The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-25 00:00:00

t the ends of justice had been defeated by the court hay-
' jet?, pnehed the technicalities ef the law to a most absurd
I exteetee
Lord CHAN WORM concurred in the extreme im-
portance of the measure.
Tire report was then received, and the Bill was or-
dered to be read a third time on Thursday next.
PROPERTY-TAX CONTINUANCE BILL.
Tee Earl of DERBY, in moving the second reading of
the abeve Bill,
*spoke as follows:—My Lords, although it
has been suggeited by a Noble Friend of mine that it would
be desirable to read the Property Tax Continuance Bill
merely pro forma, with a view of postponing the discussion
.upon it in going into Committee, I think under the peculiar
circumstances in which we are placed as regards public basi-
ne4s such a course would be attended with inconvenience to
Noble Lords on the opposite side of the House, as well as to
some on the Ministerial side It is important that this Bill
, should receive the Royal assent with as little delay as possi-
ble. I therefore submit to your Lordships the proposition
that you will now read a second time the Bill for the contin-
uance of the property and income-tax for one year longer.
In bringing tbis subject before your Lordships it will not
of course be expected that I should go into any details as
to the state of the revenue and expenditure of the country,
or as to the particular reasons which have induced the
Government to propose the re. ewal of this tax. Your Lord-
ships must be well aware that at the commencement of the
eresent session, upon the change of the Government, there
was a general understanding on the part of this as well as
the other House of Parliament-that with the exception of
such measures as were not likely to lead to serious differences
of opinion, no business was to be brought forward by her
Majesty's Ministers. Her Majesty's Government have even
declared that in the present session of Parliament it was
not their intention to introduce any measure that would be
likely to involve any serious conflict of opinions, and more
especially in regard to que-tions affecting the finances of the
country.—(Hear, hear.) There was, my Lords, tore than
this understanding—there was a distinct declaration that no
measure materially affecting the commercial or fiscal condi-
tion of the country would be introduced into Parliament
this session. The question, then; for the consideration of her
al ejestv's Government, was not whether any alteration
could 'be made in the fiscal or commercial policy of
the country, or whether they could make such alter-
tions in the revenue and expenditure of the country as
might enable them to dispense with a tax of this
character, the otjections to which he should be the last
man to undervalue.—(Hear, hear.) But, my Lords, the
question was, whether any alteration of the tax itself,
whether by any new arrangement of the system under
which it was levied, it would be possible for us to dispense
with either the whole er any portion of it. Now, I think a
single word will satisfy your Lordships that, even if it had
been desired wholly to dispense with this tax, which was
levied originally for a temporary purpose, and which I
still hope may be looked upon as temporary, but :is
merely continued from year to year to meet the pressing
necessity of the case—l think your Lordships will agree with
me, that unless we feel ourselves in a position for making
some general or final arrangement in respect to the
whole system of taxation, it would be inexpedient
to continue the whole or any -portion' of the 'tax, at ,
least for the present.—(Hear, hear.) But practically speak-
ing we had no alternative placed before us; for though
there is a surplus of income over the expenditure of last 3 ear
—yet as an important alteration in the taxation of the
country had taken place, the effect of which did not come
into full operation until the present year—it was difficult to
say what the result of such alteration would be upon the
revenue of the country. If the income tax had been alto-
gether taken off in the course of this year, we may reason-
ably calculate that at the close of the-financial year, instead
of this surplus, there would be a deficiency of income to
the amount of 2,500,0001. And by the loss of the remaining
half of the income tax that would fall npon the following
year, the I esult of our not renewing it wouldbe this—that in
the year of 1853 we would find ourselves in a deficiency to
the amount of about 5,000,000/.—(Hear.) The statement
which my Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer submitted to the House of Commons a few evenings ago
went to show that the result of obtaining the whole tax,
supposing that no alteration had been made in the receipts,
would be, on the best calculations, to give a surplus of
450,000/. upon the revenue of this year. This is a surplus
which I think is not more than is absolutely necessary to
meet the probable exigencies of-the State, and the call that
may be made on us for increased expenditure. Nor is it
more than is necessary for us to keep as a balance in hand
for the maintenance of public business.—(Hear, hear.)
Under these circum-tances, feeling ourselves bound by the
stipulation which we have entered into—not to introduce, in
the present session, any material alteration into our financial
or fiscal regulations—and I will also fairly admit, not having
the opportunity of considering or of proposing to Parliament
any matured plan for the arrangement of our fiscal affairs,
though we should even consider such to be ultimately expe-
dient—her Majesty's Government feel that they have no al-
ternative, while desirous to retain a surplus revenue, and
having a due regard to the maintenance of public faith and
public security—they, I say, feel that they have no
alternative than to make that proposition which I now sub-
mit to your Lordships, namely, to continue without alteration
or amendment the existing property tax for another year,
in order to afford us in the interval the fullest
opportunity of considering whether it will be prac-
ticable to make any alteration in the financial system of the
country, and to dispense with the whole or any portion of
this tax.— (Hear, hear.) At the same time I should be de-
ceiving your Lordships--I should not, I think, be acting a
frank or honest part if I were to hold out any very sanguine
expectations that this would be the last occasion upon which
I should deem it necessary to submit to this House a propo-
sition for the renewal of the tax. While I. say this, my
Lords, I cannot but admit the strength of the arguments
that are urged for the removal or modification of the tax,
because I think, not only that it is one which ought not to b 3
resorted to except for the purposes of war, and should not be
looked upon as part of the ordinary resources of the country,
bat also because, from the best considerations that I have
been able to give it, and from the considerations given to it
by successive C ,mmittees of the other House of Parliament,
I believe the difficulties are almost insuperable which stand
in the way of diminishing its injustice and inequality
(Hear.) With that impression, I should be glad if the present
state of the revenue, or looking forward for a year or two, I
should, I say, be happy if the revenue were in such a state as
would enable nee to hold out expectations of the reduction or
the abolition of this tax. But I think the course which the
Government is taking, of proposing to continue it for the pre-
sent year, is that which affords to Parliament the fairest and
best opportunity of considering the practicability in a future
session of Parliament of its entire abolition or reduction ;
and I, for one, am willing to rest the proposition for the con-
tinuance of the tax for another year simply upon the ques-
tion of necessity, for the purpose of maintaining the public
credit.— ( Hear, hear.) If it can be shown in any future
session that the credit of the country can be maintained, and
that our finances can be upheld with due consideration for
the expenditure of the country, I shall be the first to rejoice
at the abolition of the tax. And if it should fall to the lot of
the Government of which I am a member to submit to Par-
liament a proposition for the repeal, or even for the reduc-
tion of a tax which in its operation I believe to be not only
unpopular, but justly so, no one rill be more
rejoiced at having such a duty to discharge. Under the
circumstances then on which we stand—with the under-
standing that we have a prospect at no distant period
that the policy of this tax will be duly considered,
as well as our commercial and financial policy generally, I
trust that your Lordships will not only give your consent to
continuance
of placed, you will be also of opinion that the
the second reading, but in the position in which we are
of this tax for a single year is the only course it is possible
for her Majesty's Government under the circumstances to
take. I have, therefore, to move your Lordships that the
upon the question. The Duke of NEWCASTLE was exremely sorry to tres-
Property Tax Continuance Bill be read a second time.
re Fe was the
ass upon their Lordshi for a short time before they
came to a final decision
more anxious to do so because it was not, his intention to
e f elt it
oppose the second reading; on the contraryehe would give
the measure his cordial assent. Nevertheless,
desirable, in the present state of the country, that there
should be a discussiou upon the financial affairs of the
country. He would remind their Lordships of th e circum-
stances under which this tax originated, and was continued
by successive Governments. .The Noble Earl would forgive
him for referring to a statement which he made last year
in respect to this subject. The Noble Earl's statement on
the present occasion as to this tax being originally pro-
posed as a temporary measure, was the truth, but it was
not the whole truth. The tax was originally proposed, not
only for the purpose of meeting a temporary deficiency,
but also of enabling the Government to deal with the other
revenues of the State in such a manner as would enable them
to dispense with it as a permanent tax. In 1840, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer of that day, being in a deficiency,
recommended, as an experiment, that 10 per cent-should be
added to the direct taxes of the country, and 5 per cent. to
the indirect taxes. What was the result? The 10 per cent.'
brought in the whole amount of the tax contemplated; but
the 5 per cent. returned something less than 2 per cent. upon
the calculations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
fact was thus proved that the taxes upon articles of con-
sumption had reached their utmost limits. It was therefore'
necessary, with a view to their reduction, that in the mean-
while an income-tax should be reimposed. That wainthe
policy of the late Sir Robert Peel in 1842. On the 19th of
May, the Noble Earl, in reply to. the Noble-Marquis-the
then President of the Council, said he•was prepared to vote
for the abolition of the property-tax, as such a system of
taxation was calculated to bring ruin on the country. He
system of taxation
(the Noble Duke) contended that,all the evidence they
could obtain went to show that this
had conduced considerably to the prosperity of the coun-
try. As one of the strongest .proofs of such prosperity, he
need only refer to the late speech-of the Chancellor of the'
Exchequer. Within the last ten years there had been a
remission of taxation amounting to about 12,000,000/., not-
withstanding which the revenue of the country was in as
prosperous a state as ever it was before such remission, and
the comforts and happiness of the people had• been consi-
derably increased. Of coffee, in 1841 there were
28,500,0001105. consumed, while in' the last year the quan-
tity was 32,500,0001b5. Tea, in 1841 was 36,500,00101b5.,
whereas in 1851 it rose to 54,000,00,a5. The consump-
tion of sugar in 1841 was 4,000;000 cwts.; in 1851 it was
6,100,000. Cocoa, in 1811, was 2,000,000 cwt.; whereas in
1851 it rose to nearly 3,000,000 cwt. Our exports increased'
within the time more than 50 per cent., and our imports
more than 70 per cent. What, however, was the case with
America? Why, the last speech of the President of the
United States contained a paragraph lamenting the large
exports of specie, which were gradually leaving the coffers, of
the country ; while, on the contrary, the specie in the coffers
of this country had increased tremendously within the last
few years. It might be said that the discovery of the 'gold
mines in California bad led to such a result. Why, this was
a face that told altogether against the Noble Lord's argu-
ments, and rendered a return to protection absolutely impos-
sible. He had listened to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
admissions as to -the result of their legislation in reference
increeaseeqiunaltlhyeapp
.to sugar with the greatest. pleasure, because it was a
increase in flo
triumphant proof of the success of such legislation. The
advantageswer gained from the repeal of the navigation-laws
Europa
muproorptcanacned.shipping,ren t.
bTudte
therer e ha s
has notbe
sonn
al y
correspondingbe en a l a g e
numberi of seamen employed. Besides that'
the transit traCl'e
Some asezl- gtrhoew
efibui grownup
t•tpoo
rat
spocfsitthi oen country,of the gsruecaht easts
Amethriscae,ffand in spite of the declamation s of
had been favourable Hull, would soon become eetrepote of intercourse between
to the
the repeal of the navigation-
lawsare now built cheaper and better; " G. F. Young,"
were well aware. Ano-
ther interest. Vessels
yachting
remthan they bad been, as Noble
fondortoafnt point firas the way in which the
Lords
and whoa mistwe r e
m important
agricultural interest had been affected by the repeal or the
Let their Lgorredasth
corn-laws. Putting aside the effeuctpsonupz the landlords and
bulk of the
mirk go, not
farmers,
population what f hadthe beeneouthe
tryere effect
persuaded thaeyn,
merely into the markets of market towns on'
and converse with those who bought and sold there, market
days,
among the people; let them follow• the members of Ilea: go
House in those domiciliary visits which they would Stoller
have to- pay.—(A laugh)— and hoewas
would soon find the altered position of the inhabitants.
Glasgow and Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester,
He did not merely speak of the great laves of our popula-
t Of 8,000 or 10,000 inhabitants—such as
fbuotn'of COWAY