The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-11 00:00:00

THE ADULTERATION OF COFFEE.

A TRADF. MEF.TINO.

A meeting. to take into consideration the present
state of the cutlic trade, awl to consider the best means to
be adopted to render effective the art 43 Geo. ill., e. 129,
was held yrsterilay at the Loudest 'Lavern, Mr. THOMAS
BAKING, in the chair.
Must of the metropolitan merchants connected with the
trade, as well as a number of deputies from Liverpool and ,
other places, were present ; and the meeting was swelled by
such a large .1 etien of the retail dealers that it was found
neceuary, at the time advertised for commencing the pro -
ceedin o'clock), to adjourn to the large room, which
was creosoted in every part, including the gallery.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the bu,ineea, wished to
Mate his view of the reasons which had 101 l to that meeting
being convened. 'they were all perfectly aware that every
mintst-r who made changes with regard to duties laboured
under two diffieulties. If the new measure were introduced
by himself he iould nut, without betraying the secrets of his
office and gin jug unfair advantages to individuals, take the
coupes.' of those must conversant with the trade; and,
serouslly, if the change were tone elicited from the minister,
be very inatterelly feared to be misled or ill informed hy in-
ter:L-4u.! parti,. (Hear.) At the same time, it could nut
be &nit 41 that w hateser knowledge a inini.ter might hesse,
tile Olt:tail, esery trade must of stecee.,ity be better known
by Uwe.. WII belonged to it than they could be by any mi-
nister of the cilium (Cheer e.) The beset and ntost env:-
uptieuable way, then, for the coffee trade to express its
optni..ns to the government was by a meeting like that,
when: ilitlirolties and grievances could be dimmed and
remedies proposed, to be after due consideration submitted
to the government, in reference to changes ostensibly sub-
mitted to isarliament as conducive to the benefit of the fair
traukr, and at the same time to the welfare of the consumer.
(Cheer-) Ile (the chairman) was concerned in the produc-
tion ornate in the island of CI•VI ~,,, and was an importer
for Inaba If and for °there .if that article; and he
was also interested, as he hoped every merchant
in Loudon was, that their trade should be " fair'
trade - that things should be sold under their own denomi-
nation - -.11111 that any system of deception should net be
carried on under the sanction of the trade, and by the per-
ntisseiou .nel with the toleration of government. lie Was
likewise iuterested, that if a substitute for coffee could be
!Inaba.d, so agreeable, or more agreeable, it should be
odd to the consumer at the lowest prier at which it could
be offered, and not painted of at a higher price than that
at which it could Ise afforded, Isceause 1100tiltT name was
given to it. kllisses and cheers.) lie should trust to those
who followed to give the detail, of the case, but it was
notorioue that within the last few years the deliveries of
cufftse fur bone consumption had fallen of in a remarkable
degree. This falling off could not he accounted for by the
Oct that price, were high, as, on the contrary, there was
a much great, r consumption when prices were considerably
higher, acitin r could it be amounted for by the absence of
the power id consumption, IS the country had never
p0."0,...1 a greater power of consumption than it
had in the last twelve mouths. It was not to
be accounted fur either by the interference of other
artiste* of a like character, fur falthough there had doubt-
less been an increased consumption of tea, cocoa, and other
stimulating, hut wholesome, beverages, it was notorious
that that !Hight be' attributed to the increased taste for such
drinks w hall hail sprung up amongst the people and not
from any inili,position to consume coffee. 'There being in
no way than a substitute introduced in the place of coffee,
the (*ennuis email only be accounted fur by the !touter
consunnit of what was called toffee and the dinunohed
consumption of what wee really coffee. It was, no doubt,
desirable that substitutes for coffee should be offered to the
poor man as cheap as they could be sold. The documents of
the hoard of Trade established the fact that whilst
there was an increased ability to consume, and
while there was actually an increased consumption
of what was celled coffee, there was a diminished
consumption of what was really coffee. The next question
was hoe this state of things was to be met. Ile was en-
tirely 'mimed to excise duties on the growth of chicory.
(Hear) Excise duties were always objectionable, inasmuch
as theycrampell British industry, intirtered with the employ-
ment of British capital, and lessened the remuneration
of British labour; and were thus only tolerable as a means
of revenue. (('heers.) But it was a little inconsistent that,
while a duty was levied upon a British saccharine produc-
tion which interfered with sugar, an article which inter-
fered with coffee should pay no duty at all. (Hear, hear.)
There were a great many other articles which entered into
the adulteratioa of coffee besides chicory, but the objection
to an excise duty was so great that it could not be tolerated.
The real question, then, was, whether they could not
have • system under which things should be sold to the con-
sumer under their right names, and at as cheap a rate as it
was notorious that they could be afforded. (Cheers and
hisses.) Let it not be said that London was not anxious foe
fair trailing, or that it was in favour of deception. (Ilieses.)
/le believed that the representation of a meeting like that,
backed as it wa. by deputations from other great commer-
cial towns, would be looked upon with respect by the minis-
ter. sail be regarded by the country. (Hear, bear.) That
they hail to urge upon the government was, that colii*
should have as fair a chance as any other article before the
public, and that the producers of coffee should not
ne pre vs nted, by adulterations on the part of
the retail sellers, from enjoying that honest trade
to whish they were entitled, (Hisses.) Ile did not mesa
to my that there were no honest retailers—(A voice—
.' There is not one to be found," and laughter)—because
the excise order sanctioned the adulteration. (Cheers.) By
▪ written instruction the adulteration was absolutely sane-
timed, and he blamed nobody—he blamed only the system,
and it was against that system that he wished to protest.
(A Voice-- No, we don't," cheers and great uproar.)
lie could not, however, think that an equalisation of the
swim duties, and a reduction to 3d. per lb., was the real
remedy fur the grievance of which they complained.
(Cheers.) Where one article mid for ad. and the other for
le. per lb., there was so great a temptation offered to the
desks that adulteration was certain. (Cheers.) It would