TAX ON WHISKY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 1 December 1945, Page 2

TAX ON WHISKY

LIVELY DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS “CONSOLATION” OR “RICH MAN’S DRINK” (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) London, Nov. 30. “Whisky is the life of man.” says an old sea shanty. “Whisky—the subject, not the spirit—was the life of the House of Commons for a short interval this week when an attempt to reduce the '-"irits duty to 57s 6d per gallon was defeated. It was described variously as a rich man’s drink, medicine and consolation. “Whisky is by common consent a great consolation and with this Government in power we want all the consolation we can get,” declared Mr R. J. G. Bofhby (Conservative) amid loud laughter. He added that this Scottish national industry had been plundered by the English for 20 years and when 1 described it as a cow that had been steadily milked, the applause became uproarious. The tax on a bottle of he said, was 18s 4£d. Could any member put his hand on his heart and say that it was not a savage and ■ .conscionable tax? “It is highly improbable that anyone could get inebriated on the amount < whisky could get to-day. the tax is a class tax. We are rather hard up for dollars a 1 the moment. Distilling is ■he largest single earning agency of hard currency in this country. In 1938 27J per cent., by value of. of our total exports to the United States were whisky and throughout the war we sold them £70.000,000 worth. The president of the Board of Trade. Sir Stafford Cripps is rushing up and down the country, urging people to produce foi xport. What then i s the sense of bludgeoning this industry almost out of existence by taxation?” Sir Thomas Moore (Conservative) in the interests of consumers, asked what was Letter than a little indulgence in whisky when one got home after a long day when nervous energy had be»m consumed. ‘Strength through misery,” he taunted Socialists in Mr Churchill’, phrase. “1 prefer strength f ough pleasure.” Sir Alan Herbert (Independent) said those who drank anc' smoked paid £750.000,000 in taxation, nearly a prefer budget— whereas the tax paid by three who did not was £55.000.000. All this + ulk about whisky being a rich man’s luxury was nonsense. Foi “screws.” which he explained meant r’ -‘umatics, it was better to drink whisky than beer. The motion was rejected.

GIRLS’ COLLEGE GARDEN PARTY The annual garden party at Nelson Girls’ College was held this afternoon in most unfavourable weather. There was an exhibition of arts and crafts and exhibits in the science laboratory, but the drill and gymnasticdisplays were postponed. •