The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-15 00:00:00

FOREIGN CORN IN BOND.

Mr. ROBINSON rose to call the attention of the House to
the subject of which he had given notice. It was his intention
to submit a motion relative to the manufacture of foreign corn
into flour, for exportation. It was well known that at least
six hundred thousand quarters of corn, and also a large
quantity of foreign grain, for the last four years in bond,
were undergoing a daily process of deterioration. It might be
contended that this measure would be injurious to the agricul-
turists ; but he (Mr. R.) denied that such was the case.—
( Hear, hear, hear.) As there might be some opposition
to his at once giving notice of bringing in a Bill
on the subject, he would content himself merely with moving
the appointment of a select committee. It might be urged
that the present question could be better adjusted after the
Committee on Agriculture had made its report ; but
he (Mr. Robinson) doubted whether a fair report, without
me ning anythini, invidious, could emanate from that Committee
as regarded the subject of his proposition. He called upon
all those Honourable Members who were favourable to the
promotion of their mercantile and commercial interests to sup-
port his measure. It would have the effect of making Great
Britain a general depot for the manufacture of all articles of con-
sumption for their colonies, instead of throwing it into other
countries. The merchants were willing to agree to any restric-
tions that could be placed on them for securing the revenue on
the home trade, and therefore he could not see how the
Government could oppose his motion, which would bring
a most valuable trade into the country. Let them not
lose another year, for they had lost much valuable trade last
year.—( Hear, hear.) At all events, it was most important
that the House should decide the question.—( Hear.) He
then moved that a Select Committee be appointed to
consider the necessary restriction, for allowing foreign
corn and flour to be warehoused for re-exportation.
Sir E. COD RING TON had presented petitions on the
subject last session. He was quite sure if the Government
would consider the question, they would find that no harm
would come from the measure, but much good. He had much
pleasure in seconding the motion.
The question having been put by the SPEAKER,
Mr. P. THOMSON was sorry that the Honourable Mem-
ber had not specified more clearly what his motion was.
He had understood that it was with reference to fo-
reign corn in bond, and he had now come forward
with a motion on the subject of agriculture generally.
He should treat this question on fair grounds.—( Hear, hear.)
He would make no appeal to the fears of the landed interest,
nor would he treat the subject with reference to any one in-
terest in particular, whether the colonial, the shipping, or any
other interest. He did not think that the House ought to
consent to the motion of the Hon. Member. His object in
opposing the motion was two-fold. First, the subject would
properly come under the notice of the Agricultural Comniittee,
who would have to consider the many plans laid before them.
Next, he had last year given the Hon. Member a pledge that
he would consider the subject, and the result of his investiga-
tion, so far as he had been able to master the subject, was,
that the result of the labours of any Committee that might be
appointed would be to recommend that the object contem-
plated by the motion of the Hon. Member ought not to be
carried into effect. The Hon. Member had not stated any
specific plan. On the contrary, he found that the terms of his
motion restricted the investigation of the Committee to what
he himself would have no objection to-morrow to bring in a
Bill to carry into effect. So far as the terms of the motion of
the Hon. Member might be construed, he would have no objec-
tion to consent to what the Hon. Member asked for. He saw
no objection to allowing foreign corn in bond to be ground
in this country, and re-exported, if the parties who were the
owners of the corn in bond would give security that all the
flour so manfactured would be exported. He considered that
this would so far be a benefit as it would give employment to
the capital and to the machinery of this country. But he ob-
jected that the difficulty would be that English corn would be
manufactured for exportation, and that foreign corn would be
retained for consumption in England. If any such permission
were given there ought to be every security afforded that the
corn so manufactured into flour should be exported. In look-
ing to the Bill of 1824, to which reference had been made, he
did not find that there was sufficient security afforded. That
Bill provided that for every five bushels of wheat manufactured
security should be given that 196 lbs. of flour would be ex-
ported. But then it was found that this regulation was very
imperfect, for some wheat being of a finer quality would pro-
duce a greater quantity of flour, so that the proportion of flour
would of course vary in its proportion to the quantity of corn.
He thought the principle on which they should act would be
to make this country as much a manufacturing country
as possible, provided that in doing so they did not lead
to fraud or suspicion of fraud.—( Hear, hear.) The Right
Honourable Gentleman referred to the course the Govern-
ment had taken with respect to allowing the drawback on re-
fined sugar. From the chemical experiments which the Go-
vernment had caused to be instituted it was found impossible
so to fix the duty with reference to the quantity of raw mate-
terial employed, as that more or less refined sugar would not
be produced than the amount of the drawback ; and the result
was, that he (Mr. P. Thomson) had provided for the refining
of sugar in bond. He did not know whether the Bill of
1824 had been found satisfactory. He did not think that any
good would result from the appointment of the Committee
proposed by the Hon. Member. The appointment of such a
Committee would lead to a great deal of unfounded expecta-
tion, and its labours must end in disappointment. He trusted
that his Hon. Friend would* not press his motion. Should
there be a feeling generally in favour of allowing foreign corn
to be manufactured into flour, he should have no objection,
provided that sufficient security was provided that all such
flour would be exported. The Right Hon. Gentleman con-
cluded by stating his determination to resist the motion.
After a few words from an Hofi. MEMBER, whose name we
could not ascertain,
Dr. BOWRING was opposed to all restrictions upon com-
semblies. The dependence of the army on the Crown could
not be, upheld, and what was more, the well-being of the
army itself could not be maintained, if these discussions were
kept up night after night, for factious or popular purposes, in
that House.—(Cheers.) It was allowed on all hands that
the British army was the best disciplined and most effective in