SPIRITS AND BETTING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 7

SPIRITS AND BETTING

THEIR REVENUE VALUE

MR. CHURCHILL'S REVIEW

(From "The Post's" Representative.)' LONDON, 14th April. In the course of his Budget Speech Mr. Churchill referred to the growing decrease in the consumption of spirits, and also to the betting tax. "Two subjects of taxation call for special notice," he said. "But are merry in nature but doleful in mood— betting and whisky. (Laughter.) As to bettings I know of no reason to alter the estimate of £6,000,000 given last year for a full year's yield of the betting tax. It was put on as a speculative estimate, and as a speculative estimate it remains; but I am sure that the House of Commons, which carried this tax by overwhelming majorities, will show itself determined that the tax shall have a fair trial, and that we shall be* able to measure the results after it has been in operation during the whole of the flat racing season. "As to spirits. Year by year lam confronted with the necessity of furnishing a spirits estimate substantially less than the one before. In spite of the fact that in last year's estimate I allowed for a drop of over £1,750,----000 the out-turn of the year failed to reach the estimate by £4,750,000. Part of this shortage is due'to the troubles of last year, and part is due to the postponement of clearances in the vain hope that a reduction of duty was in contemplation.''

Lady Astor: "Hear, hear." (Laughter.)

Mr. Churchill: "I have great regard and respect for the noble lady, but I do not think we are likely to learn much from the liquor legislation of the United States. (Loud cheers, and Lady Astor: "Why?"). After conceding some gain to 1927 from the postponement of 1926, I am still forced to allow for a decline of £1,200,000 below last year's estimate. It is quite clear that the present rate of 72s 6d per proof gallon, imposed at the time when the consuming power of the country was at its height, has resulted in a steady decline in consumption, and there are no signs that the bottom has yet been reached. The moral effect may be cheering, but possibly deceptive. (Laughter and cheers.) f have been told of various queer concoctions, baffling in some cases the operations of tho detestable denaturists, which have replaced, in part, tho consumption of the natural product, famous and welcome all over the world. (Laughter and cheers.) I shall continue to examine whether any means can bo found of mitigating the continuous fall in revenue while at the same time taking no action injurious to the community. lam bound to state, however, that I am not hopeful of a. solution.