The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-23 00:00:00

LONDON, fr at DA Y

him any long ter to meet the demand. He, ti terefore,
moved for leave to bring in a Bill which would: put an
end to that system of credit which even the Commis-
sioners of Ex cise, in their 16th report, had con( teamed.
The CIia.NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could
not, consistently with his duty to the public, rhgree to
the motion of the Hon. Gentleman, though he admitted
it was less objectionable than many proposals on the
same subject which had been brought under his notice.
It did not propose to put again into the pockets of the
hop-growers the duty they had already received; and he
admitted also that the system of extended credit Oven
to the hopgrsewers at their own request was a most fatal
gift. But it was not the way to put an end to thrill sys-
tem to bring in this Bill. It had been contender! that
when the protective duty was reduced, the hones duty
was not also reduced; but the protective duty 'was in
effect a prohibitory duty, as shown by the result; for
last year the consumption of home-grown hops am aunted
to 42,000,0001b5., while that of foreign hops was only
250,0001b5. If the proposed measure was to redros, the
foreign as well as the home duty in favour of the con-
sumer, there might be some argument adduced i a sup-
port of it; but the Honourable Gentleman propcesed to
exclude the foreign competition, and thus throw an
additional burden on the consumer. He admitted'. there
were exceptions in which the producer paid the duty;
but they had. been created by the producers themselves.
They had brouglit into cultivation for the growth`of hops
land that was not fit for it; but yet, since 1830 <with
the exceptio a of 1847) the duty had been regularly paid
each year. The average produce from 1843 to 1815 was
30,000,0001b5., and the price was very high-1213s . per
cwt.; in 18 45 it was 150 s. per cwt.; but in 1846,. 1847,
and 1848 they increased the growth to 47,000,0001 b%,
and the tiVel`A',l3 price fell to 755. per cwt. That was
before foreirnshops were imported, and it arose, from
the excessive production of inferior hops. In dm next
year the vice rose again, but then the produce in that
year (1849) was but 16,000,0001b5., while last y sex the
produce was increased to 48,000,0001h5., and the price
again fell. They were thus the cause of the evil. them-
selves. In 1848 he had received such representations of
the distress cif the growers that he put off the payment
of the duty, and in 1819 a deputation of influential peo-
sons waited on him, and represented that the country
would be smutted if the payment of the duty wris en-
forced; but he was hard-hearted enough to refuse ac-
quiescence itt their demand, and the duty, amouuting to
200,0001., was paid, with the exception of 8,0001.,, within
a month or Two of the collection being made. After such
instances as that, the Hon. Gentleman must not be sur-
prised if he did no: place very strong reliance oft those
statements of distress. The Burp us in the revenue
which he counted on for next year would only amount
to 250,0001., which would be swallowed up by the re-
duction of ale hop duty; and for that reason, as well
es the others he had adduced, he hoped the Souse
would support bins in rejecting the motion of Vac Hon.
Gentleman.

Mr. A. 13. HOPE said it appeared that the f set of a
certain number of men having paid their hop d qty was
treated as a, good joke by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. They were taunted with having made ,a great
many propositions on that subject, but why did not
somothine of the sort emanate from the Chancellor's
bench? It was also said that the hop-growers uttered
more complaints than any other class; but it slat uld be
remembered that no crop was more subject to vicissitudes
and the unfavourable influences of wind and weather than
that delicate, plant.
Mr. BASS said be had stated on a former occasion,
when that subject was under discussion, that the diffi-
creties under which the hop-grower at times laboured
were neither caused by the duties nor foreign importa-
tion, but the fluctuations in the amount of prod.ece. In
1837, the number of acres under hops had been 56,000,
while in 1843 they had diminished to 43,0,)0. In
1847 they were 52,000, and in 1850 had again fallen
to 43,000 coxes. With respect to the duty, there was
no article on which the consumer paid so little, in pro-
portion to the amount paid by the producer, its in the
case of hope.
Sir E. FILMER felt it to be his duty, as Member
for West Kent, to support the motion of his Hon. Friend.
He would defy the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to find
one tenant in the weald of Kent who had not for the
last two years paid his rent out of his capital, send not
his profits.
Mr. FULLER also supported the motioa.
Colonel SERTHORP was always an humble but per-
severing supporter of any proposition for the relief of
the agricultural interests; but when he saw Hon. Mem-
bers giving their votes in favour of a Government, which
opposed every suggestion for that purpose, he could not
reconcile himself to vote in favour of a partial ns easure
introduced by such Hon. Members. If his Hon.
Friend opposite was to disengage himself from his pre-
sent company --noscitur a sociis —(Laughter) and
bring forward a general measure for the relief of all
classes, he should have his support, but not other-wise.
Mr. FREWEN expressed his regret that his Hon.
Friend the Member for West Kent did not support the
motion relating to agricultural distress which had been
before the House. He thought there wes no part of
the kingdom in which so much distress existed ea in the
hop districts. There was no tax so unjust as that, and
it was the only one which remained unrepealed F,ince the
war. He had his doubts as to the accuracy of theprices
stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of hops da-
ring former years. He did not know upon what au-
thority the Right Hon. Gentleman had made his state-
ment. One house in the borough might tell one thing,
and another another thing; but a good deal depended
upon the quality of the hops taken. Even in one year
the hops grown in one part of the country brought a
much higher price than those grown in another. He
had heard of so much as 61. 103. being paid in Sussex,
but the average price was only 31. 7s. The planters in
the weald of Kent must have lost at least 1/. per acre on
an average. One great claim which the hop planters
had on Government for a reduction of duty was founded
upon the precarious nature of the crop. When the hop
growers got the lowest price for their hops, they had the
highest amount of duty to pay; and he therefore hoped
that the Government would take the case into their ear-
liest consideration. He (Mr. Frewen) doubted if a
single landowner received, in the rape of Hastings, one
quarter of his rental for 1850.
Mr. COBDEN could not understand the tactics of
the hop-growers and their advisers in this matter. They
called for a reduction of taxes, and they opposed a revi-
sion of taxation. The hop duty brought in only
300.0001. a year, and yet a little army of tax-gatherers
were employed to collect it. Such a thing was not
know exceptin Turkey. The fact was, that some great
brewers did not wish to have the tax repealed. If the
hop-growers of Kent and: Sussex were resolved to get
rid of it, they should demand its total abolition, and not
make two bites of a cherry.

Mr. PLUMPTRE said the penny a pound reduction
would be a great relief to the growers ; ae an Est Kent
grower he was prepared to accept it.
Mr. HODGES replied.
The Houso then divided, when there appeared__
For the motion...
Against it

BrookeColnrMajority _6l
Mr. HUME postponed his notice respecting Raja
M
Jane
thens. moved fora copy of the Order in
t 7, sanctioning the
11;ogrardeas by the
,LU'or letter from the
ClPomPlmierstsii°onnemrsadoef
alterations lately made in Kensinagnci)
r;stamandenalstoo
was no Order in Coun-
cil First Commissioner of the Woods
to the Lords of the Treasury or to the
oiorn
fo:htos
the heel copy
door)
Esr
extractyanmd ouoForests f at
snadmemorial forth
epreer La
Iv 3 s
ride in Kennington-gardens.
on the subject, therefore the Government •
produce it. The pleasure of her Majesty could
not
was made
known, and the gardens were thrown open.
Mr. HUME said it required an order from the Trea-
sury.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Hon. Gentleman was mistaken.
Mr. COBDEN was quite sure if it had been'known
six months ago that there would be no more enjoyment
for equestrians in the Park than now existed, he did not,
think any inroad would be made upon Kensington-gar-
dens. The Exhibition had realised the expectations of
every one.
Colonel SIBTHORP denied that it had. On the
contrary, the tradesmen of the metropolis had been
grossly insulted, and a gross wrong practised on them.
In these days everything was sacrificed to new nodal,.
The Honourable Member for the West Riding was the
poor man's frieud. The Lord deliver the poor from
such friends. Liberty, property, and everything 7148
trampled under foot for the purpose of obtaining pop-
larity. He (Colonel Sibthorp)
had never looked upon
that building, the Exhibition, and never would do.
England had patronised the foreigner, and condemned
her own people. The fools stepped in and stepped out
of the building to soo trumpery and trash, and omitted
to pay their tradesmen's bills. It was a desecration of
their religion. Nobody had a higher respect than ho had
for the most Reverend Prelate as the head of the Church
of England; but ho must say that he regretted to see the
part which that most Reverend Prelate had taken in the
opening of the Exhibition. He was not ashamed to say
that he (Colonel Sibthorp) had done everything in his'
power to check the Exhibition, which he believed would
prove a great curse to this country in a moral, social,
and, what was of more importance, in a religious point
of view.
Lord C. HAMILTON differed from the Hon. eirem_
ber for the West Riding when he said that the Exhibi-
tion had realised all the expectations entertained of it,
for be felt that the great object they all had in view
was still to bo attained—he meant such arrangements as
should facilitate the admission of the multitudes who had
hitherto been debarred visiting it by the high pries of

admission.
Mr. LABOUCHERE assured the Noble Lord that the
point to which he referred had not escaped. the attention
of the Commissioners. That very morning the Com-
missioners, in conjuetion with representatives from the
different railway companies, had been engaged in con-
sidering the best means of affording . to the multitades
the opportunity of visiting the Exhibition without in-
convenience and without danger to the public peace. He
would not enter into a contest with the Hon. and Gallant
Member for Lincoln as to the merits of the Exhibition.
For hi 4 own part he believed it would prove not only a
scurc,2 of national pleasure to the peopl.e. of this country,
but of great benefit throughout the civilyz?d world.
Mr. LUSIHN GTON said that he had been requested
by some of his constituents at Kensington to state their
dissatisfaction and disgust at the admission of equestrians
into Kensington-gardens.
The motion was then withdrawn.
THE KAFIR WAR.
In answer to Mr. HUME, who had a motion for a
copy of the (ET itch stating the estimate of the expenses
of the Kafir war.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, as
a matter of course, some uncertainty. attended any pre-
sent estimate. The report of commissariat officers esti-
mated the expense at 400,0001. if the war continued for
six months; but as he hoped it would not last so long,