The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-05-07 00:00:00

THE BUDGET

FR( A COMMON SENSE POINT-OF-VIEW,
r. THE "DonEr CHRONICLE" ON THE
BU DGET, "PROM A RESPFA,TABLE CLASS
POINT-OF-VIEW."

IT is clink-Mt to imagine anything more absurd than
for a puny child mounted on stilts and strutting
about with its poor little face on a level or • little
above that of the spectator, but the absurdity
would certainly be heightened were the creature to
wear the mask of a sage, and to utter in a shrill,
piping voice, its own puerilities. Such an exhibition
we have lately had in the Dorset Chronicle. This
most questionable "Parliamentary Guide," a fort-
night since hoisted the flag of distress, asserted that
Mr. Gladstone had led
.our finances ta the verge of
rui.i, awl declared that his proposal of repealing the
paper duty had shaken to its foundation the solid
fabric of the London Exchange. A week after, our
contemporary, whose consistency is very much like
Baillie Macwbeedle's comic ence "which never did
him any harm," completely changed its tone and
juniped Jim Crow like a veritable nigger. A faction
cry of cheap tea and sugar had been got up for the
purpose of ousting the Ministry. A notice of
amendment on the Budget had been given to reduce
the duty on tea ham Is. &I. to Is. per lb. in lieu of
the paper duty. By the repeal of the paper duty,
the revenue would lose £1,200,000; by the remission
of &I. per lb. on tea, it would lose about double
that sum. This was the exact thing for the
Chronicle to clutch at. It immediately put on its
spectacles, and looking at "the Budget from a
respectable class point-of-view," saw at once that the
adoption of this course was the only salvation of the
middle classes. Still gazing from the point where it
bad taken its stand, it saw that nothing was respect-
able that was net in accordance with the " crabbed,
crooked, and confined" notions of the put genera-
tion : that Mr. Gladstone had ceased to be a gen-
tleman ever since he had united himself with "the
low school of Manchester liberals ;" falsely pro-
phesied that the amendment on the Budget would
Is carried ; and Judas-like professed ite profound
concern fur the middle classes—that striving.
energising. struggling race—in the hope of catching
a few guileless ones with the Tory tea and sugar
bait in the event of an election. We did hope that
before now we should have taught our contemporary
that " bonesty is the best policy." For years past
we have been indefatigoable in imparting to it
instruction, but, we fear to little purpose. It is very
like Pat Mac Nlahou's pig which, notwithstanding
all the soap and labour bestowed upon it by its owner
to oaks it "a tale respestable jusilmatin," would
still be • pig.

The new tea and sugar cry, sa every one knows, is
nothing but a hollow pretence. It is wit the
public good that the Dor,let Chronicle suit
other papers of its class have in view in decrying
the repeal of the paper duty. Everyone knoas that
it is self interest they are seeking. They dread
competition. They abhor the cheap press which
renders them well nigh powerless and greatl)
interferes with their exchequer. They cannot patch
up their own organs except by beggarly subscription
lists, and they hope, that by the continuance of the
paper duty,their more popular rivals would be drives,
out of the held. According to the diction of our
contemporary, the Budget of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, considered from "•a respectable class
point-of-view," is oppressive and unjust ; mid
although this is bare assertion without proof, we
have no doubt the majority of old ladies in the
kingdom would be rattly to accept it as self-evident.
It certainly is something gained that our contein•
porary should feel so great anxiety as it professes
for the "toiling energetic race," although we must
say that the cloven hoof appears somewhat promi-
nent in a journal which fur years advocated the
retention of the Corn•laws. The middle dames cer-
tainly owe lint scanty thanks to the florae
Chronicle that they have not now an eighteen-penuy
loaf and an additional amount of income tax to
Pay- .

We .10 not hesitate to say that a reduction of the
tea duty would have a beneficial effect ; but let us
look at the question from a common-sense and prac-
tical point-of view rather than froui the stand point
of our contemporary. lie reduction of 5.1. per lb.
were taken off tea would ,the amount go into the
pocket of the consumer, or would it give additional
employment to the people? because the great point
to be considered in the remission of taxes is the
beneficial effect that might he expected to result
therefrom. In movuig fur the coutinuance of the
tea and sugar duties for another year. on Thurs-
day night, the Chancellor of the Exchequer showed
that former reductions in the duty on tea had not
had that effect. In 1657, when the present Home
Secretary was Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
duty on tea was reduced from Is. 91. to Is. sd. per
lb. The loss to the revenue was el. on each pound
of tea. How much of this did the consumer get'
In 1656 the price of tea was 2s. 11.11 and in 1857,
25.11 d., 10 that the government lost tel, and the
consumer gained three Earthier. This was the
average estimate made from commercial returns.
In 1853 the duty was reduced by the present chan-
cellor of the Exchequer from 21. 2id. to Is. 10d—•
1,... to the revenue of eid. per lb., but the average
price of tea remained stationery. The revenue lost
ei.l. and nothing was gained by the consumer. In
1848 the duty was reduced from 3e. 3f to 2•
and the average gain to the coueumor for the five
years, from the loss of Is. Id. to the revenue was
lid. per lb. These figures show that if Mr. Hors.
fell's proposition had been carried for the reduction
in the duty on tea of firl. per lb., Monet a penny or
five farthings might be expected to find its way into
the pocket+, of the drinkers of that refreshing
beverage. Not so very great a boon, truly, after all!
Now let us wavers the operation of the tea and
paper duties. A reduction of the tea duty might
at in motion as much labour as the repeal of the
paper duty, but in the one case the labour would be
in China, whi:e on the other, it would be British
labour; and surely the people of this country would
prefer the latter to the former ! At the present time
the excise duty on British manufactured paper and
the import duty on foreign paper are the sena, but
in this arrangement the foreigner has by far the
better part of the bargain. The Bead burden on
paper,it is asserted bythe most competent authorities,
adds 25 per cent ro the raw material. The British
manufacturer is compelled to pay his duty of lid.
for every pound of paper he sends out as soon as
it lesves his warehouse. He gives the merchant
to whom he sells it a certain period of credit, and at
the end of that period, perhaps, takes a bill. (We
pay reedy.) As a matter of course he is obliged to
charge an the first instance • sufficiently high price
for the article to cover the cost of the raw nate-
hshour, interest on the duty, and a percentage
on the risks of trade, whereas, the foreign manatee-
tured paper is brought over and placed in bond
where it may remain till the day before it is required
for use. The couserwence of this state of things is,
that the manufacture of paper is fast passing away
from our own countrymen iiito the hands of
foreigners. We have n.i better illustration of this
frau the fact that during the last teenty years,
twenty•five per cent. of the paper mina in England.
slid upwards rut half in Ireland have been closed
and that at the present time sonic 25 or British
newspapers, including the Times, are printed
entirely on Belgian or Russian manufactured layer.
Mr. Maguire, during the delete on the Budget stated
that since September last, one house in Dublin had
been dnven o t of its dealings with London,
amounting to 1'16.000 by the competitien of foreign
paper manufacturers, and other houses in Dublin
could tell the mune tale; while, during the last year
our export trade was reduced fully 20 per cent.
The great grievance, hoe ever, is, that it prevents
other trades from coming into existence which would
otherwise spring up end form important branches of
commerce. The Chancellor of the Exchequer illus.
Voted this in speaking of the manufacture of oitu-
minixed paper pipes, which are one- fifth the weight
of iron or lead, possessing all their advantage.,
at Mena half their price. These are largely mann-
teetered in France, hut in England the patent is
absolutely worthless in consequence of the paper
duty. We are aware it has been said that England
cannot compete with the foreigner in consequence of
the foreign export duty on rags, but facts show that
with the exception of first-class writing papers,
England could heat the world. The low class papers
in England, such as would be used in the manufac-
ture of other articles, now pay a duty ..f 105 per
cent. If these duties were repealed, nowhere eise
veld this class of paper be produced so cheaply.
Then would many of the clear streams of our coun-
try which now run idly to the sea be employed, and
thousands of hands, now hut of little use to their
JWllere, be eugaged 10 profitable labour. If then these
things be so; if on the one hand, as we have seen,
the duty is fast driving the manufacture of paper
into the hands of foreignen ; and if, on the other
hand the repeal of that duty would, as many sup-
pose, lead to the employment of ten times the
amount of labour that is now connected with paper
manufacture, whether would be better for the eon%
triunity the reduction of the tea or the repeal of the
paper duties, we leave our readers to judge.

DORCAS:STIR PITCHID CORN MARKET. SIitIDNIRy,
May 4th. —A very large attendance, but many
seemed to have little or no Wiliness to transact ;
tbe fact is, farmers generally have sold the greater
part of their produce, and the remainder is scarcely
worth selling at present ;nice.. The tone of the
trade was eareedirrilly dull tlireagbout, and inferior
wheat (the gene run) was quite unsaleable.
Outs and Beans were rather firm. but this was an
excwption to the general state of trade.
BAILIN AND ENRON'S HKPOSITURY SALL thy 4.
—There was a good show of fat beef, for which there
was a lively demand, and prices were well supported.
Fatted calve* were numerous, and wild readily at
6d. per lb. There was • large number of sheep, oth
fat and lean, for the former there was a quick sale.
at &lemma' rates, elide the lean ones were unmade.
able, owing to the bail quality and low price of
wheat. Of lambs there was • large number. but
owing to • depression of late in this trade, prices
were not remunerative.

BAPTIST MIASIoN•RY &WITTY.— The anneal ser-
mons on behalf of this Society sill be preached on
Sunday next. by the Rev. T. Trestrail, of London.
at the Baptist Chapel. To society are making
special efforts on behalf of China, is hick is now a
open field for Missionary enterprise, and where
inked, there is much Canna to hope that the Gospel
will soon have free coons, and he glorified.
Ririe SHOOTING et,3ll.llllTltoN.—That practice
makes perfect is acknowledged aIM• I.y every one,
and it would seem that our gallant volunteers are
determined not to he behind others in their
endeavour to be good markesmen. On Thursday
last, 13 of the members of the 3rd Dorset (Dor.
chmter) corps, proceeded to Maiden Castle, for the
purpose of contending for • sweepstakes, and after
a spirited contest, the tiring toeing on the whole,
good. corporal Mears gained the tint, and private
Bogers the second part of the stakes. The following
is the score

200 yards. 400 yards. Total.
Corporal Mears .. 13 1 2 1-8 ..0 1 2 2 1-6 ... 14
Royer; . . 0 2 2 2 2-8 ... 1 1 1 1 1-15 . . 13
J. Homer ... 11 2 2 1-7 .. 11 1 1 1-6 ... 12
Hodges . . 11 3 1 1-7 .. 1111 1 -6 12
Grepry . . . . 20 1 1 2-6 .. 11 10 2-6 ... 11
Sergesnt Homer ... 211 2 1-7 .. 11 1 1 0-4 ... 11
T. Homer ... 1 2 1 1 1-6 ... 0 1 1 1 0- .3 ...
Saunders . 01 1 1 1-4 ... 00 2 0 0-2 ... 4
Costal-al Chick ... 01 1 1 1-4 ... 01 0 0 1-2 ••• 6
Ensign Desenish ... 20 0 0 1-3 ... 001 01-2 ... 3
Sergeant Tumer . . 01 0 1 0-2 ... 1 0 101-3 ... 5
Sergt.liajorNemman 00 2 0 0-2 .. 00000-0...
Thula 01000-1 ... 00001-1 ...

CIIC RC!! 0/ ENGLAND Howe Mimi() —On
Saimmlay lad, a aeriumni mm behalf of tie above valu-
able society wu preach d at All Saint's Church.
Dorelmeatcr. Ily the Itev. Alfred Coati, M.A., vicar
Deamniuster, and Diocesan Organizing Secretary.
ho urged in an earnest wanner the claims of this
society to a large and attentive congregation. The
stun of .65 Os. 50. was collected at the close.
DORCIIESTRIt Hinz CORPS.—Mr. Henry Lingual
been appointed baud sergeant. On Tuesday evening
Cite right subdivision of the corps will parade at
m, p.m. for one hours position drill ; on lA'ednesday
the corps will parade at 6 p.m. for drill in Pound.
bury, and on Tharsday the left subdivision will
Parade at 8 p.m. for one hours position drill. We
understand that after the present week the hand of
the corps iv ill attend iii Pounclbury at the Waines.
day parades for practice, and marchhotne with the
corpa, instead of marching into the country on
Monday evenings The band has been enga:ed fora
musical entertainment at Cerne Althea, on Tuesday
next, the 14th inst., in connexion with a reading
from Shakespere to he given by Mr. John Marley.
It is intended that this corps should attend the
review mmf the Q. 0. R. Y. C., on Friday the 24th
instant, being the ammiverrary of Her Majesty's
ommthday. believe the Bridp,rtm IS'uPpoi4h.
amid Portland corps will also attend.