The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-24 00:00:00

Mr. Baines, M.P., and Kr. Beecroft, M.P.

On Wednesday last the annual meeting of the
Leeds Chamber of Commerce was held in the
Town-hall, the chair being occupied by Mr.
Darnton Lupton, president of the association.
The two members for the borough, Messrs. Baines
and Beecroft, were present. Avery lengthy and ex-
haustive report of the proceedings of the Chamber
during the past year having been read, the chair-
man called upon several gentlemen to speak upon
special subjects with which they had made them-
selves thoroughly acquainted. Mr. Lister thus re-
marked upon the success which had attended the
efforts of the Chamber to prevent our English ma-
chinery from being subjected to foreign taxation ;
Mr. Ludoif spoke in favour of the establishment of
tribunals of commerce, showing that they could be
worked economically, and that their decisions were
almost always respected in towns where such tribu-
nals were established ; Mr. Wurtzburgh urged that
the late monetary crisis had practically tested the
inefficiency and incompleteness of the Bank Charter
Act ; and Mr. J. Jowitt contended • that not only
should the names of shareholders inlimited liability
companies be published, but also the exact number
of shares they held in those concerns. Mr. Beecroft,
M.P., confined his remarks altogether to the mone-
tary crisis of last year, saying that in 1866 the
country had been overtaken by a most disastrous
financial panic. Panics of this character appeared
to occur at intervals, but the one of last year recur-
red at a shorter period than the average Of such
crises, and the explosion fell upon us with the greater
suddenness. The consequence was that it was at-
tended with results of a more ruinous character than
had been the case for a long period, for it was most
unexampled in intensity and in duration. He consi-
dered that the late crisis certainly presented itself as
a proper subject for investigation, and it was an in-
quiry of the greatest importance in its character. Its
operating causes ought to be ascertained and traced,
so that they might be able, from past experience, to
try if they could not prevent such widespread mis-
chief in future. He would impress upon -their com-
mon sense the universal importance of the subject,
and urge upon them the necessity of the most strict
investigation into this important matter • , for, directly
d by the inquiry.
the whole nation, were all affected or indirectly, the whole conamercialcommunity, if not
It affected us not only as regarded labour, but
as regarded capital also. It touched the labourer
as u well
It affected the investing
public Therefore it was that
pwliee a as
nd the
their
investments.b
some information ought to be obtained about our
public companies—who were their originators, who
were their shareholders, and who were their direc-
tors. The inquiry also affected our circulating
medium, our credit, our banks, and other institu-
tions. He thought the work would be a proper
work to be done by each local Chamber of Com-
merce, but it would be still better if it could be
undertaken by an inferior Chamber of Commerce,
directed and supported by each local Chamber. The
matter ought also to be ventilated in Parliament ;
but by whoever the work was done, and when, he
only trusted that it would be thoroughly accom-
plished and impartially conducted. The unfortu-
nate Bank Charter Act might have had a little to
do with the panic, but it was only one of the causes
therein, and ought not to be made the scapegoat to
bear all the blame of the financial disaster of 1866.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Baines, M.P., after some pre-
fatory observations, said the evidence in favour
of the success of the Tribunals of Commerce in other
countries was so strong that he should certainly feel
inclined to give them a trial in England. At Brad-
ford, the other day, Lord F. Cavendish, M.P., and
Mr. Forster, M.P., had attended the meeting of
the local Chamber of Commerce, and in their

BELFAST, Jan. 22.—The supplies of flax in the various
markets during the past week were considerably larger than
werethose of the week preceding. The demand for all de-
scriptions continues very animated. No change of import-
ance has taken place in prices. For yarns the demand con-
tinues very languid; prices unchanged; stocks increasing.
Were spinners to submit to a slight reduction in prices a
considerableamount of business would be the result. Thera
is little demand for linens (brown), power-loom, except
for printing lawns and the Sner sets of light linens and
roughs, which are in good request, at full rates. Some de-
scriptions of goods have a slightly downward tendency.
Hand-loom light linens, printing lawns, diapers, and da-
masks are in fair demand, at full rates. Heavy linens,
linen handkerchiefs, and drills are not in active request,
prices of which remain unchanged. The demand is dull
for cloth for dyeing and Hollauds and cambric handker-
chiefs, which might be bought at slightly rAuced rates.
In bleached and finished linen the home trade is inactive.
American and continental advices unfavourable. Stocks
generally very small, especially those of light linens.
NOTTINGHAM, 23d.—In the hosiery business the home
trade for spring orders remains quiet, but there is an in-
creased demand for winter goods, owing to the extreme
severity of the weather. The foreign trade is not quite so
active as it has been. In yarns there is a decidedly down-
ward tendency, some houses asking ls. per 101 b. bundle
less than last week. Generally speaking, the hands are
well employed, although some of them have not full work.
Tho lace trade is steady, but quite the usual amount of
business doing for the time of year. There aro a few or-
ders in from Germany and New York.