The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-17 00:00:00

DUTY ON COTTON.

Lord ALTHORP moved that the House resolves itself
into a Committee on the Excise Acts.
Mr. PAT] EN took that opportunity of putting a
question to the Noble Lord. In consequence of what it
was supposed the Noble Lord had said in answer to a
question from the Hon. Alderman opposite, a great panic
had arisen among the exporters of cotton manufactures,
from the idea that the drawback was to be refused on
exportation. That idea had caused many of the merchants
of Liverpool to withdraw their orders, and he now wished
to ask the Noble Lord whether it was his intention im-
mediately to alter the law with respect to the drawbacks?
Lord ALTHORP said that in the answer he had given
to the Hon. Alderman opposite, he had confined himself
to making allowances to the holders of stocks for the goods
in hand. He would now, however, add that he had no
intention to deprive the parties of the benefit of the draw_
hicks allowed by law until all the arrangements he pro-
posed were finally made. Those arrangements could not be
'completed at once, as it was necessary for him to commu-
nicate with the persons interested in the trade; eor, he
repeated, what he had before said, that he considered this
tax as clearly a commutation tax.
Mr. HERRIES observed that the interests of the per-
sons connected with trades likely to be affected by the
Noble Lord's measures, required him to come to a decision
as soon as he could.

Mr. HUME hoped the Noble Lord would persevere in
withdrawing the duty on calicoes, and would not perse-
vere in imposing the duty on raw cotton.. He thought
they would save this and some other duties, if they would
reduce the expences of our military establishment.

Sir J. GRAHAM observed, that his Majesty's Minis-
ters were fully convinced of the necessity of corning to a
speedy decision ; but there was a difficulty in doing this,
for the delicacy of the interests in question had prevented
his Noble Friend from obtaining any information from per-
sons connected with the trade, until his measures were
publicly announced, for any previous declaration of this
nature might have been extremely injurious.—
Since that announcement he had been attended by
many of the parties interested in this question ; and after
having received their statements, the Government would
make up their minds as speedily as possible, and having
fixed their determination, would announce it at once.
After all that has been said lately about keeping faith with
the public creditor, he wished to take that opportunity of
saying that Ministers would take no step that would place
the punctual payment of the public creditor for one mo-
ment in doubt. 'lhe only remaining point for him to no,
tice was, the recommendation of the Hon. Member for
Middlesex to reduce the military establishments of the
country ; and by that means to reduce the public expen-
diture in such a manner as to preserve the promised re-
ductions in taxes. Whe❑ the estimates came before the
House, the Ministers would be prepared to vindicate
the grant which they would have to ask from the House,
and he should be deceived if that House was found
wanting in acceding to any grant that might be required
for the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the
country.—(Hear.)
Colonel TYRRELL wished to put a question to the
Noble Lord relating to the repeal of tile duty on
candles. He wished to know whether the determination
of Ministers was irrevocable, or whether they would
consent to alter their proposition, so as to repeal the duty
immediately, and not to delay it until the 10th of October.
The immediate repeal would be a saving of a penny in the
pound to the poor.
Lord ALTHORP replied, that many representations
had been made to him, particularly by the trade, against
the immediate repeal of the duty ; and, upon the whole,
he considered that course the best.

Mr. CALCRAFT took the opportunity of stating his
strong objection to the tax upon steam-boats; he thought
that many preferable objects of taxation might have been
found.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL called the attention of the
Noble Lord to the disadvantage British steam-boats con-
veying passengers to the continent would hereafter labour
under, as compared with French steam-boats, which were
untaxed.

Mr. TENNANT objected to the proposed duty on the
export of coals as injurious to South Wales.
Mr. P. THOMSON observed, that the duty on the ex-
port of coals would be lower hereafter than it had been.
As to the duty on steam-boats, Ministers would be most
happy to avail themselves of the assistance of the Right
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Calcraft) in finding a preferable
substitute: they only regretted that he had placed himself
in a situation which rendered it impossible for them to en-
joy the benefit of his great experience.
Mr. HERRIES asked if the proposed duty would not,
in fact, be ss. on the ordinary chaldron ?
Mr. P. THOMSON answered in the affirmative.
My. CALLAGHAN opposed the tax on cotton, which
quoad Ireland was an increase of burdens and no relief.