The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-27 00:00:00

BLACKBURN COI

ASSOCIATION.

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The first annual meeting of this association was
held at Blackburn on Wednesday; M. J. Feilden. Esq.,
president of the association' in the chair. The meeting was
convened agreeably to a rule of the association, which re-
quires the committee to report its proceedings throughout
the year, and exhibit a statement of the accounts of the
sassociation to an annual general meeting of the members in
December. In addition to the business referred to above,
the advertisement calling the meeting announced that the
' following important subjects would be brought before it for
consideration—via.:
1. The redaethe at the tatacat duty ea tea. 2. The abolition of
the East Whet Clematmers mat sad *se auseipollea. 5. The =ld-
: ration of cable In Lit ant aller NOM pemialcaut. 4. The eye-
tern at hypothantlaa tatrelmWoyy tha art lulls Chummy, es
well en the meat Yale* of ma& afoftl by *a mann for private
mercantile lib tess abaft at On ratalfte Ilia 5. Ile cur-
rency glandes eol seihrsz. a. The ohm that bare in-
duced *a pima MimmullMn theataetarlag Matzoh
' '

TLe Citmaiult imported the accounts of the emaciation to
be in a highly satisfactory position. After some further pre-
liminary matter, the chairman entered on the consideration
of the subjects set forth in the advertisement. With respect
to the dory on tea, the committee were unanimous in their
opinion that a great reduction in the import duty was neces-
sary, and that such reduction would be unattended by any
loss to the revenue, while it would most materially promote
the comforts of the poor, and greatly improve the commerce
of the country, particularly with China. Another reason far
bringing this subject before the meeting was furnished by a
communication which had been received by the secretary of
the association from the commercial association of Manches-
ter, soliciting the co-operation of himself (the chairman)
with the Manchester association, in an effort to obtain a re-
duction in the duty on tea. The matter had been brought
before the committee, and it had been agreed that be (the
chairman) should represent the sasociation at the meeting to be
held in Manchester. He now came to the most important
question perhaps on the tist—the abolition of the Eaat India
Company's salt and •pium monopolies—in connexion with
which he read the draft of a memorial which had been pre-
pared by the committee for presentation to the House of
Commons. [The memorial, which was of considerable
length, entered fully into the merits of the question, parti-
cularly u concerns the salt monopoly. The oppressive opera-
tion of this monopoly on the condition of the population of
India—lts baneful effects on their health, on commerce, and,
through the poverty it inflicted, its obstruction to the spread
of Christianity in India—the violation of the company's
charter by the monopoly, and its inadequacy to attsin its
professed purpose, were all set forth and illustrated by argu-
ment.]
3. PLLIINOTON, Esq., M.P. expressed his entire concur-
rence with the opinions embodied in the memorial, but ob-
jected to its length, which made it unfit for presentation in
the House of Commons' where it would not, on that account,
be read, and would be laid on the table, to be no more
H heard of, unless printed with the votes. e would rather
recommend that the memorial should be presented to the
Board of Control, and that the spirit of it should be con-

denied into • short ps be poseallilli to the House of
Commons. If the areal tiene glatelenfieli to the Board of
Control, and a aleeldille Mae alpeleitel le ingnire into the
operation of the salt manepaiy, UM msneerisl might then be
heard In evidence.
The CHAIRMEN said they had already memorialised
the Board of Control, and also the East India Board of
Directors, but no notice had been taken of their memorials,
and they thought now of trying the House of Commons,
which would take the matter op they hoped. After some
conversation' the Chairman resumed, and showed from
statistics of the salt trade in India, extending over the
last fifty years, that the company would have derived a
greater amount of revenue, as shown by their own statis-
tics, from an import duty of three rupees per mound, than
they had done by manufacturing, As regarded the
oppressive nature of the monopoly, it was enough to remind
the meeting of the price of salt in relation to the value of
labour. The yearly supply of salt absorbing the labour of
three or four months of the year, left the labourer in such
poverty that he could purchase the veriest trash only for
food. The demoralising practice of smuggling was also
festered and encouraged by the monopoly, and the great
facilities for smuggling furnished by the extent of sea cease
and land on which it could be practised made ft a wonder
how the East India Company derived any benefit from salt.
The Chairman then referred to the loathsome Mutates gene-
rated by the dearness and deficient we of this antiseptic,
and, amongst others, the cholera generated in India, and ex-
ported se a scourge to other countries. He then referred to
the abolition of the bonded regulations in India, but de-
clared this a paltry boon compared to those to which its at-
tainment should stimulate them. With regard to the third
subject to be discussed, "the cultivation of cotton in India,"
although he (the chairman) had been resident in India, he
would not speak on the subject in the presence of his friend
Mr. Aylwin, who was so much better qualified to do it jus-
tice. He would only say that he believed their sentiments
would urns that in air, soil, and climate, no country could
compete with India ; and that if the requirements of that
country wore supplied, and its resources developed by rail.
ways, ladle could supply them with cotton cheaper than any
country in the world. With regard to the system of hypo.
themation, he could la from his own experience that no
measure could to injuriously affect their exchanges as
that system. He was impressed that it raised prices, by en-
couraging overorpeculation, the advance of nearly three-
fourths on value being an inducement for merchants and
manufacturers to send out more goods than their capabilities
would allow. Their improved navigation should also put
them on an improved footing from what they occupied
fifty years ago, when bills at ten months might be
necessary, ships taking seven and eight months
to perform the voyage, whereas they could now perform it in
four months, while they had an overland communtration, oc-
copying one month to Bombay and six weeks to Calcutta.
"The currency and railway expenditure" were subjects of
such importance that he would not make any attempt to open
them up. So far as he had seen, however, he had been led
to approve of the principle of the Banking Act of 1844, al-
though on this subject great difference of opinion existed.
With respect to railway expenditure, it had done a great deal
of good and a great deal of harm. It had done good in the
amount of labour it had employed, but bad, ae to it was in
a great degree attributable the depression under which they
were now labouring. All felt convinced that the bad pre.
ponderated. To show some of its benefits, he would quote a
few figures from "Burn's Glance," from which it appeared
that the 3,300 m les of railway opened last year had em.
ployed 47,000 persons, of whom 27,000 were workmen
and labourers, while the railways in course of formation and
not yet opened had employed 250,000 persons, of whom
240,000 were labourers and workmen. From this it appeared
that the number was greater than that employed in cotton
manufacture. In England, the number of hands employed
in factories was 227,000, in Wales 230, and in Scotland
85,000; in all 312,230. Tho hands employed in the manu-
factories in Lancashire were 201,500. Although the number
employed on railways appeared greater than those em-
ployed in the Lancashire cotton mills, it should be borne
in mind that the employment in the one case was perma-
nent, while in the other it was only for one or two years, after
which it was difficult to say how these labourers could be
provided for. With regard to the last subject, it would be pre-
mature te express an opinion, and he would suspend his. The
evidence to be produced before the Howe of Commons, which
would be made public, would probably elucidate the causes
of the present depression. He believed they were to be
found in the last celebrated speech of Sir Robert Peel, vix.,
in capital sunk and squandered in speculation, and by the
famine which had lately so extensively prevailed. But
wheresoever the true causes were to be found, he (the chair-
man) felt satisfied that one boon would remove from among
them their present depression, and with it they would no
longer see standing mills, heartrending bankruptcies, and
prevailing distress—and that boon was justice to India.
(Applause.)
Soiree PILYINOTON, Em., M.P., said: The first sub-
ject they were called en to consider—s reduction of
the import duty on tea—was the most important one,
as from it they might look for most immediate relief.
He confessed, however, that he had not much hope that
the couotry would soon obtain a reduction in the duty
on that most important article of commerce and con-
sumption; but although this was the ease it would be folly
to sit down content without a persevering effort. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer would tell them that he could
not opus the duty. They might recommend other taxes for
revenue, but might feel, like the flogged soldier, hurt, whe-
ther flogged high or low, or in the middle, and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer might tell them they would complain of the
burden wherever it was placed. The tea duty was a pecu-
liarly burdensome one, inasmuch as the dealer was obliged
to add to its amount, as he had to compute his profit, not on
the original 100 f. of first purchase money, but on the
additional 4001. or 6001. of duty imposed by govern-
ment. With respect to the East India Company's
hypothecation system, its nature would be dearly un-
derstood if they supposed, for illustration, that during
the late high price of cotton the American government
had made such advanc,s to the American cotton
planters and merchant' as made it more profitable for them
to retain their cotton in America Than to export it to Eng-
land: what would have breathe consequence 1 You would
have been without cotton, or would have had a smell quaa-
tity at such an immense price as would have disabled you
from competition. You would feel directly, in tine instance,
the effect actually produced by the hypothecation system.
The hon. member concluded by expressing his opinion that
the other points would be better left for the consideration of
the committee.
ECCLES SHORROCIE, Esq., recommended the immediate
preparation of a petition to parliament for a reduction of the
tea duties.
Mr. PILEINOToN said he bad seen the president of the
Liverpool Association, who informed him that It wee
intended that deputations should proceed to Leaden
from all parts of the country to compel ma wily
consideration of this important question ; which was
worthy of concentrated efforts, as it promised the
most immediate relief. By the mail from China which
had arrived last night they learned that their goods were
declining in price, while Chinese produce was at the same
time rising, an advance in tea and silk of nearly 50 per cent.
having taken place in China during the last four months,
this being the rule, that as goods fell tea and silk rose in
China. Ile could not see how they were to receive relief
from any other quarter than this.
D. C. Ayeentr, Em., said, that without a reduction of
the tea duties they might depend upon it they would never
have a trade with China. He could, from Ins own unfor-
tunate experience, vouch for the truth of Mr, Pilkington's
statement, as he had found that as his goods declined tea
advanced.
Some conversation emoted regarding the proposed petition
—whether It should be a petition from the association or the
public. It was ultimately agreed (as we understood) that a
petition publicly signed should be transmitted, and that the
association also petition and support the petition by a depu-
tation to London.
Mr. ATLWIN was then invited to address the meeting on
the subject of the salt monopoly and cotton culture in India.
On the firm point he said that the whole of the gentlemen
present were, he believed, already conversant with the sub-
,' ject ; and if they could not understand the enormity of the
'evil from the fact that three or four months of a man's labour
Ia the year were necessary to obtain him an inadequate sup-
ply of salt, leaving him the remainder to furnish food and
clothing and every other necessary, be confessed he had
little hope anything he might say would produce any en
feet. With regard to the culture of cotton in India, that
had been regarded as a theory ,• but there was now no ques-
tion that ladia could furnish a larger quantity of cotton than
New Orleans—equal to it in staple, strength, and fineness of
fibre, whi h might be laid down inthia country at 3d. or 34d,
per lb. He had lately lost • great deal of money by cotton
eakintion in India, but the reason of it was, that he had
:114ein a thing he knew nothing about. But he win
d eatleilked that in the same locality he could make a great
tlealeffeeeney by cotton cultivation. They had lost in India,
Issamo is America 400Ibe. to 5001bs. per acre were pro-
ddd; while in India they produced 401ba. to 50lbe. per
may, the influences militating against them—quantity ope-
rating also spinst the quality. But now they had the
secret of Dr. White ' • other results might be produced, and
they had here a demonstration feT the adnn damnable,
of commerce, for the Manchester Chamber el bid
led to the discoveries which would devetrpilmeigmbillieseg
India. But for it the system which has boa boalsidem
from father to son would have coatinued from sea to dame.
ant without interruption. He (Mr. Aylwin) had sash im-
plicit confidence of the capability of India, from a nine years'
residence in it, that he had ordered 300 tons of cotton seed
from America, 150 tons of which he believed were now on
their way to India. Next to a famine in bread, they suf-
fered from famine in cotton. He was enough Englishman
to say that he would prefer to have his supplies of both, if he
could to advantage, &cm his brethren, and they might rest
assured that for every bale of cotton they took from their
brethren in India, bundles of pieces and cases of shirting?
would be taken in exchange, and he believed that they wet
willing to be a present help to this country in its time o
trouble ; but they must take those nations which take their
goods at present. In three yearn, he believed, if trade pros-
pered, there would be Indian cotton sufficient to supply the
wants of this country. Mr. Aylwin referred to the East
India Directors' Report for 1834, which gives statistics con-
cerning the celebrated Decca muslin made from cotton grown
in the Deceit district, and allowed to be the finest cotton pro-
ducted in the world. Mr. Aylwin extolled India as equal to
compete with any country in the world for the production
of silk, indigo, cotton, &c. His opinions, he stated, were
shared by nine-tenths of the manufacturers of Manchester,
and although some differences of opinion existed whether
the eastern or western districts should be preferred, he
would be glad to admit himself wrong when those who
differed from him proved themselves to be right.
Some conversation was entered into regarding the printing
of the proceedings of the directors, and it was agreed that at
a future time their proceedings would be printed for
circulation.

Mr. Ecciaa stated some interesting particulars of a con-
versation ho had had with a friend just rotarDad from China,

who had stated the population of China to be now mom-
tained to be four hundred millions. The gentleman had
noticed persons in China with twelve, thirteen, and fourteen
pieces of Cloth of Engliah manufactory rolled round their
bodies so clothing, and gave this as en illustration of the
demand there might be for British manufactures if the tea
duty was reduced and the consumption consequently in-
creased, by which Mr. Eccles remarked the consumption of
sugar would also be increased, and the revenue thus hummed
in another direction.
Mr. AYLVIIII said that Sir Henry Pottinger had remarks&
to bins the injustice end pernicious tendency of the unfair
reception of Chinese produce, b 3 us taxing it so severely.
while they imposed a merely nominal um upon our manu-
factures. Mr. Aylwin remarked that a feature of the opium
traffic with China was, that the East India merchants took
no returns, but drained them of their sugar, silver, and their
gold.
Mr. PILILINOTON remarked that the treatment of China
was indefensible, their tax on our produce being about Am
per cent., while our tax on theirs was 200, 300, 400, and 600
per cent.
The CHAIRMAN having acknowledged the resolution and
again congratulated the aisociation on its prosperity, the
meeting separated.