The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-01 00:00:00

%stiffest. The Hon. Member concluded by expr2ssing his
disapprobation of the Sinking Fund.
HUSKISSON said, that when he considered how
much expectation had been excited, and how many interests
Were affected by the intended measures of his Right Hon.
Friend, it was a source of great satisfaction-to find that so few
objections were made to them.—( Hear !)—He could not but ex-
preisahis pleasure at hearing the candid admission of the Worthy
Alderman (Mr. Thompson), that the reduction of three-fburths
of the duty on foreign iron would not injure his own interests
in that article of trade. That reduction was necessary, not only
to lessen the high price which iron at present bore in the mar-
ket, but also to assist the manufacturing and shipping interests
lie had long wished to see this and all other prohibitory duties
taken off, and retain only those which were protective, and for
the encouragement of British commerce. The argument of
the Hon. Member for Bristol (Mr. Bright) did not appear to
be exactly just. The bounty on the exportation of sugar was
a bonus to the foreign consumer, and an injury to the English
consumer. The repeal of the coffee duty was in some measure
an equivalent, and would occasion a great increase in the con-
sumption. He himself had reduced the duty on coffee sonic
years ago from between three shillings and four shillings per
Pound to four-pence per pound, and the consequence was an
augmentation of revenue. But this was not the only measure of
relief to the %Vest Indies. The reduction of the duty on rum
al) per cent. would greatly assist that interest. The high duty
oft British spirits was one cause of smuggling, and it would
he a, preventive of smuggling by diminishing the duty. The
great consumption of spirits was chiefly among the lower
classes, and so long as they could obtain them cheap, they made
little distinction between what was pure and what was less so.
The taking off part of the duty on British spirits would prevent
the smuggling of brandy. It was desirable to extend the reduction
on ruin still further. Ile had other liberal views on this sub-
Jett, and should submit them to the House during the Session,
and though not in the shape of a reduced taxation, yet they
would be of service to the country, by assisting to increase and
extend its commerce. He confessed that the duty on Tobacco
war too great, but it was riding a willing horse to death, to
Press the repeal of all taxation when so much had been done.
:7:lt was necessary to proceed- gradually. The taking off
uile duty on tobacco now would interfere with so many inter.
"4, and so much derange tha revenue as to excite an opposi-
tion to those liberal principles which were now produoing the
happiest results. Though he agreed that the duty ought to be
lessened, yet he would say that it ought not to be done at pre-
sent, when the duty on so many other articles had been so
conaiderably lessened. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had
aa option between tobacco and spirits. His object was to
prevent smuggling, and spirits formed the principal staple of
the smugglers. The Right Honourable Gentleman concluded
by expressing a hope that the example of the worthy Alderman
(Thompson) would be followed by others, when the Ministers
came to repeat the prohibitory duties on copper and tin.—
(Hear !)
Mr. E. ELLICE was greatly, though not entirely satis-
fied with the statements of the Chancellor of the Exche.
quer. Ile agreed with the opinions of his Honourable
Friend (Mr. Hume) about the Sinking Fund, but that measure
ought to be discussed by itself. He was sorry that foreign iron
Should be the only article selected by Ministers out of the
numerous others on which the duties were so high as almost
to amount to a prohibition. Brass, lead, tin, &c. had thus
risen to a 'high price extremely disadvantageous to the con-
'twee. It was desirable, if possible, to get rid of the unequal
`duties imposed on the different spirits distilled in Scotland,
"eland, and Ireland. He thought the West India interest
b‘a not been fairly dealt with. He thought something ought to
e done for the sugar trade. All Europe was concerned in the
allgar market, and the price was regulated by the price of all the
ruarkets of the world. It was a question whether throwing
.12n the trade, (and he was convinced the West India suer.
''''Auts would derive more advantage from it), would not be
tluxe productive than petty restrictions. In the experiments
.the Right Hon. Gentleman had resorted to with respect to wine
•rid spirits, he was convinced the Right dean Gentleman was
lufluenced by liberal policy, which wou swer the public
"tectation and the interest of the country.
Air. NVIIITMORE said he should make out, on some fu.
lure occasion, that the bounty on sugar was not three but six
'shillings. He thought they had acted upon principles of in.
,justice towards the sugar trade. On the subject of the wine
''tads, lie thought before the duties were reduced there ought to
`ue an equalization of the duties on Portuguese wine. His hope
visa, that his Majesty's Ministers would use the influence they
:might have in Portugal to destroy the monopoly in those wines.
'l'4 Hon. Member thought a revision of the Corn Laws would
reatly benefit the country.
r. BERNAL wished to know whether It was the intention
" the Right Hon. Gentleman to make any alteration in the
ttletnent he had made with respect to Colonial Spirits. How
ugh' the public take rum at a duty of eight shillings per
Talton, when they could get British spirits at five shillings
- Before the resolutions were drawn up, it would be Ile-
t7.s°y tR ate whether:the duties might not be equalized so as
benefit the public. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had
said nothing on the war duties on sugar. That article, as it
4100 d, was with many poor families a luxury.
kr. H. VIVIAN, referring to the reduction on foreign iron,
'only wished to have such an equivalent, in the way of duty, for
produce of the Cornish mines, as would reimburse them
'r the difference of charges caused by taxation at home.
lair C. FORBES was. astonished, amidst all the reductions
tla,_ articles of foreign growth and produce, that no reduction had
bets proposed on East India commodities ' • and that we should
Persist in burdening them with intolerable duties, while British
tuaxtnodities were put upon India at about 2i per cent.
Mr. RUSKISSON signified to the Honourable Member, in
sus under tone, something about doing away with prohibitory
'tiles which was not, beyond this, audible in the gallery.
lI:CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to
t/re suggestions of the Honourable Member for Rochester,
1W to ?give a reason why he did not conceive rum entitled
.I'l4
an equal reduction with British spirits. The price of grain,
'torn the natural operation of the corn laws, put the distiller
under a necessity of paying a price for his malt beyond that
Which he would have to pay if there were no such restrictions.
--In rum, the first material was not subject to that specific
,r4lharge. The prime cost of the malt spirit was so much more
an rum, that the latter could more easily bear his. per gal.'
'on than the former could ss. He professed himself, however,
't,to be in no wise wedded to his own opinion, nor did he offer
t,`ll4e propositions as if they could admit of no qualification.
the contrary, he courted the animadversions of other Mem.
~-Trs on the introduction of the resolutions which it would be
hl duty to submit to the House.
Ur. GORDON proposed to himself to make some use of the
°PPortunities for discussion, so handsomely offered by the
night lion. Gentleman.
slr. ELLICE said a few words to the same effect.
11041derman WOOD complained that the scale of seven win-
wouldwould preclude from the advantages of the remission
all the middle classes who had been contributors to the
urdens of the war in the Property Tax.
Mr. THOMAS WILSON could not concur in the dis.
11.1tisfaction of his lion. Friend, the Worthy Alderman. For
ft uwn part, lie had heard with extreme pleasure and grad.
cation the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
..!ul -felt the. most friendly feeling to the Right Honourable
‘teritleinan in the detail of all the measures he had suggested.
"-Wear, hear !)
The House having resumed, the report was ordered to be re-
idled to-morrow.
The House then resolved itself successively, pro forma, into
,Ifiniittees on the Excise Acts, and the Assessed Taxes Bill,
hOili of which the reports were ordered to be received to.
-4orrow.
iTThe other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
'clise adjourned at a QUARTER-PAST TWELVE O'CLOCK.