with this invigorating
and healthy beverage. Our Government was the
best possible Government, but it was necessary to
watch it closely with reference to its expenditure.
An honest farmer, a neighbour of his, was accus-
tomed to say that the Clergyman of his parish was
a very good Clergyman, and that he gave very good
sermons; but that the sermons were plaguy dear,
for that one week with another they cost 191. a
piece. So he said of the Government. It was a
very good Government, but it was a plaguy dear
one ; and it was the duty of every real friend to
his country to watch over the public expenditure,
and to procure the abolition or reduction of such
obnoxious and oppressive taxes as those on malt
and beer, if possible.

Mr. FontinAm argued, that it was of more im-
portance to the poor to have the tax on beer re-
pealed than to procure the abolition of that on malt ;
and he moved as an amendment, " that the word
beer be substituted for that of malt." He after-
wards withdrew that amendment, and proposed that
the words " and beer" should be added to the word
malt, so as to state it to be the opinion of the meet-
ing that both taxes should be repealed.
Mr.,Ews objected to both the amendments, and
requested the meeting to confine themselves to the
specific point which they had been called upon to
consider, which was merely the expediency of peti-
tioning for the abolition of the duty on malt. It had
always been his principle to wish only for what was
reasonable. It would be highly desirable, no doubt,
to have the duty on beer abolished as well as that on
malt; but he dni not believe that the Government

could afford to dispense with both, and therefore he
thought it best to confine the resolution to the re-
peal of that duty Nv ich he thought on the whole to
be most obnoxious.

After some further discussion, however, the amend-
ment was agreed to by a majority of the meeting.
The Rev. Dr. LAMB then suggested another
amendment, the effect of which was to petition for
the total abolition of the duties on malt and beer;
or for a material reduction of those duties. There
was no doubt but that if the total abolition could
not be procured, a material reduction would be at-
tended with the most beneficial consequences.—
This amendment was also adopted, and the several
resolutions were agreed to.
Pursuant to one of the Resolutions, a Committee
was appointed to carry into effect the objects of the
Meeting, and the names of the Chairman, Mr. Ellis,
Mr. Bentley, Mr. Healy, Mr. Foster, &c. were
mentioned, with power to add to their number.

The Rev. Dr. LIMB the❑ moved the thanks of
the Meeting to the Chairman, and stated that it
was highly satisfactory to see persons of property
coming forward to promote objects of such great
public ►mportance as the present; and when they
did come forward, it was proper that their services
should be acknowledged.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN, after returning thanks, observed,
that if the Meeting could accomplish its object, it
would be attended with immense benefit to the
poorer classes of the community. He hoped that
the sentiments uttered at this Meeting would find
their way to the ears, not only of his Majesty's Mi-
nisters, but to those of the highest Personage in the
community.

The following are the Resolutions adopted by the
Meeting:—
" 1. That the present distressed state of the la-
bouring poor imperiously calls for the serious consi-
deration of all those who have the power to afford
them relief.

" 2. That a supply of wholesome beer is essen-
tially necessary to the health and strength of the
poor generally, but more particularly so to the hard-
working labourer, to whom it may justly be called
liquid food.

" 3. That the excessive tax on Malt and Beer in
a very great degree prevents labourers, as well in
husbandry as in trades and manufactories, from ob-
taining this nutriment, so necessary for the support
of their health and strength, and compels them to
drink water, which, without supporting their ability
for labour, has, in many instances, been followed by
consequences destructive of health.
" 4. That owing to the greatly increased and ex-
cessively high duty on Malt, the annual average in-
dividual consumption of that article, which was for
ten years, ending in 1723, forty-one gallons and
three quarts, has been so much decreased, that for
the last ten years, ending in 1828, it has not ex•
ceeded sixteen gallons and three pints; and for the
last year, only fourteen gallons and two quarts, or
about two-fifths of the consumption of 1723.
" .5. That if the annual individual consumption
of the present population was equal to what it was
in 1723, it would exceed 8,000,000 quarts,_ being
more than double its present amount.
" 6. That the above-mentioned considerations
induce this Meeting to recommend either a total re-
peal or a material reduction of all duties on malt
and beer.

" 7. That a Committee be appointed to promote
the object of these Resolutions, who shall be em-
powered to adopt such measures as shall appear to
them expedient, with power to add to their numbers."