The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-24 00:00:00

The twelfth resolution was put and agreed to.
NOTICES OF MOTION —FEES OF COURTS OF
LAW.
Mr. THORNLEY gave notice that he should, on Thurs-
day, the 7th May, move for copies of the fees paid in the courts
of law and equity.
POLISH INSURRECTION.
Mr. C. BULLER had heard that the Austrian Government
had issued a proclamation offering a reward to the peasants
if they would bring in, dead or alive, the several Polish gentle..
men who had become obnoxious to the Government. He
wi,hed to ask the Right Hon. Baronet if it was true that the
Austrian Government had addressed any note to the British,
or any other European Court, denying this statement; and if
there had been any such note so addressed, whether there would
be any objec ion to lay the same upon the table of the House ?
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that the Austrian Government
had made no intimation whatever upon the subject to the
British Court. He was not aware that the Austrian Govern-
ment had made any communication to any other European
Court—certainly not to this. He had seen a statement which
was not made, containing a peremptory contradiction of the
statement.

REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON TEA.
Mr. AIILN ER GIBSON presented a petition, signed by a
great number of the inhabitants of Manchester, praying for a
reduction of the duty on tea.
Lord SANDON presented a petition, numerously signed,
from Liverpool, to the same effect. The Noble Lord then
proceeded to move for copies of the memorials received by the
First Lord of the Treasury and the President of the Beard of
Trade, respecting a reduction on the duty off tea. He thought
that it ssas desirable that the attention of the House
should be called to the enormous duty at present payable
on tea. The increase in the consumption of that article had
not increased in proportion with other articles of consumption.
The increase had only been 1,796,0001b5. during the last five
years. That article was at present subject to a higher duty
than had been paid for the last thirty or forty years. When
the tea trade was in the hands of the East India Company an
ad va'orem duty of 100 per cent. was imposed; -when that
monopoly was done away, a fixed duty was applied, which
ranged from 150 to 200 per cent. If the trade was at present
in the hands of the East India Company, the duty instead
of being 2s. 24-d., would not be more than 10d. or Is. The
imposition of that high duty prevented the people of this
country from enjoying an article which all the friends of tem-
perance and sobriety would wish to see extensively used. The
tra4e with China was carried on almost exclusively by barter.
This country must therefore take the goods of China in return
for manufactures exported to that country. It was
impossible, with the present amount of duty, to increase
the exports of this country to any great extent.
It was impossible to increase the consumption of tea by any
other course than by a reduction of the duty. The duty at
present formed two-thirds of the whole price paid by the con-
sumer. In the United States there was no duty. In Holland
the duty ranged from lid. to 4d. Even in our colonies the
daty was moderate. In Australia the duty was ten per cent.,
in Newfoundland it was Is. 3d. per pound, and in Guernsey it
was nothing. In Australia the price to the consumer was from
Is. 3d. to ls. 6d. per pound, but the best result for him to
mention was the amount consumed. In Australia the amount
was 12i lbs. per head, while in England it was only 1 1-3 lbs.
per head. In Newfoundland it was 4 lbs. per head, and in
Guernsey it was about the same. He thought they might
with safety try an experiment in a reduction of the duty on
tea. It must be recollected that any increase in the consump-
tion of tea would cause a large increase the consumption of
sugar. For every pound of tea consumed five pounds of
sugar were used. He trusted, therefore, that this subject
would be duly considered by the Government ; and he con-
cluded by moving for copies of all memorials addressed to the
First Lord of the Treasury and the Presiders` of the Board of
Trade, praying for a reduction in the duty on tea.
Mr. MOFFATT rose to second the motion. This was a
sulject of vast importance as affecting our commerce with the
East. The great complaint of the Chinese was that so much
of their specie was sect to this country. The exports from
Great Britain to China in 1944 amounted to 8,971,000/., while
the imports were only 4,379,000/. We also imported 3,400,0001.
in specie from China in that time. The Hon. Gentleman
went into a variety of details, for the purpose of showing that
by the reduction made in coffee and sugar the revenue in.
creased, while the public derived the advantage of having those
commodities at a considerably reduced price. He saw no rea-
son, therefore, why tea should not be dealt with in a similar
manner, as he felt quite assured that an immensely
increased consumption must be the result, while, at the same
time, the revenue would sustain no diminution.—( Hear. )
All our large exports of woollen goods.to China brought no
benefit to the trade of that country; consequently the imports-
tion of that article was now very mu,;ll reduced. We charged
from one hundred to three hundred per cent. on the importa-
tions from China, and our exportations to that country were
only charged at three per cent. The rates of ditty on French
goods were reduced, and why were not the duties on the im-
portations from China, reduced in equal ratio? This he con-
sidered was the policy which ought to be adopted.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in
answer to the Hon. Member, he was willing, on the part
of the Government, to say that the House should
have every information laid before it in regard of the trade
with China. The Hon. Member had said, that the duties on
French goods had been reduced, and that, consequently, the
duties on our importations from China should also be reduced.
It was true, that all our importation of tea came from China, as
a matter of necessity, but that did not make out a case for re-
ducing the duty upon that article of consumption.
But he did think it was rather unfortunate for the view of the
Hon. Member, that, some short time ago, he (the Chancellor
of the Exchequer) had received a deputation, who declared,
that if the duty on the exports from China were not reduced,
they could not carry on their trede. He had
had many opportunities euring the present session
of discussing many of the points in reference to this
subject, and therefore he should say that he hoped the
matter would be more fully discussed ; and when he came to lay
upon the table a memorial he had received upon the subject, he
believed it would be better understood.
Mr. J. A. SMITH should trouble the House with a few
observations upon this subject, which he looked upon as one of
the most important that could be brought under its cowl-
deration. He did not consider that the statement made
by the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, was at all
inconsi-tent with that of his Honourable Friend near
him. He assured Hon. Members that there need be, and was,
no limit to our trade with China, but unless some change took
place the trade could not increase but decrease. He had no
,ish to detain the House after the long and tedious debate,
and he would conclude by recommending a total change of
commercial policy in the trade with Chita.
Mr. ENTWISLE regretted that an article so generally
consumed in England should be so much restricted by heavy
duties which were so contrived that the heaviest duty fell on
the lowest priced teas. There could be no limit to the
advantage that could be derived by the establishment of a trade
with China, so as to give them a larger proportion of our manu-
factured goods in exchange for their produce. There might
to be some better system of reciprocity than that which existed
at present, and therefore he supported the motion.
Mr. WYSE said that the diminution of the duty on coffee
had led to a considerable increase in consumption, and the same
result, no doubt, would follow it the duty on tea was reduced.
The motion was then agreed to.
PROTECTION AND RELIEF OF EJECTED
TENANTS IN IRELAND.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD obtained leave to bring in a Bill fur
the protection and relief of ejected tenants in Ireland.
COAL WHIPPERS (LONDON) BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES (SALARIES AND EX-
PENSES) BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

(YESTERDAY.)

GROUP %XXIV.
There not being a sumcient number of Members present to make
a quorum, the Committee was adjourned till to-narrow.

Sub•• Committee No. 1.
This Committee met again at twelve, in Reom No. 7, when there
were present Mr. Strutt (Chairman), Mr. Beckett, and Mr. R. Clive.
The only Bill upon the list was the

YOILIC AND LANCASTER.
The evidence in support of the allegations of the petition before the
Committtee was resumed.
The remaining allegations of the several petitions against the Bill
having been discussed at great length, the Cominittie finally de-
clared the standing orders not complied with.
They then adjourned at about quarter-past ens till twelve to-
morrow.

Sub-Committee No. 2.
The members assembled at twelve precisely, Sir J. Y. Buller in
the chair. There were but two Bills on the list, namely, the Thames
Haven, Dock, and Railway (No. 2), and the Bideford and Tavisteck,
both of which stood over from yesterday.
THAMES RAVEN, DOCK, AND 12.AMCNITILY.
The refractory witness, whose absence caused this Bill to be ad-
journed yesterday, having been brought to his senses by a summons,
the case was proceeded with, and the standing orders declared corn- i
plied with.