The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-07 00:00:00

V IK prl~w
SALT DUTY.

Mr. WODEHOUSE moved fora return of the Excise prosecu-
dons for the last six years, specifying the number ; and also the
particular number which had been instituted for penalties on the
Salt Duty Tax, &c.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that if the
present duty were continued, it would be Ins object and endeavour,
should the House conic to such a determination, to mitigate, as
much as possible, the existing restrictions. Ile admitted the seve-
rity of several regulations act present connected with this duty, and
Innutated his intention of softening them down. Ile was unwilling,
however, to give any distinct pledge as to any particular niodilica-
don of those regulations.
Mr. CALCRA ET did not wish to be guilty of a breach of the
rules of the House, when the Honourable Member gave notice of a
motion last evening for a continuance of the Salt Duty. He availed
himself, however, of the present mention of the subject to animad-
vert upon it. The edict and tendency of the Honourable Gentle-
man's motion was, to tempt Parliament to break a solemn compact
which it had formed with tie people. The Legislature had entered,
r it were, into a bond with the people that this duty should cease
at a certain fixed period, but the Honourable Member wished the
House of Cumulous to abrogate that bond, and to continue the tax
to some indefinite period that tuight suit his pleasure. (Hear,
hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer had heard this an-
nouncement, and Intimated his disposition to mitigate and arra
down the restrictions under which the present duty was levied. The
only object of its continuance would be, to extend patronage ie the
appointmert of collectors, to the extreme vexation and oppression
of those affected by the duty. The Honourable Member had, no
doubt, brought thia motion thrward in accordance with the wishes
and sentiments of those who sat on the same side of the Hour with
him ; but he hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose liberal
eomhhct he had observed on other occasions, would not be made an
instrument in the hands of the Honourable Member for the con-
tinuance of the existing duty, in violation of a compact made be-
tween the Parthunent and the people. (Hear.) The people could
not, in future, have any confidence in the assurances of that House,
if such a compact were now to be violated - and he was the more
anxious to throw out the observations he bad made in order to ap-
prise the country of the proceedings which were about to take place
in violation of the pronliar given by the legislature, of which the
Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. F. Robinson), though not
Chancellor of the Exchequer, was then a Member and a Minister.
(Hear, hear.)
I(ir.M'ODEHOUSE brought forward the motion of which he
gave notice hot night, after a communication with several Members
on both sides of the House. The Honourable Member had saki,
that he had brought it forward in accordance with the wishes of the
Treasury :—lle denied the charge. It was after a consultation with
Members on one side as well as the other, that lie was induced to
give the notice which he last night gave. As to the allusion to
public faith. it was a mere bugbear, as applied by the Honourable
Member. The fulfilment of any engagement made by Parliament
was always subject to, and circumscribed by, what was conducive
to the public good. Wear.) If the continuance of this duty were
proper and necessary, he did not think that fanner discussion
should interfere to prevent it.
111 r. BRIGHT thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer should
inform the House what had been the effect of the alteration already
made in the salt duty. A reduction of from 12s. to 2w per bushel
had already taken place, and the effect of this reduction ought to
be stated to the House. It was now proposed to take off the
bounty from the fishermen, and to continue the tax, although it
was not so much by the tux, as by the mode of levying it, that
those affected by it were annoyed. Yet now the bounty was to
be continued, whilst time tax and the vexations were to be perpe-
tuated. ( Hear, bear.) This was surely a most unfair mode of
dealing with the fishermen. There was no tax, the repeal of which
would be received with titmice general satisfaction than that of which
he spoke, or of which the public really stood more in need. Ile
looked forward from its repeal to the multiplication of fishermen,
land to great advantages also to the agricultural interests.
Mr. GORDON was eminected with Wiltshire, and from his
observation he did tine think the agricultural interests would be
materially affected by this duty.
Sir J. M'ItOTTLSLEY thought it would be mainly conducive
to the aviculture] interests so have the tax removed.
Mr. W3I. SMITH said, this tax was calculated to produce
200,01101. yet it bad yielded 3titl,ntall. lie did rue kaow by what
other roses a duty to so 144;1 an amount could be raised.
Lord M I I.TON, at proof of the liecessi:y of taking of the pee-
! sent duty, referred to the increased consumption which had taken
place alter the partial it:duct:on had been made. This sheaved,
that it the present duty were taken off the consumption would be
still greater, and that the duty therefore onerous': as an impedi-
ment to consumption in reticence to commerce, and other purposes
in which this useful article was wed. (Hear, hear.)
Sir M. W. R IDLES' had been consulted by the lion. Mentber
who presented the present petition. His objection to the continu-
er: of the duty was a dere to simplify and dindoisth the number
of articles subject to:taxation. The more commodities that were
tree and unrestricted the greater would be the encouragement given
to tree trade end commerce.

Mr. HUME wished to take this opportuniay of putting aques-
tion in the Secretary of the Treasury t Heerlen). The lion.
tlentleman had given notice last Session of his intention to cnnwli.
date the excise laws. They had been oppressive to an extreme de.
gee in their present shape and operation, anal be was desirous of
knowing if he intended to fulfil the pledge he then gave.
Mr. llkatHIES replied, that he hail not pledged himself to
bring forward the subject early in the Session, neither did he ex.
pect to reduce all the excise laws under the baud of one general
law. It was his intention, however, to have die Laws classified j
under separate statutes. This arrangement was at present in pm-
gems; but alien the extreme difficulty of the undertaking was ton-
sidetad, it was not to be wondered at out sonic delay was attendant
on its complettom ( Hear, hear.)
Mr. Tit EM A I'NE thought that the mode of punishment under
the excise laws was extremely oppressive and severe. Fines were
levied, and on the non-payment of these tines imprisonment was
imposed. He would wish that amugglinj and other infractions of