The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-18 00:00:00

DUTY ON PAPER

MEETING OF STATIONERS.—(THIS DAY.)
A public Meeting of Stationers, and others engaged in the
Paper Trade, was held this day at Stationers'-hall, to consider I
the propriety of petitioning Parliament, when the proposed al-
teration 1,
in the duty takes place, to allow a drawback on the
stock then on hand.—Mr. Charles Hodgkinson in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN stated at great length the proceedings that
had led to the present meeting. On the 26th of January, in
consequence of his Majesty having appointed a Commission to
investigate the present Excise laws, and the report of that
Commission having recommended an alteration in the duty on
paper, a meeting of the trade was convened, the stationers
being naturally anxious to ascertain what were • the in-
tentions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and when
the new duties were to take effect. At that meet-
ing a Committee was appointed to memorialize the
Lord:, of the Treasury, and to solicit an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the subject. An interview
between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Committee
took place on the Ist of February, and the Committee strongly
urged the injustice that would be done to the trade if when
the proposed alteration in the duties took place a drawback
was not allowed on the stock then on hand, the amount of
which would be about 80,0001. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer promised to take their statement into consideration,
and requested that it might be reduced to writing. This was
done, and repeated applications were subsequently made to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer to know what was his determi-
nation, and after considerable delay the Committee received
an intimation that the Chancellor was not disposed to comply
with their request, in consequence of which the Committee re-
solved to call a public meeting of the trade upon the subject.
The CHAIRMAN then read a petition to Parliament which
had been drawn up by the Committee, praying that the draw-
back on stock in hand might be allowed.
Sir JAMES WILLIAMS then proposed, and Mr. GIBBONS se-
conded a motion, expressing the concurrence of the Meeting
in the resolutions of the Committee.
Mr. PEWTRISS thought that'as no decisive answer had been
officially received from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that
it would be better to try the effect of another interview with
him upon the subject. He however entirely approved of the
proceedings of the Committee hitherto.
A GENTLEMAN enquired whether it was intended to petition
that the drawback should be allowed on manufactured stock,
or only on unbroken reams—if confined to the latter, it would
only benefit the wholesale stationers.
The CHAIRMAN said that would rest with the Chancellor of

the Exchequer, supposing he allowed any drawback at all.
In all the interviews with him the interests of the retail trade
were as much attended to as those of the wholesale.

Sir JAS. WILLIAMS thought it would be impolitic at present
to make such a request, while it remained doubtful whether a
drawback would be allowed on any paper after it had left the
mill.

Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, and a variety of
resolutions were adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

COAL MONOPOLY.

This day the Deputation from Holborn waited upon T.
Wakley, Esq., M. P. for the borough of Finsbury, with the
petition, adopted at the late Meeting, to the House of Com-
mons, on the subject of the Coal Monopoly, and which was
most numerously signed.
The Deputation consisted of the chairman of the late Meet-
ing (R. Ramsden, Esq.), Messrs. Bartrup, Wooler, Hannah,
Hawkins, who pointed out to Mr. Wakley the unjustifiable
attempts made by the Coal Monopolists and the Dean and
Chapter of Durham to obstruct the introduction of a new
field of Coal of superior quality to the major part-now im-
ported into London. The Hon. Member assured his consti-
tuents of his best efforts iu removing these obstructions ; and,
as the subject has now created general interest, we may expect
to see every Member act for the public good, and not influ-
enced by individual or other's interest. We understand a re-
quisition is in course of signature to the Sheriff of the county
of Middlesex to convene a General Public Meeting of the
whole county on this subject.