The Irish standard., 1917-12-08
DISQUALIFICATION
AGAINST IRISH
CONTINUED from Page ~

test by British brewers because Irish
brewers got a similar concession to
that given themselves some time ago,
corresponding in degree with the quail
ity and gravity, but only the same in
proportionate quantity. Even then the
Controller hesitated to give Ireland
hedge it with restrictions that would
leave it impossible to accept. The
ruse was too obviously playing into
the hands of the British brewer, and
had to be abandoned. The Govern
ment dared not deprive the English
working man of his beer-but it thinks
it can safely forbid him Irish whis-
key"
Resultant Evils.
A leading Dublin distiller said the
delay in starting the season (Septem-
Der to June) was serious handicap,
but the prospects of losing the whole
season was of urgent concern to Ire
land. Last year they were allowed to
make 20 per cent; this year they were
stopped altogether. More barley will
be rotted and wasted" he said, "be-
fore long than would suffice to keep
us going. We are not unreasonable.
Apart from the great hardship OF
throwing idle for six or eight months
600 skilled and unskilled workers in
Dublin, and adding to the unemploy-
ment in contingent trades and indus
tries, there is the serious effect on
the milk supply to consider. For each
barrel of barley or oats we use, at
least as large quantity is returned
as grains for cattle food-at IS. a
barrel this grain and wash makes a
most economical cattlefood, so the
barley and oats are by no means
wasted. Brewers were given SO rs per
cent increase on the restricted output.
They use barley too, but evidently it
can be spared for more beer, but not
for whiskey. We only ask for just
enough to keep our industry from alb
solute ruin.
Barley Trade.
"The barley trade is also seriously
jeopardised. Farmers always got
ready sale for it hitherto. Now the
Government will not take it from
them until Nov. 80. Meanwhile farm
ers cannot thatch all the barley or
safeguard it, and there will be much
more of it going waste and bad than
would keep us in fair seasons work.
So many employees and men will
be affected by the stoppage of distill-
ing that labor problems will be more
severe than ever in Ireland. In Kings
Co. workmen have threatened to re-
10 oroin vxrh q foUnr for
Government purposes If distilling is
stopped. The Food Controller appar-
emily is muddling this matter as much
as the potato and cattle prices. Since
Sept 18th, am informed, so per cent
more bread was used and so per cent
less potatoes. Much of the potatoes
will be wasted, and will have to be
given to pigs.
The Great Fear.
"Our great fear is, if distilling is
stopped for one season, the English
patent blenders will swoop on our
trades and capture the market in
year or two hence. Owing to hard
times in our trade since the war, Irish
distillers were too poor to put by in
bond large stocks of whiskey. Bond
ers also got nervous about paying for
bond, and the result was that patent
spirits were more used as other stocks
were small. A season lost now will
almost wipe us out.
Regarding the statement in con-
temporary that Irish controlled mills
had been asked to claim 100000 bar
rels of barley for four-making, Dublin
millers said they had no knowledge OF
such an offer or request. Maltsters
state the Government made arrange
ments in February, whereby maltsters
who would otherwise be idle, would
be employed to dry barley for flour
mill requirements. They were re-
Gently told, however, that the arrange
ments were cancelled. At present
they are only partially employed in
mailing for breweries.