Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/102

 94J ENGLISH HISTOEY. [may

The committee stage of the bill (May 11) found the Govern- ment in a more yielding mood, although they absolutely refused to consider Mr. Broadhurst's (Leicester) suggestion to reduce the tea duty from 4d. to 2d. per lb. Sir Howard Vincent (Sheffield, C.) urged that colonial wines which from their alcoholic strength would come under the new act should be exempted altogether. The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the idea on the general ground as involving a return to the vicious policy of preferential duties which this country had abandoned forty years ago. He pointed out, moreover, that the appeal for exemption came with ill grace from two colonies, Victoria and South Australia, which imposed heavy import duties on English manufactured articles. Sir Howard Vincent's amendment hav- ing been negatived by 192 to 57 votes, Mr. Courtney (Bodmin, Cornwall) then moved for a reduction of the proposed duty of 3s. per gallon on still wine in bottle. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that his intention was that the more expensive lighter wine should pay some extra duty, but after consideration he had determined to accept the amendment, and later on to propose a surtax of Is. per gallon on still wines imported in bottle. The effect of the change which he proposed would ba a reduction of 6d. per gallon on the amount which he at first provided for, and there would be a slight loss to the revenue. The total tax on still wine would be an alcoholic rate of Is. 6d. plus a surtax of Is. ; the same surtax being imposed on spirits imported in bottle. Mr. Harwood (Bolton) then moved that on wine not exceeding 26 degrees proof spirit the duty should be only Is. per gallon. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, was unwilling to make any concession towards the policy of preferential treatment, but he was willing to accept an increased tax of 3d. per gallon on wines not exceeding 30 degrees of proof spirit, instead of 6d., as originally proposed. The result of the changes would be that the Exchequer would lose 110,000/. on the estimated increase of the wine duties, while the additional duty on spirits would not produce more than 40,000Z. or 50,000Z. Although the Finance Bill was under discussion on several subsequent occasions, no further changes of importance were introduced.

The annual gathering of the Primrose League at the Albert Hall (April 19) attended by 10,000 delegates representing 15,000,000 members was a somewhat strange occasion to defend the financial policy of the Government ; but Mr. Balfour, who presided in the absence of Lord Salisbury, seemingly remembered that he was expected to make special reference to his official position as First Lord of the Treasury. He began however by explaining that the objects of the league were to maintain the constitution, religion and the British Empire. The first was in no immediate peril ; and the Government had done its best to keep the clergy and preserve religious education. Thirdly, as to the empire, he would not survey the past year's