The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-28 00:00:00

BEETROOT SUGAR.

Mr. P. THOMSON proposed a resolution to the effect
that a duty of 245. per cwt. should be imposed on all sugar
manufactured in this country from beetroot, and said that
he did so as a matter of precaution. Little beetroot had
hitherto been grown in this country with a view to the
manufacture of sugar, but attempts had been made on the
subject, and, he had reason to believe, with great probability
of success. The duty on West India sugar was 243. The
price of sugar imported varied from 245. to 305., and if they
added the long price to the duty, it would follow that 545.
a cwt. was the charge to the consumer. It was clear that
if they allowed the growth of beetroot, and the manufacture
of sugar from it, no benefit would accrue to the consumer,
while the effect might operate seriously upon the revenue.
The duty raised upon sugar amounted to 5,000,0001., and,
without antering into the question as to whether the duty
was too high or too low, it was evident that a sum of
5,000,0001. must be obtained. Now, he did not mean to
say that this amount might not be raised by a lower rate of
duty ; but he did mean to say that, if they were to allow
the manufacture of sugar from beetroot, the advantage
would not go to the consumer, but to the manufacturer.
Sugar would, in point of fact, not be rendered a particle
cheaper, while a serious loss might be sustained by the re-
venue. This was what he felt convinced that House
would not sanction. He was sure if his Hon. Friend the

Member for Middlesex considered the matter he would see
that, even according to their own common principles, the
principles on which he, as well as the Government, acted,
he ought not to oppose the present proposition. It had
nothing whatever to do with the amount of the duty. It
would be manifestly unjust to give a bounty to any party ;
and as leaving beetroot sugar duty free would be nothing
►nure nor less than giving a premium to the manufacturers
of that article he hoped the House would agree to the pro-
position which he had made.
Mr. HUME said it was ircxpedient in his judgment to
create a matter of excise at a period when the very ex-
istence of Parliament was about to cease, and when, in
short, there was no pressing, or indeed, any occasion for
such a measure. The Right Hon. Gentleman ought either
to have brought his resolution forward at the early part
of the session, or to have deferred it until the assembling
of the new Parliament. There was no time for considering
the matter now. No one could deny that if West India
sugar were to be charged with a duty of 245., and beet-
root sugar were to pay no duty, it would operate as a pre-
mium to the manufacturers of the latter article. He how-
ever, should like to know why, if beetroot could be cultivated
in this country profitably, it should not be allowed ? Sugar he
considered as much a necessary of life as coffee, and it was be
cause he thought the amount of duty on it ought to be re
duced that he was unwilling to go into the question at thi
period of the session and in a House like that. At presen
they were without any information as to the quantity or exten
of the manufacture of beetroot sugar, and he conceived
that, without a comparative statement on the subject before
them, they were not in a situation to justify them in im-
posing the proposed duty. They were without the neces-
sary information, and as they were within a week of their
existence—(Laughter)—he meant. within a week of the
termination of the existence of Parliament, or rather that
it would be difficult to make a House in a week, he might
object to their proceeding with a measure of this kind.—
( Hear, hear.)
Major BEAUCLERK concurred in the view taken by
his Hon. Friend the Member for Middlesex, and hoped the
Right Hon. Gentlemen would allow the matter to remain
over until the next Session of Parliament.

After a few words from Mr. G. F. Young, Sir C. B ur-
rell, Mr. Pease, and Mr. Hutt,
Mr. P. THOMSON said that facts had come to his
knowledge, which, in his judgment, did render the mea-
sure expedient. The facts were these :—Attempts had
been made both in Ireland and in the neighbourhood of the
metropolis to establish manufactories of a beetroot sugar,
and capital Co a considerable amount had been invested in
the speculation. The parties had conic to him, to say that
they would expect compensation from the Government if
any law were passed to.prevent the manufacture. But what
was the answer he had given them ? He stated that he and
his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer
had both declared in the last session that if any attempt
of the kind were made, they would at once call upon Par-