The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-01 00:00:00

SIN,

Hon. Member ought also tobear in mind that his Right Hon.
Friend had spoken on this question with reference to one
point only—the consumption cf sugar and its bearing on the
revenue. The figures given by his Right Hon. Friend to-
night were these :—Amount of British sugar imported in
1850, :5,207,678 cwt. In 1851, 5,0e3,350 cwt., showing
an increase of 114,328 cwt. Total foreign and British im-
ported in 1852, 7,613,144 cwt., in 1851, 7,200,159 cwt.,
showing an increase of 412,955 cwt. The result, therefore,
was that the importation of British sugar had increase
114,328 cwt:, while the importation of foreign sugar had in-
creased 298,227 cwt. The statement of his Right Hon.
Friend went merely to show that the price of sugar was
lower in-the early part of this year than it had ever been
known, owing partly to the beet-root sugar of the Continent
driving slave sugar into the market of this country. Con-
sumption had therefore been stimulated, and the revenue had
consequently been increased. He regretted that the state-
ment of his Right Hon. Friend had not touched upon the
effect which the sale of slave-grown sugar in the markets of
this country, to an unprecedented extent, would have in pro-
longing the distress of our sugar-producing colonies. These
colonies, so tar from being prosperous, were in a ruinous
state.- He had in his possession two petitions, one from Ja-
maica, the other from British Guiana, telling a tale of sorrow
and distress, and widely different in spirit front the tri-
umphant tone -of the Hon. Member.— (Hear, hear.) While,
therefore, he admitted that the consumption of sugar in this
country had been stimulated by the means he had adverted
to, he must inform the Honourable Member for Manchester
that he was 110 convert to the policy of cheap sugar regard-
lesi of the ruinous effects which it must have on our
own colonies.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. LABOUCEIERIe said, that to hold out hopes to the
colonists of protection on sugar would not only keep alive
uncertainty, but would be productive of injury to their
colonies, many of whom had attempted--and some suc-
cessfully—to meet the difficulties which surrounded them.
He was glad to find it admitted that the low
price of sugar had not diminished the iinportetion of
British sugar. The Right Honourable Member had partly
accounted for that lowness of price; but when he referred
to the introduction of slave-grown sugar, he ought nut to
forget that a high price was the greatest stimulus to the
production of slave sugar. With regard to the statement
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he bad to express his
deep satisfaction. That satisfaction was not caused by
party feeling. He was rejoiced to hear a man of so much
ability as the Right Hon, Gentleman, and one occupying so
high an office, make the statement which the House had
that night beard. He had listened to that speech with
no surprise; for he believed it to be impossible for any
man of a vigorous mind, and placed in the responsible
position of Chancellor of the Exchequer, to come to any
other conclusion than that to which the Right Hon. Gentle.
man had arrived. He hoped the House and the country
woule recollect that that conclusion bad riot been arrived at
on garbled statistics —( A laugh.) The data upon which
the statement rested had been furnished not by a free-trade
Minister, but by the innocent hands of the present Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade. The statement of the Right
Hon. Gentleman presepted a picture of material prosperity,
which would give the greatest satisfaction to everyone in-
terested in the welfare of the country. The debate of that
night might be considered as the death-blow and knell of
protection, and would go far to put an end to all doubt,
uncertainty, and agitation on the subject.—(Hear.)
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON believed that the great
consumption of sugar during the past year aroso from the
extraordinary depreciation in the price of that commodity.
They all knew that cheapness would increase the consump-
tion of any article, and he might instance the case of
coffee. But it had been most unfortunate for the impor-
ters, few of whom had realised a profit upon sugar during
the last few years. The Hon. Member for Manchester
had endeavoured to persuade the House that his Right
Hon. Friend had changed his opinions, and had become an
advocate of free-trade principles; but he confessed that he
had not heard any observations fall front him that would
warrant such an interference. The Right Hon. Gentleman
had distinctly stated that if the opportunity was afforded
him he would consider the whole system of taxation of the
country, and give relief where relief was due. He did not
think that could be said to be a conversion to free-trade prin.
ciples. With regard to the income-tax, he must say that he
hoped that they would have heard the last of it, and that a
tax which had excited such universal odium would have
been put an end to. If he had the honour of a seat in the
House another session, he certainly could not give his sup-
port to the income-tax, for although he had voted for it ori-
ginally, he had never intended that it should, be made per-
petual.- (Hear.) One other subject—the recent house-tax
—he must say a word upon. He conceived it to be most
vexatious and unjust; and in the City of London aloge there
were no less than 800 surcharges. He believed the tax had
eroduced much less than was anticipated from it, and he
sincerely hoped that some modification would be made in it.
Colonel THOMPSON did not wish to mar the concord of
the evening by any unpleasant observations. He could
assure the House that there were some persons who in that
country actually called for an income tax, as they believed
that it was merely an act of justice to the poorer classes.
He contended that some concessions ought to be made to
those who, at the lower end of the income-tax, paid propr r-
tionably much more than their richer neighbours. Ile com-
plimented the Right Hon. Gentleman upon the able and
masterly statement he had made, and he hoped he would
not think the less of it coming from an opponent.
Alderman SIDNEY maintained that out of doors the
income-tax was viewed by commercial men as a most unjust
and oppressive tax. He was not there to contend that direct
taxation was not the best. If a tax upon property could be
levied upon a fair principle he should not object to it ; arid he
hoped, if they were to have it as one of their permanent bur-
dens, it would be arranged upon just and equitable principles.
At present it was inflicted in the most oppressive way
upon men in trade, and those who were ready to prove that
they had made no profits were compelled to pay large
sums to the income-tax. He understood that more than
70,000,000/. of Consols were at present exempted from the
payment of this tax, and he could not understand how this
large exemption should be permitted. He suggested that
incomes lower than 1501. per annum ought to be included in
the tax, in proportion to the amount. He fully concurred
in the objections that had been urged by previous speakers
to the house tax, and pointed out several instances of in-
equality that had come under his knowledge.
Sir C. WOOD shortly explained.
Lord R. GROSVENOR had -a strong opinion on the sub-
ject of direct taxation, and his constituents were very con-
siderably affected by the income-tax. He would venture to
repast toe commendations which had been made upon the
speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He confessed
that he had heard that speech with unmixed satisfaction.—
(Cheers from the Opposition.) He did not wish to bring
forward any painful allusions to former opinions; but cer-
tainly the speech of the Right Hon Gentleman was in fa-
vour of the commercial policy pursued since 1842.--( Liberal
cheers.) That policy was now acknowledged and approved
by the Government, and all that remained was to carry on
the application.—(Renewed cheering from the same quarters.)
He. did not consider, however, that the country had shown
such an impatience of the income-tax as the Right Hon.
Gentleman bad represeated. He (Lord R. Grosvenor) had
never presented a petition against the tax, but petitions
complaining of the manner of its imposition and assessment
—(Hear, hear)—aud he was persuaded that they preferred
the tax, if fairly imposed and assessed, to the increase of in-
direct taxation.- (Hear, hear.) Still, as to the Customs,
20,000,
taxation might be secured.—( Hear, hear.) Take the article
0001. might be levied,. and yet a large remission of
of tea. Competent parties, supported by the statistics of Mr.
Porter, contended that the duty on tea could be reduced to
Is. a pound, and that the revenue derived from the duty
would not, after a year or two, be lessened.—(Hear, hear.)
lie never drank tea himself, but one of his
labourers con-
sumed hall a pound a week, on which he paid Is. duty, so
that this labourer, with perhaps asmany pounds a year wages
as he (Lord It Grosvenor).received thousands, paid 525. a
year duty upon tea.—.(Hear.) So of many other articles, as
tobaCco, for instance. The duty might be reduced, and the
revenue might be retained.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to
the Excise duties, their evil effects were admitted on all
hands—(Hear,
hear)—interfering with trade and manufac-
tures, and entailing most vexatious restrictions, involving
also an amount of taxation four times the amount paid into
the Treasury.—(Hear, hear.) He believed, however, that
the Excise duties might be safely reduced if direct taxation
were extended.—( Hear, hear.) If the poorer classes paid
more than they ought, let them be relieved.—(Hear, hear.)
But let there be a principle in taxation.—(Hear, hear. ) There
were other sources of revenue open to the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman; for instance, the legacy duty, not now paid by
landed property.—(Hear, hear.) Let the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman apply his powerful intellect to this subject, and re-
lieve the people from the Excise duties.—(Hear, hear.) He
should heeded to concur in the motion for reduction of the
paper duties, but would willingly leave to the Right Hon.
Gentleman a longer time to consider the subject. He believed
if indirect taxation were carried further, the effects would
be most mischievous. Let the principle of direct taxation
be fairly applied, and the Right Hon. Gentleman would be
the greatest benefactor to kis country who had ever arisen.
Mr. HODGSON wished his constituents shared in the
prosperity of which they had heard so much that evening.
He had presented a petition from them, complaining that
they were handloom weavers, with average earnings of 4s.
or 55., with very long hours of work.—(Hear, hear.) They
prayed the House to enable them to emigrate as agricul-
! tural labourerers, or to obtain employment at home.—
(Hear, hear.) This distress did not support the represen-
tations of prosperity.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped the Go-
vernment, being now aware of the existence of such dis-
tress, would endeavour to adopt means for its alleviation.
Mr. EWAR'I' referred to the statements as to the imports
to Liverpool. Undoubtedly the country had suffered great
losses in our imports at the beginning of the year; but the
cause was previous over-trading. The London and Liver-
pool trade circulars showed this clearly to be the case. The
merchants had discovered their error, and would restrain
their imports accordingly. The reductions in Excise duties
had been chiefly made by free-trade Administrations. The
Right Hon! Gentleman had this evening, although he bed
not expressly avowed •free-trade principles, stated facts
from which people would draw inevitable inferences, and
the conclusion would be irresistible.—(Hear, hear.) He was
persuaded that the principle of direct taxation was the only
I really sound one, and one which he believed the people
were beginning to appreciate.
• Mr. SAND ARS bore his testimony to the able, lucid, and
satisfactory statement of the Chancellor of tee Exchequer—
! (Hear)--which would give great contentment to the coun-
try, especially the manufacturing districts.—(Hear.) With
reference, however, to the diminution of the returns under
Schedule D, be begged to say that certainly there had been
great losses on imports—(Hear)—especially imports of corn.
(Hear.) Not objecting to the continuance of the income-
tax, he yet would not have concurred in it unaccompanied by
any modification—( Hear)—for 'he believed the present im-
position of the tax was deemed very oppressive and unjust.
•t i o2lin -Vt
hieLa
—(Hear.) At the same time he hoped it would be extended
to incomes of 50/.' a year, and that all who paid it would
haver a vote,—(Hear, hear.)
bit able, Rj
just, t, an couldd verynot lucidhelp
essinogfhtihseadßmiigrha-t
Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor statementex l)r
hear.) The of the Exchequer.- (Hear,
they were importance of the present discuesion was, that
with the • considering the burdens of the State together
prosperity of the
Villiers) had been for 1 community.—(Hear.) He ( Mr.
a close connexion beta 'eag time endeavouring to establish
succeed. He hoped thew.Reinhthem, but heretofore could. not
sidered himself rewarded byg tthHon. Gentleman opposite con•
had been bestowed upon free meed of approbation that
The country was now prospering from all sides of the House.
of direct for indirect taxation. 'rheeclalrel of the substitution
seemed to have become a convert to thati yhri. Gentleman
fore should be encouraged in his new opinion, and The there-
they increased direct taxation, and relieved the • more
industry of
the country, the greater would be the amount of
have to tax —(Hear, hear ) property
they would
d the *-
Mr. FREWEN sal result of free trade was to
acres of land, in the vicinity throw 15,000
There
on thehands of the proprietors.
eild the t eveenre one statement made
by his. Right 800. _ in which he (sir.
not agree. The Right Hon. Gentlemanhad
Frewen) could
bch he expected to rec • this
ewe year
stated that the duty w
from hops would be 150,0001. less than that received last
e between the two amounts
Now the exact difference
year.
would be 188,0001.
Mr. HUDSON was astonished to have heard the Noble
I Lord the Member for Middlesex assert that his constituents
1 were in fityour of direct taxation. He (Dlr. Hudson) re.