In the despatch of April, 1810, he had strongly recommended the establishment of a distillery. By this means a market would be provided for the surplus grain of the Colony. Otherwise there was not sufficient encouragement for the farmers. When seasons were good and the crops heavy there was no means of selling the surplus corn, the area of cultivation for the next year was reduced and the food-supply in lean years seriously threatened.[1]
The Committee on Transportation in 1812 adopted this proposal. But they regarded it as an alternative to free importation, and stated in their Report "that they are of the opinion that an unlimited supply of spirits may be furnished to the Colony in a manner much more conducive to its interests than by a free importation". They regretted "that the hospital contract prevented the immediate establishment of a distillery."
Lord Bathurst refused to adopt the suggestion and stated his views at large to Macquarie.[2] "By a reference to Mr. Campbell's evidence,"[3] he wrote, "it will appear, and indeed you must be aware from your own experience, that the Colony does not produce more than sufficient for its own consumption, and consequently that whatsoever proportion of the corn crop were now applied to distillation must be withdrawn from the subsistence of the inhabitants.[4] … Whether the quality of the spirit made in the Colony will be superior to that now imported from Bengal or America is a point on which I possess no very adequate means of deciding.[5] I confess myself in some degree at a loss to comprehend the effect which the proposed measure is intended to produce upon illicit distillation; unless it is understood that the distillation of spirits should henceforth be generally permitted without any restriction or limitation whatsoever; for if duties are to be imposed they will be met by the same desire for evading them; and if they are altogether withdrawn
- ↑ See also Chapter V.
- ↑ D. 13, 23rd November, 1812. R.O., MS.
- ↑ Before C. on T. Mr. Robert Campbell, not the Governor's Secretary, J. T. Campbell.
- ↑ This is only partly true. The small encouragement to farmers kept the area under cultivation at a low figure.
- ↑ This was one of Macquarie's arguments. H.R., VII., p. 335. D., 30th April, 1810.
