The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-07-09 00:00:00

•

had determined to petition the House against it, asp to
be heard by their Counsel at the bar of the House, *ere
extremely anxious to learn what the actual intention•
of the Hon. Gentleman were. The clause he understood
differed materially from the other contents of the Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he was fully aware of the point alluded to by the
Hon. Gentleman, and though he had not explained the
exact meaning of it in his general application. The ob-
ject of the present Distillery Bill was solely to place the
Scotch and Irish distillenes on a more equal footing,
and to carry certain regulations for the lowering the du-
ty, and at the same time the better collection of it. There
was every disposition to enhance the situation of the
English distiller, but the lateness of the Session prevent.
ed the ponibility of his doing so. There was one point
in which the Scotch distiller was materially affected by
the law as it now stands with regard to the intercourse
with England. He was required to give twelve months
notice before he prepared spirits which were admissable
to England. This restriction wail pointed out as a very
great 'hardship. and with a view of giving some relief lie
proposed to add a clause to the Bill before the House, re-
ducing the time of that notice to three months. The
English distillers, however, it seemed, took alarm at the
clans; and he (the Chancellor) endeavoured to satisfy
thew upon it. Though he could not agree with them on
the proprietrof maintaining the restrictions on a perma-
nent principle, yet as their interests were declared by
them to be materially affected, and as they asked to be
heard by Counsel, the House could not in justice refuse
to hear them, or add the clause in defiance to them with-
out inquiry. As the former course would at the late pe-
riod of the Session be most inconvenient and protract it,
be thought it better not to risk any delay in carrying
Bill so materiel to the interests of Scotland and of Ire-
ta,,d, and he, therefore, would not press .sheelaim which
he had prepared.
Lord A. HA NI ILTON thought it would be most unjust
to add such a clause on'the third reading of the Bill'
particularly as it was most ohnozious,and totally differ-
ent in spirit and character from the remainder of the Bill.
The CHANCF.LLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that,
during the recess, the subject should receive his best
attention.
Mr. KEITH DOLTOLAS contended that the Scotch

distillers were subject to great hardship, which the pro-
posed clause would remove.
Mr. BRIGHT contended against the introduction of
the elwase on the third reading of a Bill, and so Lite a
perio in the Session.
Mr. %V. I.LACE admitted the disadvantages the Scotch
• distillers were placed under; but at the same time, as
they hail been so long endured, and as the subject was to
undergo a strict investigation, lie thought it better that
they sOionl.l suffer those privations for a few months
longer, rather than commit an injustiee against another
body, whose complaints were before them, by the addi-
tion of such a clause at so late a period.
• 'Mr. HUME said the Scotch distillers bad great reason
to complain of the mode in which they were treated by
this Hill. They particularly &Oersted the clause which
compelled them to keep their stills idle for twelve months.
No greater hardship than this could be felt by persons in
trade. Ail they asked was, to limit the time from
twelve to three months, which surely ought to satisfy the
English distillers. It was no objection to the Scotch
distillers that they already had'a third of the English
market; if they could sell spirits cheaper and better,
there was no r-ason why they should not have a larger
proportion of it. The object with this House ought to
be not the protection of private interests, but to procure
for the consumer an article as cheap as possible. He was
glad that it was in contemplation to equalize the duties
on Scotch and English spirits, for that would he the best
means of potting an end to smuggling in the Highlands.
So long. as the present restrictions remained, the Scotch
spirits world he necessarily smuggled in large quantities
into Cumberland, and the bordering counties. This, in
point of Revenue, was a great consideration. For these
re lions be thought that it was good policy to put the
di-diners of both countries upon the same footing., or, at
least, to postpone the measure until further Inquiries
were mar.
Mr. Al ABERLY said the English distillers were not
averse from meeting the question whenever it was mooted.
They claimed, however, protectiou for the capital of
WWI. which they had invested In the trade. Before
ens in was passed which compromised the safety of
that esoital,they.only asked to be heard by Counsel at the bar.
Mr. W. SMITH undertook to say on the part of the
English disti:lers, that so far from having any indispo-
sition to meet the question, they would positively call fur
an inquiry the nest Session of Parliament.
The order of the day for the third reading was then read.
01 the question 6- that the Bill be now read a third time,"
Mr. C. HUTCHINSON contended that the clause ought
to he added to the BM, notwithstanding the opposition it
was likely to meet with. As the Scotch Members had de-
serted their vantage ground, and left only hithself and: the
Hon. Member for Limerick to speak-br Ireland, he could
nut liolor to make a successful fight. But as he represented
a great Distillery Interest, he felt it his duty net to concur
in the coorse adopted by the Right Hon. Gentleman, although
hr should not make use of vexatious opposition. He hoped
that the measures adopted towards Ireland, would be found
as successful as the Right Hun. Geptleman anticipated, be-
cause he was sure they had proposed them with the sincere
desire of' benefitting that country. But he was afraid, that
lowering Vie dunes on spirits would he fatal to the peace of
Ireland. The true object to he pursued was that of eucou-
ra win", breweries, and of discountenaucing the use of
spirits. By allowing the use of small stills the consumption
would be i :creased, and those Gentlemen who had embarked
°great capitals in the large distilleries, made under the
sanction of Parliament, would be seriously injured in their
property. He trusted that in another Session the Right
Hon. Gentle.nan would not fail to bring forward a measure
fur placit.g the three countries upou an equal footing ; and
thought it would be better for the present Bill to situ('
over until a general measure was completed, The Hun.'
Member then complained that Ireland had been cheated of
her rights by the distillery regulations. The Act of Union
provided that Ireland should bring her spirits into the Eng-
lish market in the state in which they were manufactured.
BUt afterwards, 'the Hon. Member for Norwich (Mr. W.
Smith), among others, discovered that they were too
strong, or that they had too high a flavour for the morals
of the people, and they were stopped on the coast, and
made to pass through the hands of the rectifier. It was
but the other night that the House mad* au important
relaxation in the navigation laws, to favour foreign
countries, yet these prohibitions saere kept up against
Ireland. The Irish Distillers had been exceedingly ill-
treated, and had any interest in England been sc much
neglected, they would havelteard more of it in that House.
Colonel TRENCH expressed his entire concurrence
in the system of small Stills. If it were carried to s much
greater extent, it would be-highly beneficial for Ireland.
The Bill was then read a third time. .
Mr. BERRIES rose to submit some clauses to be added
to the Bill by way of Rider.
Mr. S. RICE protested against alterations being made In
the law at so late a period, when no one present could have
any means of judging of the nature or policy of them. lie
was thankful to his Majesty's Government for the principle
of this measure, but when en apology was made for the
very late Introduction of it, it was really too much now to
propose so many amendments.
Mr. WALLACE spoke in terms of commendation of the
measure, which he was happyto think Mould meet with the
suppott of the Gentlemen of Ireland.
After a few words from Mr. Alderman WOOD and
Colonel OORDON in favour of the Bill, several clauses
were brought up ant added by way of Rider. As these
were purely technical. having for their object to facilitate
the operation of the Bill, we do not more patticularly notice
them.
The Bill was than passed.
LAND TAX.
Mr. MIME then brought forward his motion relative
to the Load Tax. He had bsfore alluded to this 'abject,