The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-01 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

MUYI9LIL

REPEAL of Tat MaLT-TAX.—A meeting of the
canters and occupiers of land, and others interested in the
welfare of agriculture in the eastern division of the conaty
of Suffolk, was held at the Castle Hall, Framingham, on
Friday, " to consider the propriety of petitioning parliament
for the repeal of the malt-tax, and for the removal or equal-
isation of all hardens which press peculiarly upon the landed
intend." Thme were upwards of 400 of the most influential
farmers in the eastern division of tae county present.
The chair was occupied by J. Moseley, Esq., who, in
introducing the subject of the meeting, gave a history of
the career of Mr. Cobden to show that he was justified
in saying that no dependence was to be placed on
the opinions of that gentlemen; but at the ume time be
would not refuse anything that was likely to turn out ad-
vantegeous from the offer of Mr. Coblea. Ile had men
within the last few days a statement from the Liverpool
Fisencial Reform Association, which would, perhaps, be
worthy their consideration. It wee that U the agriculturists
refused to join them in carrying the repeal of the malt to
they would act isolatedly, and proceed la their application
to ministen to Moos other tease, leaving dos agriculturists
out of the questions: and that they would be men likely to
succeed in that request than if they demanded the repeal of
the malt tax. He thought the to was weary of their
consideratioa. Although he should decline joining Mr.
Cobden, there was no reason why they should not
assert his smistanos when it was offered to them..
—Mr. Cooper, of Blythburgh Lodge, said he would
not trust Mr. Cobden or any other public man too
much, but he would sang aid at the hands of Mr.
Cobden. or any other man. They bad already looked too
mash to party, not to MOS/OM ; but in (store they mast
regard measures, not men. He concluded by moving the
first reeolation " That all texts to he just should be im-
partial. That the tax on malt la most partial, inasmuch as
it presses less imerously on the inhabitants of them coun-
ties where eider is the common beverage, than on those
when beer is generally consumed; and that the duty on
malt is higher on the industrial classes, than that on
wine upon the richer, in prorortion to their re-
spective abilities tos pay them." Mr. Poppy se-
conded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.—
Colonel Bence thought if they were to have a free
trade in corn, they must be relived from rime of their beer-
dens; and the burdens they should be relieved from were
the malt tax, the hop duties, and the restrictions upon the
growth of tobacco. Why should they rot grow tobacco in
this country as well as in Am ? If government took
from them the means of supporting themselves, why should
they not be allowed to make toe most of their land I
He moved—" That the malt tax prompts and legalise ex-
ciwoofficen to invade the privacy ot the dwellings of those
who exercise the manufacture of malt; that it cripples their
ingenuity and Iciest fie application of improvements; and
that this exorbitant impost prevents the use of inferior bit,
ley in malting, whereas, if the duty should be repealed, that
inferior barley would be converted into malt for fattening
cattle, and become a substitute for linseed and oil-cake, an-
nually costing about two minims of gamey—the saving of
which would enable agriculturists to expel that ism la ad-
ditional labour."—Kr. R. Oarram, Lentos, sessmad the re-
solution, whit* wee carried unaalmously.