Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 25 Apr 1924

Vol. 7 No. 1

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS. - RESOLUTION No. 10.

Mr. BLYTHE

I move:

"That Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1919, shall cease on and after the 26th day of April, 1924, to apply to unmanufactured tobacco, and on and after that date the Customs duty on unmanufactured tobacco shall in all cases be charged at the full rate of duty applicable thereto.

"It is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1913."

The quantity of tobacco affected by this is but a little more than one-tenth of the total tobacco consumed in the country, and is something less than one-tenth in value of the total amount of unmanufactured tobacco. It is mostly the coarser sort of tobacco that competes with the home-grown product. There seems to be no very good reason why we should continue the Imperial preference in regard to this particular product, and, on the other hand, if we have given one-sixth off to the growers in Nyasaland, without any direct return, or any consideration of commercial good-will being involved, there seems to be no good reason why we should not continue the one-sixth off what our home growers have, so that they will in future have something like 1/6 in the £ protection, and we will thereby be giving the Irish tobacco industry, I think, all the chance that should properly be given to it. If it cannot flourish or get going with this particular preference, then there seems to be no hope of any real permanent future for it.

Captain REDMOND

I desire to congratulate the Minister on this Resolution. For many years, in another place, I was associated with those who were endeavouring to secure what he is now trying to bring about, namely, that the Irish growers of tobacco should be given preferential rather than equal treatment to those in other parts of the British Empire. I think there is no reason why we should favour tobacco grown in Nyasaland, and from my knowledge of even the small amount of tobacco grown in this country, we are able to grow as good a tobacco of that class and character as we get imported from that country. It is true Irish tobacco is not suitable for the manufacture of all classes of cigarettes and cigars, but it is also true that it is quite suitable for admixture along with other classes of Virginia tobacco for pipe-smoking. I think it is a very desirable Resolution. I trust it will meet with the acceptance and approval of the Dáil, and I hope it will prove, as the Minister stated, that we can grow tobacco in this country, and grow it profitably, for the benefit of producers and consumers.

Resolution put and agreed to.