The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-21 00:00:00

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS. -FRIDAY

The select committee appointed to enquire into the
operation of the Sound Dues met to-day. Mr. Villiers
in the chair. The other members :present were—Messrs.
Bromley Moore, Disraeli, Gibson, Mitchell, and Liddell.,

Mr. Parsons was the first witness examined t He said
he was connected with a mercantile house, carrying on
business between London and Hull. For the last four
years they had had four vessels trading to the Baltic.
What he particularly complained of was, the detaining
;if their vessels at Elsinore, by that they sustained a
serious loss. The detention in summer was from 6 a.m.
to 9 p.m. In the month of March, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
and during the winter months, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. He
had known many of their vessels compelled to wait 24
hours in the roadstead, whilst another vessel was clear-
ing. The witness then went on to speak of the unequal
and oppressive nature of the dues imposed, and the mode
of collection. He also complained of the lights in the
neighbourhood of the Sound being ineffl•tient, aniong,h the
dues were understood to be paid towards keeping up an
efficient lighthouse system.
By Mr. Bramley Moore: If the narrow channel beyond
the Sound was better lighted and buoyel, we should be
able to dispense with pilots, but what we have to com-
plain of is that, although we have paid the Sound Dues,
we cannot go through the narrow channel of which I
have spoken until the next morning, because there are no
lights there. If we were not stopped at the Sound we
might be able to get through this narrow channel before
dark.

By the Chairman : The total expenditure of a voyage
to St. Petersburg and back, of a ship of 200 tons burthen,
would be about £2OO. That would include all port and
other charges. _ _

By Mr. Mitchell : The charges on a vessel laden with
flax would be seven shillings a ton. The entire charges
on a ship of 200 tons and cargo at the Sound would be
£lO, on a vessel of 200 tons burthen going out to St.
Petersburg with a cargo of cotton, and returning with a
cargo of flax, the entire charges would be .e2OO, and the
proportion of this„sum paid in Sound Dues would be

By the Chairman : Lately a railway had been opened
between Torrengen and Flemsburg, by which Copenhagen
and the Sound was avoided, and by that route goods could
be conveyed to St. Petersburg at the same rate as shipp_rs
charge, exeusive of the Sound Dues.
By Mr. Disraeli: I have no recollection of Insurance
brokerage having been refused on ships, in consequence of
the danger of the narrow channel of which I have spoken.
By Mr. Bramley Moore : I consider that if American
ships did not pay Sound Dues, they would get all the
carrying trade from this country.
By Mr. Disraeli : In the year 1853, the number of
British vessels passing the Sound was 4,685. A fair profit
on a vessel would be about £2OO a ton. Taking the number
of vessels in round numbers, at 5000, the profit in that
year would be £1,000,000. _ _

Mr. Disraeli : As,uming that England pays £12,000 in
Sound Dues, and that the profit on British shipping passing
the Sound, in 1855, was £1,000,000, do you think that
the whole of the carrying trade would be thrown into
the hands of America, if that country ceased to pay the
Sound Dues ? Witness : I do, because I do not think
that merchants under those circumstances would ever
attempt to load in a British bottom.
Mr. Thompson, a shipowner, of Hull, was the next
witness called. He said he had traded to the Baltic for
many years, and he had to complain of the frequent deten-
tion of vessels at Elsinore. Some of his vessels had been
detained for as long a period as three months. (Loud
Laughter.) He had also to complain of many frivolous and
vexatious charges which were made upon vessels entering
the Sound. He considered that the whole system of Sound
Dues was bad in principle, and ought to be abolished.
By Mr. Gibson : Sometimes the men got drunk at
Elsinore, and there was great danger. They did not
always get drunk when let ashore, but there was a chance;
and so captains always chose to hire a boat for the purpose
of taking themselves ashore. He strongly objected to paying
the Danes any dues, except for a consideration in the shape
of efficient lights and buoys.

By Mr. Gibson : More raw materials went to the Baltic
now than did formerly. The nations contiguous to the
Baltic undoubtedly suffered through the exacting of the
Sound Dues, and in competition with other countries,
especially in the article of linseed, which suffered materially.
By Mr. Mitchell : The trade between the Baltic and
England has undoubtedly increased; but English shipping
is not now so much employed.
Mr. Part, an underwriter at Hull, was next called, and
stated that in consequence of the detention at Elsinore, and
the risk being greater, the rates of insurance were higher.
He had heard many complaints by merchants of the opera-
tio,ns of the Sound Dues, and their abolition was desired.
The committee here adjourned to Tuesday at one o'clock.

POLICE COUR P V. - E STE RDAY