One of the longest serving finance ministers, Ernest Blythe held office for just under 10 years. He oversaw the separation of the Free State fiscal system from the UK's and concurrent introduction of customs and excise barriers between the two zones. The budgets took place in April and his tenure is remembered most of all for the reduction, by one shilling a week, in old-age pensions in 1924. In his budget of 1926, he introduced a tax on betting and a 100 per cent rise in duty on wines. In those days, it was normal for annual government expenditure (£24 million) to be met by income.