The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-02-21 00:00:00

THE BRADFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

At a special meeting of the council of the Bradford
Chandler of Commerce, held on Monday afternoon, Mr.
H. W. Ripley, the l'resident, ill the chair.
Mr. Alderman Mitchell. of the firm of Messrs. A. and
S. Henry and Co., merchants. said, he trusted that the
council would not adjourn without expressing a favour-
able opinion upon the budget brought before the House
of Commons last week by Mr. Gladstone, tomprising, as
it did, a commercial treaty between France and this
country from which results might be expected to flow I
that would be of the greatest advantage to that district. ,
He did not, of cour.e. expect any ediate beneficial j
results to ensue, hut he believed it was the commence- I
went of a new epoch in their comuiereial relations with !
the continent of Europe, and lie had a strong conviction ,
that if no events transpired to prevent that treaty from !
being carried out to its legitimate issue it would greatly
tend to promote the commercial pn.uperity IlJt only Of
this country but of France, and that at must also have •
very extensive influence upon other States. Its politi-
cal effeets Mr. Gladstone had depicted to the country in
most able and eloquent terms. k.very gentleman present
dl itto lito,e n
o.fgtehie tt
greatest
advantage who lied read that speech must be perfectly satisfied
that Mr. Gladstone had demolished every argunient that
ctcuelariteg
had been advanced in opposition to the treaty, and lie !
(Mr.
eMt Mitchell)
one ),thwohuigchhtwt. a
that h
advantage to the country generally. The commercial
treaty with France was not, as had been objected, an
abandonment of the principles of free trade, but an
abandonment of the principles of protection. Ache had
already said, this was no party question ; but if any
opposition was got up by the It ader of the Opposition
benches, then lie hoped the mercantile and manufactur-
ing intents of Bradford would at once prepare a requisi-
tion to the Mayor to call a public meeting.
Mr. W. Douglas (Russel), Douglas, and Co.) read a
letter he hail received from a gentleman in London,
urging that no time be lost in getting up petitions to
the House of Commons in favaur of the adoption of the
budget, as a powerful opposition in the House was
expected.
Mr. Mitchell said, that Mr. Kell had reminded him
that there would be great objections to the income-tax.
In reply to that he would say that the income-tax had
not to be kept on and increased on account of the French
treaty, but in consequence of the great increase in the
army and navy expenditure. (Hear, hear.) Whether
they Lad the French treaty or not they would have the
income-tax.
Mr. Robert Kell (Schwalm, Kell, and Co.) said, he
I should not like to bs misunderstood upon this question,

He had no objection whatever to direct taxation, cn,
the contrary, he thought it by far the wisest system et
taxation. He did object to the income-tax being re.
Wined or raised in amount, bat he objected to it en
account of the unfairness with which it fell upon the
different dames that sere affected by it.
. .

The President thought it would not he politic for the
council to 'immorally, in favour of the budget, se
budget, but that they might consistently present s
memorial to Parliament, setting forth the satisfactios
which they experienced at seeing the treaty with France
which had been so carefully prepared by Lord Cowley
and Mr. Cobden, and set forth by Mr. Gladstone lut
weak; and, also their satisfaction at the proposed
removal of so many insignificant duties upon articles
brought into this country, and praying that the House
would pass the French treaty and those proposed
changes.
Mr. Urine thought they should only support the tariff
and not go any further. If they went into the whole
matter • general meeting of the Chamber ought to be

Mr. Mitchell repeated his opinon that this was no
party question, and expressed his belief that the treaty
and the great principles of the budget must stand or
fall together. If the council thought proper to call a
general meeting of the Chamber he should be very g4g
of it. . . . .

Mr. W. Foster supported the view taken by the last
speaker.
After some further discussion,
—•- • - • •

The President moved the following resolution :
" Tbat this Chamber, highly approving the treaty of
commerce between this country and France as laid
before Parliament, do petition the House of Commons to
sanction that treaty and to pass all inch measures as will
enable tier Majesty's Government to carry out that
treaty in its full integrity."
Mr. Mitchell seconded the resolution, and it was Cif.
Tied unanimously,