The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-26 00:00:00

4.,...••••••~Tome,••••=,
ASSOCIATED C.FIAMBERS OF Colll3l.E.Reffi'

The members of the Associated Chambers of• Commerce
reassembled at the Westminster Palace Hotel Yester
day, under the presidency of Mr. Sampson 1,10 P"
The first subject was the

EQUALISATION OF TUE STAMP DUTIES ON INLAND 4.119

FOREIGN BILLS.

This was introduced by Mr. LUPTON, of Leeds, and the
following resolution was adopted without discussioa:-;
" That it is desirable that the stamp duties on inland alit:
foreign bills be assimilated, and that a deputation do Pre
sent a copy of this resolution to the Commissioners of In•
land Revenue."

The Leeds Chamber also brought up the following resa.
tution on

SPOILT BILL STAMPS.

" That a memorial be presented to the Commissioner°
of Inland Revenue asking that in future stamp office!
may be required to give new stamps to an equal value lend
exchange for bills which have not actually been comPlet
by acceptance or endorsement, if claimed within the
days from their date." This was carried without (11°‘
cussion.

FOREIGN TARIFFS.
; of
Mr. WHITWELL, M.P. for Kendal, read a series
reports from various chambers furnished to a committee
of the Associated Chambers appointed at the last meeting ~-
the question of foreign tariffs. These contained a number
of important statistics referring to the commerce of the
whole world.
Mr. BEHRENS, of Bradford, in moving that the repott4
be adopted and printed, remarked that as far as t,11),,
Bradford goods were concerned, they met with lit
competition from native manufacturers in the T.Thil'`;
States, but as the duties amounted to 60 Pei
cent of their value, they must naturally exclude a gret
amount of the goods intended for the great mass of the
people, and permit the introduction principally of Wse
which are worn by the well to do classes. As for Austrist
we had now the benefit of the most favoured 06
clause by virtue of the treaty of commerce which hs
received the sanction of the Legislature, but it Was
to be regretted that the supplementary convention 141
tinted by Sir Louis Mallet had not received the sanction°
the Legislature. That convention was entered into itl
order to carry out the original treaty, which provided dist
no specific duty should exceed 20 per cent. value of the inv
ported goods, and 15 per cent. from the year 1872. This °lli'
vention having to be submitted to the Reichsrath, accord'
ing to the existing constitution, was rejected through til
influence of the Protectionist party. Mr. Behrens trusted
that Government would not lose sight of this roatterci
While insisting upon the terms of the treaty Englati,
might not be able to obtain the full pound of flesh, butt
doubt a good practical treaty would be forthcoming.
Russian tariff, which had been brought out by
Midicell, would not lead to an extension of the legitimate
rade with this country. It might, however, operate 0.9
reduction of the profits gained by the smuggler, but nvtli
10 little more.
Mr. SOMERSET BEAUMONT, M.P., (Wakefield) was so/
to have to admit that the Austrian Parliament (that
the German portion of it) was more protective at the
present time than it had ever been before, but the Portil
that was Hungarian was extremely liberal. It rails.;
however, be remembered that the Hungarian Parliament
had not yet been in a position, owing to the elections
on, to consider the position of the tariff.
Mr. WRIGHT (Macclesfield) said all that the silk trade°
asked was reciprocity, or in other words justice.
Mr. BROCKLEHURST (Macclesfield) would earnestly 111.ge
11
upon the commercial community to keep a close Watch
upon the action taken upon tariffs in other countries.
Mr. FIELD (Birmingham) referred to some tPw
a
opinions expressed in the reports from individual clam;
bers. Some of these opinions might be looked upon at
disloyal to the principles of free trade. It would n'
do, therefore, that they should go forth in Prtt
,
as the sentiments of the present meeting.
moved an amendment to the effect that an addition
should be made to the effect that the Associated Charolle;
should not he held responsible for such sentiments as those
he had referred to.
Mr. BAINES, M.P. (Leeds) urged that this countrl
should at all times maintain the principle of absolute free
trade.

Mr. STEVENS (Plymouth) was afraid that the cluesti,l
Defore the chamber was in danger of becoming a polio
one. He reminded the members that the reports furnio-
by the several chambers were asked for and supplied ",
confidence.
The discussion was kept up for a considerable time, 1/11!
eventually, on the assurance of Mr. Whitwell that in t/16
report of the committee embodying the reports front tP
various chambers there was nothing inimical to the Pr".:,,‘
ciples of free trade, the amendment was withdrawn.

TREATY OP COMMERCE WITH SPAIN AND PORTUGAL'

Colonel ACKROYD M.P., moved and Mr. Monnis (0i:,114
fax) seconded the following resolution :—" That a dePncl
tion be appointed to wait on the President of the 13c6,,
of Trade and the Secretary of State for Flreign Aff°'4'4"
;
to urge the negotiation of a treaty of acommee
'-
with Spain and Portugal, whereby British goods
be introduced into those countries, at rates not exacti
those imposed on goods of French and German mannj-D:
tore ; and, if necessary for the accomplishment of thla ° I
ject, that an adjustment be made of the present scale o„,
duties on the importation of wine from those countries'
as to admit Spanish and Portuguese wines at the 814°
rate as French wines."
Mr. ALHEUSEN (Newcastle) complained that the
cellor of the Exchequer refused to treat with SPain
Portugal.
Mr. KING (Plymouth) cordially supported the res°,lhire
tion moved by Colonel Ackroyd. He hoped that 7of
deputation would take care to point out that the shiPPlw
of this country was placed at a disadvantage by not bei
able to carry goods to the ports of Spain and Portugab.ch
Mr. RICHARDS (Exeter) supported the resolution, will
was carried unanimously. gra
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by
MAxsTED (Hull), and supported by Mr. ALIO' of
;Newcastle), and other delegates, a very hearty votego
thanks was accorded to Sir Andrew Buchanan and o
t
Consul Michell for their great exertions in promoting "
treaty with the Russian Government.
Mr. MICHELL, in returning thanks for his chief $0
himself, gave it as his belief that in a few years tra
with Russia would be as free as with any other countrY.,,'
A resolution appointing a sub-committee on foreign '-
colonial tariffs was unanimously adopted.