Discussion of the Finance Bill was resumed in Committee on
Thursday, when Sir Michael Hicks-Beach refused to accept Mr. Broadhurst's amendment reducing the duty on tea from 4d. to 2d. per pound. Sir Howard Vincent's amendment proposing to exclude from the operation of Clause 2, which increases the Wine-duties, wines imported from the Colonies, was also resolutely opposed by the Chancellor as involving a return to the vicious policy of preferential duties abandoned forty years ago. He pointed out with great force that the appeal for exemption came with an ill grace from two Colonies— Victoria and South Australia—which imposed heavy import duties on English manufactured articles, clothing, and beer. Sir Michael's attitude won the approval of Sir Henry Fowler, though it grieved the soul of Mr. James Lowther, and the amendment was negatived by 192 votes to 37. important concessions, however, were made, at the instance of Mr. Courtney and Mr. Harwood, in the interests of Colonial wine-growers and moderate and middle-class wine-drinkers, by which the proposed duty of 35. per gallon on stil -wine in bottle will be reduced to an alcoholic rate of Is. 6d. plus a surtax of Is., while the additional 6ds on wines not exceeding 30 degrees of proof spirit is to be lowered to 3d. The com- promise was supported by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who reminded the House that claret had been the special drink of Scotland considerably more than a hundred years, and agreed to without division.
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