The Sun.
London, England, 1832-06-19 00:00:00

THE NEW SCALE OF DUTIES.

A meeting of the merchants, brokers, and ell;
interested in the trades which will be affected t
the proposed alteration of the Vice-President at
Board of Trade in the duties on various articleirt
ti
commerce, was held yesterday evening "at the C°,' ..
mercial Sale-rooms, Mincing-lane for the purpot4,
taking into consideration the best measures t°:‘
adopted to obtain an alteration in many of the if
posts. Mr. L. Finlayson in the chair.
Mr. T. SMITH said he had called the pre66
meeting at the suggestion of many merchants
others who would be seriously injured by the °,
scale of duties. He contended that the new piolle;
duty was not founded ott reason. The Governlso
appeared not to desire to assist the British ploilo,
tions. In the article of Alkinet Root, the us
was to be reduced from 41. 13s. 4d. to 45,,1
cwt. But unless merchants and others who ",
paid duty on this article had a drawback, great
jury would be inflicted. Annatto was 01
reduced from 11. Bs. to 4s. per cwt.; .f
would throw many out of work, without 1,
corresponding advantage to the public. iiii,
was to be reduced from 2s. to 6d. per lb.;
ce
he felt sure no one would take an extra dose in
~,i
sequence.—(Laughter.) The reduction of the 'o'
on foreign hemp from 4s. Bd. to id. per cwt.,ol°o!
prove very beneficial to the shipping interest,
to the home trade; but he thought there ,4
changes contemplated in the scale, which pot
foreign produce in a more favourable situation t,,,
similar articles, the growth of our colonies. Ife;,
eluded by moving a resolution, to the effect gh4
Committee be appointed to wait on the Pre'
of the Beard of Trade, to point out the mad
fects in the proposition now before the House.
Mr. WILKINSON thought the present was eti
time when the measures of Ministers should n
P• t
eded There could be no doubt but that his di
jesty's Government would make returns of dutiet
the stocks of those articles on hand, the impost,
' which had been so greatly decreased. Thee
cles were not, however, of great consumption' .d'
alkinet root not more than 16,7931. had been pay'
duty in the last twelve months. Almonds we'
be reduced from 11. 11s. Bd. to 4s. per cent. ; ~,i
on looking at the Custom-house returns, only pi
cwt. had been paid duty on this year. Ile c‘iii:
dered they would now waste their strengths ''s
ought to be reserved till the measures of allot
formed Parliament were seen. He, therefore, 5
move, that the meeting be adjourned sine die. ij
Mr. FOWKE considered that Ministers sbollcr .
informed how little the community would be to
fired by the proposed reductions. Indirect ,di
taken off only benefited the dealers in article./
reduced. The reduction of the hemp &a
good, as it would benefit the shipping in ii
There were many parties who had paid high ""
on stocks on hand, who ought to he relieved.,l4
the other band, many speculators in cajeput 01/
cholera drugs, who bought at high prices six 01,4",'
since, would be benefited, thouh these svi,
were now " drugs" in cons equence of the de' .
of the cholera.
I'
Mr. NORTIICOTE supported the amendtneri,.t'tid,tl
druggists were principally affected by the redti"hotti` "
and they knew and suggested many of the 4"0
some time back.
A GENTLEMAN said, he knew one in the
who would lose 1,0001. by the reduction. flatl
The amendment was put and negatived, s"
original motion was carried.
Mr. Sastrn then moved a resolution to the e 4
that the meeting considered that the tradingsePr
munity of the port of • London would be bc ol
by the formation of a Committee of Trade,
Chamber of Commerce.
the sorb;
Mr. WILKINSON cordially seconded -e tP;
Manchester, Liverpool, snd other places, iniv„ l',
Chamber of Commerce. If a merchant, u.:1,1 1";
merest error, and not with intent to igi
King, had his goods seized, he had to nlegilaitl',
the Board—then, perhaps, the Treasury, °SS°
the mistake. At last an order was sent 010€1,
deliver the goods, on satisfying the seizinfistroyo.
the goods in the meantime being, perhaps, je 1 ttY
or the market lost.—(Hear, hear.) the
chants had experienced this evil, and its