The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-20 00:00:00

THE KAFFIR WAR.

Mr VANSITTART asked whether there was any truth
that we were on the eve of another liattlr war.
Mr CARDWELL replied that he had read a telegram
on the subject in the evening papers, but that no informa-
tion of the kind had reached the Government,
THE PAPER TRADE.
Mr XAGUIRE moved for a select committee to inquire
into the present position of the paper manufacture of Great
Britain with respect to foreign taxation. The hon. gentle-
man said that owing to the operation of treaty with Franco
the British
PaPermaker found himself unable to compete
with the foreigner, as, although he boasted of having ac-
cepted free trade in its widest latitude) we exposed one
branch of native industry to all the evils of the protective
system. Owin
turers of paper were placed at
gto the export duty on rags the manufac-
improved machinery nor increaseda energy could counter-
balance. He also read a number
makers in various parts of the United ofletters
from paper'
Kingdom, giving
most discouraging account of their prospects, and stating
that, unless some remedial measures
were
Government, ruin must inevitably overteer keead°P" by
the
them
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCREQUEerm.
d that
was a very explicit statemPnt, and he would endeavourst:
the hon.
h at
to
meet it in the manner it had been given by ha
rentlernan ; but ho could not give an abstract statement as
to what Government wonld do at a future time, because
circunistances might occur in the interim which would ren-
der such a committee undesirable. He would say that the
G,vernment, as a Government, had no desire to evade any
inquiry, and it would be in that spirit that they would next
session meet the motion of the hon. gentleman. He quite
agreed with him that if a committee were appointed it should
be appointed speedilY and as it was the feeling of that
house that a committee of this kind should be appointed,
they would not find the Government opposed to it. The
hon. gentleman said that a gentleman of the name of
Wilson. in 1853, devised a Fray in the pound customs duty
—not as any protection to the paper manufacturers, but as
an "I'liValent to the duty on rags ~1.)1,)ad. Now his

pression, speaking from memory after ten years' experience
in the affairs of the country, was, that the penny in the
pound was proposed by himself as Cnancellor of the Ex.
chequer to Lord Aberdeen's Government, not as a compen-
sation duty on rags, but because it was thought fair that
they should proceed by transition from a state of protection
to a state of free trade, and likewise because this was a plea
for the continuance of the duty as long as the principle of
that duty could not be brought into question. Then the
hon. gentleman said they had departed from the free trade
principles of Sir Robert Peel ; the policy of Sir Robert Peel
was that they ought not to subject theßritish manufacturer
to competition unless they gave him free access to the raw
material. And here the hon.. gentleman must admit he had
fallen into language likely to mislead. Did he mean that we
were to restrain free trade in this country until foreign coun-
tries had adopted it? Were we to deprive our people of the ad-
vantages of free trade because foreign countries were not able
to follow and seize the advantages of that policy? Were we to
do that? Was there to be no free trade till every Government
in the world had come up to free trade principles ? At the
same time it was a matter of duty that in exposing people
to competition they should give them the advantage of free
access to the raw material, but he could not admit that freo
trade in this country was to wait for the halting proceedings
of other Governments in the world, while our own people
were subjected to the evils of protection. Ae to the state-
ments attributed to him by the hon gentleman, both the
facts and figures were quoted by him as those of others, and
not as his own. The lion gentleman's speech had consisted
of particular facts and general descriptions. He could not
question the hon gentleman's particular facts; but his par-
ticular facts were one thing, and his general descriptions of
the state of trade were another. If he complained of any-
thing, it was the hon gentleman's repeated and pertinacious
statement that he denied the distress of the paper trade. He
had never stated that the state of the paper trade was one
of prosperity. The statement of the hon member referred
not to the state of the paper trade, but to the business of
particular persons. But it might well be that the business
of those persons might be in an unfavourable state, and yet
that the trade generally might be prosperous. He said this
the rather that the hon gentleman's statements referred to
one particular branch of the trade, that concerned with the
manufacture of middling printing papers. There was nothing
to show that other parts of the trade were in the same con-
dition. He quite admitted that there was a good deal of
suffering in the paper trade, but not more than might be
expected while it was in a state of transition from protection
to free trade. If it was true that the paper trade generally
was in a declining state, how was it that up to the repeal
of the paper duty the number of pagermakers had steadily
diminished, while this decline had been arrested since the
repeal of the duty ? But the honourable member had
referred to the exports, and had said that one-fourteenth
of our production was little or nothing to export. But it
was certainly a materiel fact that we exported that one-
fourteenth p4t of our production to neutral markets, where
it encounteredjthe competition of the German and the French
producers. Besides, it appeared that, while in 1859 we ex-
ported 115,000 cwts. of paper, in 1861 we exported 190,000
cwts. That showed clearly that there was increased em-
ployment and increased production. Nor was it immaterial
to remark that, while in 1859 wo imported 115,000 cwts. of
materials for paper, in 1861 we imported 731,000 cwts. of
the same articles. That clearly showed an extending
manufacture. He, therefore, must say that he was not
prepared to join in the dismal anticipations of universal
ruin in the paper trade in which the hon. member had in-
dulged. The hon. gentleman said that it was the duty of
the Government to find a remedy for the state of things in
the paper trade. But he denied that. The true remedy
lay in improved processes and more economical modes of
manufacture. He could not assent to so mischievous and
retrograde a measure as the reimposition of a customs duty
on paper. Then it was proposed that we should appeal to
foreign Governments to reduce the export duty on rags.
But the Government had at all times recognised that duty.
Even if that were true, the barren agitation carried on by
the papers makers had been a great cause of that want of
success. What was the effect of such debates as that ?
The foreign paper makers read that the men of influence in
that house had declared that the English piper makers
were driven out of the market by the export duty on rags,
The natural consequence was to bind the foreign makers
together in an organised agitation to maintain those ditties.
The efforts of the Government to bring about a reduction of
the duty were thus frustrated. The hon. member said that
he had made promises. He admitted that in the financial
statement of the present year he had said that he hoped for
a disposition towards the reduction of the export duty from
France. Considerable progress had been made in the nego-i
tiations with that object—and he believed that it would have
been attained within a few days and the end would have
been gained, had it not been for the motion of the hon.
member. The Government were not disposed to resist any
inquiry into the subject in a future session, but he was con-
vinced that it would have been for the interest of the paper
makers to have allowed this question to rest, and to have
loft it to the Government to make thosd representations
with foreign Governments which they would have felt it
their duty to make without any parliamentary incentive.
Mr SURTEES expressed the satisfaction with which
he had heard the statement of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer.
Lord R. MONTAGU did not think that Mr Maguire
had made out a case for inquiry, and saw no good in having
little battles upon a question that had been fought on a
large scale some years since, unless there was reason to sup-
pose that the decision of the house had been erroneous.

The discussion was continued by Colonel Dickson, Mr
Norris, Mr Black, and Sir 31. Farquhar, all of whom urge
on the Government the importance of granting a committee
of inquiry.
Mr 'WATKIN hoped that, if there was to bo an investi-
gation into the condition of the paper trade, the select com-
mittee would call for the production of the income tax re-
turns of the 400 papermakers in the United Kingdom before
and after the French treaty.
Mr MAGUIRE, in reply, said that the ease which he
had put forward was that of trade generally, and that, if
their statements were exaggerated, he was not personally
responsible for them. His own opinion, however, was that
the case which ho had presented to the house was unfortu-
nately but too true.
The motion was withdrawn.

Sir F. SMITH mo'red " Tkat a humble address be pre-
sented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously
pleased to issue a commission to consider the various sys-
tems now existing of constructing and armour plating ships
of war for the British navy, as well as for the navies of
other maritime Powers, and to report what, in the opinion
of such commission, should be the system to be now adopted
for the British navy." The hon. and gallant gentleman
criticised the proceedings of the Admiralty, and complained
that no fixed principles of construction and armament had
been laid down, whilst the expense incurred by the country
in mere experiments was enormous, without any commen-
surate increase of efficiency to the service. He wished to
know whether the Adreirelty were aiming at sped, at
weight of armament, or at power of resistance.

Lord C. PAGET defended the course which, in the midst
of constant changes and improvements in the construction
and armament of ships, the Admiralty had adopted. With
regard to the relative merits of the French and English
armour-plated ships, he assured the house that the latter
were quite equal, if not superior, to those of any other na-
tion. He could not deny that our ships cost more, but
that disadvantage was fully counterbalanced by their sups •
riot workmanship and durable qualities. As to the use of
steel shot, the matter had not been lost sight of in connec-
tion with the construction of guns ; and he believed that
both in:shot and guns we were not at all behind any other
Power.

Sir J. HAY thought it would be desirable that a cora
mission should issue to inquire and report upon the de-
scription of ship that would be most available, first, for
our protection at home, and next, for the protection of our
commerce abroad. The requirements for ships were, a high
rate of speed, great weight of armament, and facility of
movement when in action. With these were also combined
the questions of draught for our iron ships, and how they
were to be coppered. As to targets, guns, and shot, he
considered that these were matters over which the Govern-
ment had been too long pausing.
Mr LAIRD observed that at present we were in so unsafe
a position that if we were to go to war with the Federal
States of America we should have to use all our dockyard
resources to obtain vessels capable of crossing the Atlantic
and competing with the so-called turret ships. If we had
merely such vessels as those employed in the African
squadron, the fate of the Alabama would soon overtake
them.

After some remarks from Sir S. M. Prro and Sir J.
PARINGTON (the latter in opposition to the proposition of
Sir F. Smith), the motion was withdrawn.
Sir F. KELLY obtained leave to bring in a bill for the
further prevention of bribery at elections ot members to serve
in Parliament.

Leave was also given to Mr VILLIERS to bring in a
bill to make provision for distributing the charge of relief
of certain classes of poor persons over tho metropolis,
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QuErt, leave was given to bring in a bill to amend an act
of the present session relating to certain stamp duties.';
Tha other business on the paper was disposed of, and the
house adjourned at a quarter_past one o'clock.

TuE WALL OF A BUILDING IN AGAIIPTOWN—Dr.
Lankester yesterday held an inquest at the Clarendon
Arms, Clarendon-square, on the body of
-Mind William
Copeland, aged 10, who was killed by the fall of a house at
Agar-town. The Jury returned a verdict of "Died from
accidental causes."
[AnvmarszmuNT,]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Old m,res, wounds, and ulcers.—lt is surprising how quickly
any sore, ulcer, or wound drains away the body's strength,
and unfits it for the duties of life; bur, it is no lees wonder-
ful to watch how these topical afflictions improve on the
application of Holloway's healing ointment. It has achieved
the surest and most glorious triumphs over bad legs, foul
ulcerations, and knotted veins, which had confounded
the faculty, and well-nigh worn out their victims. It cre-
atesand knotted veins, which had confounded
sound flesh, and therefore makes its cures complete.
When this ointment is properly applied, and assisted by ap-
propriate doses of the pills, the pain, in,.
other morbid • • -
manifestations, soon disappear from the
affect:A part, and health and ;trenz-th relnm
4.rnraaf ion and

Court of Aldermen,

Yesterday the Aldermen of London held a meet.
ing at Guildhall, the Lord Mayor presiding. Mr,
Alderman Besley and Mr. Alderman Dakin, the
newly-elected sheriffs, were invited to come to the
table to enter into the customary bond for the due
execution of their office. On presenting themselves,
Mr.Aldermanßesley,who at the recent election was
returned at the head of the poll, appealed to the
Court to decide the question of priority between
him and his friend Mr. Alderman Dakin, who is the
senior alderman of the two. The Town Clerk (Mr.
Weodthorpe), he said, without meaning any dis-
courtesy to him, had a" knack" of calling the name
of Alderman Dakin before that of himself in matters
relating to the shrievality since the recent election.
That was not in accordance with the:return of the
Livery, and he submitted that the time had arrived
to have the point decided. To any other man he
should have made some apology for mooting the
question, but his friend Alderman Dakin would, he
was sure, give him credit for desiring only to have
what was right done in the matter. The Livery
had returned him (Alderman Besley) at the head of
the poll, and he submitted that, as far as priority
and seniority were concerned, he was senior sheriff,
and that no resolution of that Court could alter or
affect the return of the Livery, which, he appre-
hended, must be taken to be final. Mr. Alderman
Dakin said he would cheerfully submit to what had
been the recognised rule in the Corporation of Lona
don in cases where two aldermen had been elected
sheriffs. With regard to the accidental circumstance
of his friend Alderman Besley having been returned
at the head of the poll, he (Alderman Dakin) was
absent from this country at the time of the election,
but since his return he had been informed that from
day to day he was at the head of the poll until a few
hours before its elose,when some 50 voters were sud-
denly and in a most mysterious manner, introduced (a
laugh), and to that accident his friend was indebted
for that seniority which he now most cheerfully ac-
corded him, taking the circumstance for what it was
worth. Mr Woodthorpo, the Town Clerk said, on
being appealed to at the Common-hall on the last
day of the election, he casually observed that it
might turn out on examination of precedents that
the gentleman who was at the head of the poll
the question being as between two aldermen, would
not be the senior sheriff. On a subsequent examin-
ation of the books he had found that on the last
occasion when two aldermen wore elected the alder-
man who had the largest number of votes was not
held to be the senior sheriff, and he had since
thought it his duty to communicate that precedent
to the two aldermen who had been recently re-
turned as sheriffs. He added, in reply to Mr Alder-
man Allen, that the election to which he had re-
ferred was in 1838, when Alderman Thomas John-
son and Alderman ThonaasWood were returned, the
votes being for Johnson 1,014, and for Wood 1,051,
and when Alderman Johnson, though not at the
head of the poll, but who was, of the two, the senior
alderman, was held to be the senior sheriff. Mr.
Alderman Dakin said he thought it would be found
by a clause in the Act governing the mode of oleo •
tion that, whatever the order of return, the order of
precedent was conclusive where two aldermen, as
in this case, were concerned. Mr Alderman Cope-
land, M.P., said when he was elected sheriff with
Mr Booth he was only a liveryman, but a few weeks
afterwards ho was elected an alderman; It was
then suggested that, having become an alderman,
he, and not Mr. Booth, was the senior sheriff, but
he declined to raise the question, though many of
his brethren in the Court thought the alderman
ought to have taken the precedence. He now moved
that the matter in dispute be submitted to the ar-
bitrament of the General Purposes Committee. The
motion was at once adopted, and Mr. Alderman
Besley and Mr Alderman Dakin then executed each
a bond, pledging himself in the sum of £l,OOO to
the duo execution of the office. The Remembrancer
(Mr Corrie) having reported that the Brokers' Bonds
and Rents Bill had been rejected by the House of
Lords, Mr Alderman Waterlow moved, pursuant to
notice, that a reference be made to the General Pur-
poses Committee to consider the present regulations
in respect to brokers in the city, with power to con-
fer with the City Lands Committee of the Court of
Common Commis, and other parties interested in the
matter. He explained that the evidence taken
before the committee disclosed that a large number
of the brokers felt that there should be some modi-
fication of the rules and regulations made by the
Court of Aldermen in the interests of the class gene-
rally. When the corocration opposed the bill which
had been rejected by the Lords they were not
actuated by any consideration in regard to the loss
of £3,000 or £4,000 a year it would entail oa them,
but because they believed the control exercised by
the Court of Aldermen was for the benefit and pro-
tection of the public; and desiring that that control
should be continued, but in a way most convenient
to the trade, he asked to have the matter referred to
a committee. The motion was seconded by Mr
Alderman Finnis and carried. The Town Clerk
reported that he had received a communication from
the Home Office that Sir G. Grey had on Monday
last signified his approval to the by-laws recently
submitted to him by this Court for the regulation of
the traffic in the city. The by-laws so sanctioned
were ordered to be advertised in conformity with
the Act of Parliament preparatory to their being
brought into practical operation a month after the
date of their approval by the Home Secretary. The
Court then adjourned.