25 JULY 1868, Page 3

The Select Committee on the Malt Tax have presented a

report, which contains one suggestion of importance. The general result, that the Malt Tax ought to be repealed, if any other equally good source of revenue could be discovered, is of little value, as nobody ever doubted that the tax in itself and by itself made beer dear, impeded the rotation of crops, and interfered with the cultivation of inferior barley. The Committee, however, mention that the consumption which up to 1830 had been stationary for 100 years at 25,000,000 bushels a year, began to rise in that year until in 1866 it reached 45,000,000 bushels for England only, and 52,000,000 for the United Kingdom. The consumption being thus elastic, it is believed by the Committee that it would be greatly increased by a reduction of duty.