284 THE MALT TAX 



191O. 



This year three Bills were introduced in the Commons, 

 two of them by Mr. Courthope. Neither proceeded further 

 than first reading. 



1913. 



Mr. Courthope introduced a fresh Bill this year, but as he 

 did not obtain a place in the ballot he had no chance of pressing 

 it. On llth June Mr. Runciman, on behalf of the Govern- 

 ment, introduced Hops (No. 2) Bill, which provided for pro- 

 hibiting the use of hop substitutes, and leaving other, and 

 more contentious matters alone. It was hoped that this 

 innocuous little measure might have been allowed to pass, 

 but the large " party " questions intervened, and it was 

 crowded out. History repeated itself, and though two Bills 

 were introduced by Mr. Courthope and Mr. Runciman in 

 1914 neither was allowed to make any progress. 



The final incident in this connection which has to be noted 

 here is the second Finance Act of 1914, which imposed a very 

 heavy war tax on beer. It is estimated that the increased 

 duty will cause a decrease in consumption of from 30 to 40 

 per cent. If this proves to be the case, barley and hop growers 

 will be able to claim that they paid their share towards the 

 cost of the great European War. 



