The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-29 00:00:00

GLASGOW CHAMBER OF -COMMERCR.

THE TEA DUTIES..

At a recent meeting of the Chamber of Comm.n.ce it
was reiolved that the following memorial on the subjcet
of the tea duties should be transmitted to Lord John
Russell :

" To the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, First Lord of
her Majesty's Treasury, &c. The memorial of the
Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and Manu-
facturer, established by royal charter in the city of
Glasgow,
" Respectfully showeth,—That your memorialists have
of late years repeatedly addressed her Majesty's Go-
vernment,. praying for a reduction of the heavy import
duty on tea.
" That the Select Committee of the House of Corn.
mons, appointed in 1847 to inquire into the state of our
commercial relations with China, recommend in their
report a considerable reduction of the duty on tea, as
most desirable in itself, with a view to the comforts and
social habits of the people, as involving but a temporary
loss of revenue, and as essentisi to the extension of our
trade with China; nay, even to its maintenai,ce at the
point to which it has already reached.
" That 3our memorialists have good reason to believe
that any Joss of revenue from a literal reduction of the
duty un tea would only be temporary, and would, in a
year or two, be nearly, it not entirely, replaced by the
greatly increased consumption of tea, and by the in-
creased consumption of sug•tr which must necessarily

That your memorialists feel warranted in entertain-
ing this opinion, from the fact that, notwithstanding the
universally prevailing taste for tea among all classes,
the actual consumption of this country does not exceed
one pound and throe-quarters annually for each indivi-
dual of the whole population; while in Australia, and in
those countries where tea is not burdened by a heavy
duty, the consumption per head is more than double that
rate; and even the allowance to the poorest emigrant on
his passage to Australia, is a quarter of as ounce per
diem, or at the rate of nearly six pounds per annum.
" That, in support of their opinion, your memorialists
may further adduce the effect of the reduction of the
duty on coffee, and of the large remission of customs
and excise duties during the last eight years—meastires
which, instead of a permanent loss, have been followed
by an increase of the net revenue. They would also refer
to the fact that during the period of a moderate duty on
tea, from 1784 to 1802, the consumption of that article
increased from five millions to about twenty-five millions
of pounds, or fivefold. Your memorialists would also
point to the effect of the reduction on the duties on
sugar, which has already been followed by an increase
of about 60 per cent. in the consumption of that article.
"-That to a very large portion of the people of this
tea may be considered as one of the necessaries
of life, and that to bring this article within the reach of
the poorer classes would not only greatly add to their,
domestic comfort and happiness, but tend to promote'
the moral and social welfare of the whole community, by
checking the evils which arise from the intemperate use
of ardent spirits and other intoxicating stimulants.
" That while the duties on a great many articles have
of late years been abolished, and on many others greatly
reduced, tea is almost the only article which stands as
an exception to the wise and liberal system of redtic-
tions by which the general benefit and welfare of the
community have been so greatly promoted. While sugar
and coffee and other articles of consumption are subject
to duties ranging from 50 to 100 per cent. ad valorem,
tea is still burdened with an import duty of 150 to 200
per cent., and even more on the lowest qualities—all
qualities being alike subject to a duty of 2s. 2kd. per lb.
And although changes in the mode of levying the duty
have been made, yet substantially the same heavy rate
has been levied since the opening of the trade with China
in 1834.

" That a liberal reduction of the duty on tea would
greatly extend the commerce of this country, and espe-
cially our direct trade with China and her vast popula-
tion of 360,000,000. Such an extension of trade was natu-
rally expected by British merchants at the conclusion of
the war with China; and, although these expectations
have not been realized, and the trade with China has for
many years retrograded, and is even now stationary,
when every other branch of trade is rapidly
increasing, there is yet good reason to believe that
a liberal reduction of the duty on tea would enable
British merchants to purchase much larger quantities of
that article in China, for which the Chinese would
willingly receive British manufactures in return ; and
that this increase of our direct trade with China would
cause a corresponding increase in other branches of our
national commerce, in extending the field of employment
for our manufacturing population, and for the numerous
classes connected with the shipping tnd navigation of the
country. _ _

" That a considerable reduction of the duty on tea
would be only an ant of justice to China, which ought
not to be overlooked. The Chinese Government admit
British manufactures at a duty of 5 per cent., while the
staple product of that country—tea—ia subjected here to
an import duty of 200 per cent., whereby not only the
commercial advantages which China might derive from
a more extended trade, and to which she is justly en-
titled, but also peace and good understanding between
two great nations are impeded.
" That the ability of the Chinese to meet any addi-
tional demand for tea, occasioned by a reduction
of the duty, cannot be reasonably doubted. The con-
sumption of tea in China is very large, and there is
every reason to believe that an increased demand for this
country could bs supplied without greatly enhancing the
cost price ; and that any immediate rise of prices in
China would soon be counteracted by the increased pro-
duction which the demand wou'd occasion.

" May it therefore please your Lordship to take these
premi.ea into your early and favourable consideration,
and to advise her Majesty's Government to sanction a
liberal reduction of the import duty on tea.
"Signed by order of thu directors, and sealed with
the seal of the Chamber of Gla-gow, this 20th day of
January. " HENRY DUNLOP, Chairman.
" JoRN G. KINNEAR, Secretary."