The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-20 00:00:00

representations and suggestions, as contained in
their memorial, theirwbeet consideration.
•

- THE WHOLESALE TEA- AND SUGAR
MERCHANTS.
A deputation from this body of gentlemen waited
on the Chancellor-of the Exchequer in reference to
certain changes in the shape of stamps that were
to be imposed upon tea and 'sugar, tobacco, &c., im-
ported into this country, and which was bonded
upon its arrival here. The deputation consisted of
Mr. Horsfall, M.P.,Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P., Mr.
Blackburn, M.P., r. Somes, M.P., Mr. Baxter,
MP., Mr. Vance, M.P., Mr. Dunlop, M.P., Mr.
Dawson, M.P., Mr. Dalgleish, M.P., Mr. Mil-
ler, M.P., Mr. Gore Langton, M.P., "Sir M.
S. Stewart, M.P.,Sir Hugh Cairns, M.P.,
the Hon. F. H. arker, M.P., Sir E. Grogan,
M.P., Colonel Sykes. M.P., Sir J. Ogilvie, M.P.,
Sir J. Ferguson, M.P., Mr. Redmond, M.P., and
several of the wholesale tea and sugar merchants
from Dublin, Liverpool, Hull, Edinburgh, Greenock,
Leith, Glasgow, Belfast, Bristol, Cork, and other
towns. - '
Mr. CLAY, M.P. for Hull, introduced the depu-
tation.
Mr. STEINE, of Liverpool, said that he had at-
tended a large meeting of the tea trade in Liverpool,
and with one exception the feeling of the meeting
was favourable to the principle upon which the
Budget was based. They only took exception to
some details as set forth in the alteration proposed
to be made upon transfeting tea in bond from one
place to another. The alterations objected to were
inserted in clauses 11, 12, and 13 of the resolutions
laid upon the table in the Committee of Ways and
Means. The objection, however, to the 11th clause.
was got rid of by the right hon. gentleman's ex-
planation in his letter to Mr. Glyn, which had been
published in the various journals. The 12th and
13th clauses were strongly objected to, on the ground
that no tea or other goods that had been bonded
could be transferred without extra payment for eaeh
removal. All the tea.imported into this country is
necessarily placed in bond, and there it is kept under
the care of the Customs watch-dog.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—And who
is to pay the watch-dog ? (A laugh.)
Mr. STEINE then went on to object to the pro-
posed charges on the removal of tea out of bond,
because these removals were frequent as regarded
each package of tea.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Are the
removals of one package of tea frequent ?
Several Voices—Oh, very. Sometimes the one
package is removed 20 times.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—What pro-
portion of tea imported into this country undergoes
removal in bond
Mr. S rIKINE—More than three-fourths.
The CtrAsTcELLoR of the EXCHEQUER said he was
afraid that they Could not go through the details of
the question. He suggested that they should em-
body their objections in a memorial, laying down
some plan by which the principle they main-
tained ought to be carried out. He felt sure that
any suggestion coming in a proper spirit from them
would receive every consideration from the Go-
vernment.
Mr. STEINE said the trade which he represented
would much rather that an additional ld. per lb.
should be charged to the present ls. sd. duty on
tea than that their trade should be crippled by
these various complicated charges.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—What I
propose will only create £15,000 or £20,000 per
annum, while by your suggestion you propose to
give me something like £350,000.
Mr. STEINE said they had no wish to throw the
burdens off their shoulders, for they knew that the
Government must have a revenue, and ought to
have a surplus ; but the revenues should not be
raised in a manner that would hinder, harass, and
fetter trade. In fact, the 12th and 15th clauses
would render the trade impracticable.
Mr. GLADSTONE—Is that additional penny made
to me as a suggestion from all the gentlemen pre-
sent ? (Cries of "No, no.")
Mr. STEINE said he stated that this was the
feeling of the trade which he represented.
Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN, M.P., on the part of the
consumers, strongly protested against this pro-
posed increase of a penny additional duty on tea.
(Hear, hear)
Some conversation then ensued, in which it was
shown that the same objections urged in respect to
tea would apply to sugar, pepper, coffee, rice, soap,
and tobacco.
The CHANCELLOR of the. EXCHEQUER said that
it was impossible for any memory to retain so many
subjects, and again suggested that the several ob-
jections should be embodied in a memorial, to which
he would pay every attention.
The deputation, having thanked the right hon.
gentleman, then withdrew.