The Express.
London, England, 1852-12-08 00:00:00

CUSTOMS REFORM.

DEPUTATION i 0 TIIE EARL OF DERBY.
Yesterday, at 2 o'clock, a deputation from the
committee of London merchant., fur the reform of the
Board of Customs, had an interview with the First Lord of
the Treasury, at the Treasury-ufllee, in D.-iwning•street, ea
the subject of customs reform. The Right lion. the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer was also present with his lordship
to receive the deputation, which consisted of the following
%Tie in:
Thompson,. ; Alderman EscM Williamj n,
Seq., Chairman; R. W. Crawford, deputy-chaitman;
W. J. Hall, Eoq., Treasurer ; Thomas Tooke, P.sq. John
Cattley, Earl. ;J. D. routes, En.; Sir J. Hell; i'egler,
Esq. ; ft. Hutchinson, Esq. ; H. L. Morgao, E.g. ; J. I'.
Oassiot, Esq. ; B. B. Oreene, Esq.; W. Hawn, Esq.; Sidney
Smith, Sec.

The deputation Laving been introduced—
Mr. THAVEILS, as chairman of the committee, said that
the present deputation had the honour of representing, on
the present occasion, a very important association in the
City of London, the object of which was to obtain a reform
in the present mode of customs administration. The mem-
bers of that association representing • great variety of poli-
tical opinions, considered that it would be more respectful
to his lordship, as well as more satisfactory to themselves,
to explain their views in the :shape uf a memorial. These
views he hsd the honour of transmitting to his lordship,
and therefore it might nut be necessary to occupy his lord-
ship's time in reading it.
the Earl of DZItIIY said it would not be necessary to do
60, as be had read the document.
Mr. TYAVEILS said ho would then simply state that the
commercial classes were in • condition of great anxiety
regarding the question of customs reform, and (referring to
the promise made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that
the subject should he taken into consideration before
Christmas) they wished to be ler:allied whether it was the
intention of her Majesty's government to proceed at once
spots this matter.
The Earl of DERBY said that be Will in great hopes that
her Majesty's government would shortly be able to tome to
some conclusion on this matter. It was impossible for him
at that time to enter upon a consideration of the
17 or 18 paints enumerated in the memorial eve
upon the specific reforms it was thought desirable to intro-
duce in the management of the customs. The whole ques-
tion had been entered into at great length by the committee
of the Rouse of Commons, and the government had
thought it right, after receiving their report, to refer it for
the observations of the Board of Customs, in order that they
might consider its different recommendations. The Board
of Customs had made its observations upon that report,
soma portions of which he believed had been already
adopted. The general subject was under the consideration
of the government. It was one of which it was impossible
to exaggerate the importance, or perhaps. the difficulty' and
no unnecessary time should be lost in giviug to it full and
mature consideration. But on a subject of this kind they
ought not to proceed hastily, and therefore ample time
should be allowed for considering the nature of the altera-
tions to be proposed. In the meantime the solicitor
to the Board of Customs was engaged in con-
sidering one of the particular objects they had
in view, namely, a project for the coneutadation
of the customs laws, with the introduction of such amend-
ments as the Board f Customs might think it desirable to
recommend. The question would be submitted at an early
period to parliament. It would not be right therefore that
I at that moment he should enter into greater detail with re-
gard to the specific measures they intended to introduce.
Mr. Brows, M.P., wished to know if they were to un-
derstand that the questions would be submitted for consi-
deration in the form of a bill to be brought before paths,-
mat.

The Earl of Danny—Of course the consolidation of the
present acts and the amendments to them could be submit-
ted in no other way than in a bill to be brought before par-
liament. Neither the Treasury nor the Board of Customs,
nor her Majesty's governeient had the power of setting
aside existing acts d parliament.
Mr. Alderman Tuoursos, M.P., wished to know if the
bill when brought before the house would be submitted to
a select committee, as there would probably be many points
in it affecting the revenue on the one hand, and the mercan-
tile community on the other, which could be best dealt with
in that way.
The Earl of DERBY said that the object of the govern-
ment was to make the measure as satisfactory as possible ;
but what course the House of Commons might sake with
respect to the bill, when introduced, it was not for him to
say. When there were measures of intricate detail, it was
sometimes of advantage to refer bills to a committee up-
stairs, ; but he should deprecate the further reference to •
select committee of a system which involved the whole
system of the customs laws without there being a bill to go
u pon.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said that he had sat on a
committee of the House of Commons for two years on this
subject without having a bill before them. That commit-
tee bad made its recommendations to parliament after •
full investigation.
Mr. MITCHELL thought that the question was now ripe
for legislation.
The Earl of DERBY said that her Majesty's government
were engaged upon those recommendations, and whenever
they came to a conclusion as to the alterations they thought
it advisable to make, they would be submitted in the shape
of • ball without Toes of time,

The Claim:ll.ton of the Excitant:lm thought that the
government had the whole of the facts of the case before
them. He had hoped before Christmas to be able to lay a
Treasury minute on this subject on the table of the house,
but (damns there were many points which a Treasury
minute could not reach, sad he reserved to the government
the right of taking that course which seemed to him to be
best adapted to meet the merits of the question. There
were some of these point' which might be carried into effect
by the Commiseionere of Customs, and there were others
which, as he said, could not be reached by a Treasury
minute, and which must be dealt with by parliament.
Mr. MITCHRLL silted whether he understood from the
right hon. gentleman that he would lay a Treasury minute
oe the table of the House of Commons before Christmas.
The Curtner t.toa of the Excnssauza said that if the
government wore to bring in a bill it would not be desirable
perhaps; to deal with the same subject in two different
ways—by bill and by a Treasury minute. The government
would lose no time in investigating the necessary details.
Mr. BROWN said that in this case something more com-
prehensive and stringent than a Treasury minute was re-
quired.
Mr. CRAWFORD said It would be satisfactory to the depu-
tation if they were given to understand that the solicitor of
the Customs was engaged in the consolidation of the exist-
ing orders of the Board of Customs and the Treasury, with
• view to their being printed for the convenient. of the
mercantile community.
The Earl of DRURY said there was a monthly publication
of those orders limited, but he believed nobody read them.
(Laughter.)
Mr. CRAWFORD said there were so many elders that it
was a difficult task to go through them all. They ex-
tended over • period of 30 or 40 years.
Mr. Mitcnitx said it was desirable to have an official
digest published, because several of the orders were quite
contradictory. If • bill embracing the whole code of the
customs laws were to be introduced, it most, be thought,
be submitted to the consideration of a select committee.
The Crietscaxtota of the EXCEL:Wig said that if it was
a question adapted for the consideration of • salsa com-
mittee there would be no objection to that warm ; bat if •
mace of legislation were introduced of a satisfactory cha-
racter, no member of the House of Commons would pro-
bably require that it should be so referred. It was pre-
mature, however, to decide that point at the present time.
Mr. M ircnitr.. said that the mercantile community would,
be perfectly satisfied if a bill was brought is carrying oat
to the full extent the recommendations of the committee
which sat last year.
The CNANCILLOR of the BICHIQUIDI said that some
of them had bees already carried into offset
Mr. Clamor said there was danger to the revenue from
the manner in which they had been carried oat. In re-
moving impedimenta from the mercantile commonly it was
not that the public revenue should be endaacersal.
The Bar of Dauer milked Mr. Guiana what he re-
(erred to.

Mr. OASSIOT said he referred to the butane, of free
goods and the mode of examination.
The Earl of Daunt said that that was a point which ems
pressed in the memorial as a grievance on the mercantile
community. He did not know how they eould give any
meter facilities for the passing of free good* without
leaving room for great fraud. They must strike a medium.
, between the protection of the revenue and the tionvenienee
of the mercantile community.
Mr. GASSIOT said the mercantile community did not
wish for facilities which would injure the revenue. What
he referred to had relation rather to the class of offleers wh•
were appointed to conduct the buainess.
Mr. Tnavnius could assure hie lordship, on the part of
the mercantile body of the city of London, that they had
no confidence whatever in the existing system. The more
these changes went on, the more necessary it was that pre.-
tical and mercantile men should be placed at the heads of
departments, otherwise great loss to the revenue man
,or great injustice be done to the mercantile body.
He believed he represented the feelings of the whole mer-
cantile community when he said that they had no confidenee
whatever in the Board of Customs or their solicitor.
The Earl of DEnny—l am sorry to hear that.
The deputation then withdrew.
The memorial transmitted to his lordship contains the
following :
" We desire most respectfully, but most strongly, to urge
upon your lordship the appointment of a special commistiom
in winch the mercantile interests shall be adequately ripe,-
i seated, for the purpose, in the first instance, of consolidating
and reducing into ono elder and intelligible code the present
multifarious proCtions of the Law and Practioe of the
Customs ; and secondly, of recommending each reforms
(the tariff included), as considerations of sound policy and
commercial equity may suggest. We believe that an entire
reconstruction of the present constitution of the department
will be found nice:miry ; but, without further anticipating
the conclusions at which the proposed commission might
arrive, we would urge the immediate adoptiou in a Customs
Bill of the principles embodied in the resolutions of one of
the most numerous and iutiuentiel nit etings of the eons.
mercial classes ever lied in the City of London, believing,
as we do, that they faithfully interpret the general wishes
of all parties upon the subject. We roe =mend du retire,
" 1. That one commitsioner at least, hut the chairman if
possible, should have a seat in the Huns, of Commons, ail
be moveable with the government.
"2. That one mrtuber of the board at least ditimprzi .6
taken from the mercantile clam. '‘.... - - —VT t; . ' .1
" 3. That promotion should be open
it:egintiw . ,1. ~.. e.
°Soon, and that theta should not be any v,
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