The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-11 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

. W _ ...__,~.._. ______

The half-yearly meeting of the Liverpool Cham-
ber of Commerce was held yesterday, Mr. W. J.
Tomlinson, Chairman of the Chamber, presiding.
There was a numerous assemblage of the members,
and among those present was Mr. T. B. Horsfall,
M.P.

The CHAIRMAN explained that the meeting had
been postponed from the 17th of August to the pre-
sent time, chiefly with a view to having Messrs.
Horsfall and Ewart, the members of Parliament
for the borough, present. Mr. Horsfall had been
able to attend, but he (the chairman) regretted that
an unavoidable engagement in the Isle of Man pre-
vented Mr. Ewart from attending.
The Secretary then read the report, of which the
following is an abstract ;
The report commenced by narrating the titles of
several Bills more immediately connected with
commercial matters, which in the course of the
recent Parliamentary Session had been under the
consideration of the Legislature, but which had
been withdrawn or lost in the attempt to pass them
through the:two Houses.
In reference to the Budget of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, strong objection, it is stated, was
entertained by the Council with regard to the im-
port, export, and bonding charges, which were
considered likely to produce vexatious restrictions
upon commerce, and this was represented in a me-
morial to Government. Consequent on this repre-
sentation considerable modifications were effected
in the Bill which proposed to authorise them.
Strong objection was especially taken to the prin
ciple of ad valorem duties on the exportation and
transit of goods, and the resolutions were amended
by abolishing the transhipment and exportation
duty, and substituting a duty on the Customs bills
of lading of ls. 6d. for each shipment, and impos-
ing, instead of the charge for removal under bond,
a charge for bonding and removing of 10s. per
cent. on the amount of duty, and for bonding with-
out removal of ss. per cent., the charges for opera-
tions in bond remaining the same ; but, in confor-
mity- with a promise made to a deputation from the
Council, these last were afterwards abandoned by
Government.

In May last the Chamber, at a general meeting,
decided not to take any step in reference to the
action of the House of Lords on the Bill for the

Repeal of the Excise Duty on Paper. Since then,
however, the House of Commons declined to reduce
the import duty on foreign paper, which will be
liable to the usual Customs laws; and, as in that
case the British manufacturer would be placed at
a disadvantage, a memorial has been sent to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking that the same
facilities may be granted to English paper by the
Excise as will be given to foreign paper in bond.
A reply has been received, saying that the ques-
tion has the Chancellor's best attention.

The Council, after due consideration, agreed to
memorialise (with the Shipowners' Association and
the Steamship Association) the Judge of the Admi-
ralty Court for a withdrawal of his recent order,
which transferred to London the sale, under Admi-
ralty order, of ships lying in Liverpool, as they are
convinced that this port presents greater facilities
for an advantageous sale. There is every reason to
believe that the order will be cancelled by a rule of
Court.

Owing to the great differences which exist in
various countries and ports in the custom with re-
gard to the adjustment and settlement of general
average, an attempt is being made to assimilate it,
if possible; and the Council have appointed a de-
putation to assist in such attempt:
A proposal, suggested by Captain Sprye, of
London, for opening a direct trade with Western
China by way of Rangoon, and through Pegu and
Birmah, has been considered by the Council. The
proposal is one of a novel character, and required
very full information • but from what the Council
were able to learn they believe it is one deserving
the careful attention of the Government, and they
have forwarded a letter to Lord Palmerston pray-
ing that such steps may be taken by the Govern-
ment as may be deemed necessary.
In closing the report the Council express their
regret that several very important bills have been
Bill, the Companies
withdrawn from Parliament, such :ts the Bank-
ruptcy Bill, the Lien for Freight
Bill, and the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill, and that
no opportunity offered for the introduction of other
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in the
hope that they may be brought forward next session.
The CHAIRMAN then briefly reviewed the dif-
ferent subjects treated of in the report, He re-
gretted that the Bankruptcy Bill, which was one of
great importance to the country, and which was so
generally wished and expected to be passed, bad
not been passed. He said much discussion had arisen
with respect to the paper duties, and more than one
meeting of the Chamber had been held on that sub-
ject. At one of those meetings it had been ruled
that the Chamber should not interfere with party
politics, The resolution then adopted was one of
deep importance to the best interests of the Cham-
ber itself, and probably not less important to the
public. He then proceeded with remarks which
were almost an echo of the matters treated of in the
report, and concluded by calling on
Mr. HORSFALL, who, in rising to move that the
report be adopted, and printed and circulated, said
he should first take the liberty of acknowledging
the compliment to himself and his hon. colleague
conveyed in the last clause of the report. That he
took as an intimation that their conduct in Parlia-
ment during the late session, whatever might be
thought of that session itself, met with the appro-
bation of the chamber. (Hear.) With respect to
the Bankruptcy Bill, he expressed his sincere regret
that it was not now the law of the land. While very
unwilling to attribute blame to any one, he could
not help thinking that if the Attorney-General
had pressed the bill on the attention and con-
sideration of the house at an earlier period of the
session it might have been passed. It was un-
doubtedly a very long as well as very important
bill, and, as a whole, was generally approved, at
least in principle, by a great majority of the mem-
bers. It had made considerable progress, when it