The Express.
London, England, 1860-02-23 00:00:00

APPEAL OP THE PAPER DOTI.

The ninth annual meeting of the Ameciation for
Promoting the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge was held
at Bt. Martin's Hall last crewing.
Mr. ATATON, M.P., was called to the chair, sag after
some introductory remarks, in the mourn of which
he congratulated the meeting on the mom which had at-
tended the efforts of the association In procuringy principally
through the advocacy of Mr. Milner Gibe= in the House of
Commons, the abolition of the advertisement duty and the
stamp duty, and on the prospect they now had of the aboli-
tion of the remaining restriction, the duty on paper, being
also abolished,
Dr. Warts moved the first resolution—" That the excise
duty oa paper obstructs literature and edttostion, impedes
commerce. wowes capital, harasses industry, injure@ the
revenue, is Incapable of collection without vioag the law
of the lend, has been ow:damned by parliament, and ought
to ins repeated forthwith."

11013TLIDOE, of the Brash= paper mills, E.
treaded the motion. He said he at one time had it in con—
templation to manufacture what in the hide was called
"ball stuff." This half stuff was imported from Banda
and other places free of duty, but he was told by the
Board of Island Revenue that ha could not manufacture
it without submitting to restrictioos which In fact destroyed
the value of the article, and he consequently gave up the
attempt. There was a gnat misapprehension among his
fellow manufacture's that taey model find a aeareity of raw
material. The tact was there wee no vegetable that grew
that would not make paper. The boards on which they stood
would make paper, and very good paper too. At the present
time be was making six tons of paper a week without a
particle of rig in it. There wits the fermium texas, the New
Zealand flax, which would make a munificent paper, sad if
the duty Wile repealed they would got thousands of tons of
the materiel. He exhibited severs) ptucels of fibres made from
the bark of tramp. Only four years ago the whole edition of
the TIMM paper was prated on paper made from flax straw.
Dr. Royal, the curator of the East lathe Museum, said the
quantity of fibre that could be sent from India was illimitable.
All that was required wee British °spitsl and enterprise. But
so long aa the excuse= was at his elbow, the manufacturer
could not adopt any new process or go out of the old way.
He exhibited a sheet of paper which he said was strong
enough (or the chairman to standi upon, and which he said
had not • particle of rag in it.
Mr. PIRLDR, who was on the plalirm, said he wished to
add a rider to toe ree lotion.
The CHAIRMAN said the rider was not important to the
resolution.

Mr. FIZI.DE, however, persisted, sad
The CILAIIMAN read it as tollewe That while fully
agreeing with the resolution, this meeting Is of opinion that
the sole amount al good which lies in the repel of the paper
duty aunt be fally developed without • halfpenny stamp
to tarry two ounces of printed metier'—(loud laughter)—
and be put it to the meeting whether it were relevant, and
the meeting, by • unanimous show of har.ds, eh eided that it
WY not.

Mr. Alderman FowLt addreesed the meeting in support of
the resolution. The Times, he said, ridiculed the Idea of
the n-eatablishment of paper-mills in rural districts, and said
that Fotudriuitr'► machine had destroyed the rural manufac-
ture. He had a Fourdriniere machine and a hand-mill, and
where he made 10s. by hid machinery he made 20e. by the

Tie repletion was passed unanimously.
Mr. C. KNIU UT, who wreceived with lethostastic
cheers, moved the next resolation, thanking Mr. Milner Gib-
son for his eleven years' service in the cause, and Mr. Glad-
stone for hie propose! in his present budget.
Professor Hey seconded the motion, which passed with
acclamation.

Mr. FRANCIS moved, and Mr. WASHINGTON WIL/IR
seconded the adoption of a petition in favour of the repeal of
the duty on paper.
The resolution having been carried,
Mr. BOHN said be wished to move an amendment, and
that the meeting bed been deceived.
Boma oonfuaiun ensued, the meeting apparently being de-
termined not to hear tam.

The CHAIRMAN reed the amendment, which we. to the
effect that the petition be not promoted until we have a tree
trade in rage with France and Germany, and he took a show
ahead, as to whether it should be put, but only two or three
hands were held up for it. Mr. Bohn, however, persisted
for some time la endeavouring to address the meeting, who
would sot hear rim, and at length he retired, and • vote of
thanks haying been given to she choke= the meeting
separate&