The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-10 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE HOP DUTY.

IMPORTANT DEPUTATION TO THE CHAN-
CELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
Yesterday afternoon an important and influential
deputation of hop growers and others from Kent,
Surrey, Suffolk, and Hampshire, had an interview
by appointment with the Right Hon. B. Disraeli,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer (who was accom-
panied by Sir Stafford Northcote), at his official
residence in Downing-street, to solicit the right
hon. gentleman to grant a remission of the May
instalment of the hop duty now due.
The deputation consisted of Mr. Wm. Deedes,
M.P., Mr. P. W. Martin, M.P., Sir Brook Bridges,
M.P., and Mr. A. S. Ayrton, M.P., and about 100
hop growers, &e., from Horsmonden, Sussex,
Boughton, Preston, Rye, Peasmarsh, Rochester,
Selling, Lower Handy, Frencham, Farnham, Alton,
Wareham, Wye, H-unton, Icklesham, Chilham,
Bowhill, Brenchley, Peckham, Mayfield, )(aiding,
Tonbridge, Faversham, Sandhurst, Lewes, St.
Leonard's, Bearstead, Hadlow, and other places.
Mr. DEEDES, M.P., introduced the deputation,
which, he said, it was needless for him to tell the
Chancellor of the Exchequer was most numerous
and influential, but he might say that it was indi-
cative of the feeling of all hop-growers and others
interested in the subject of th duty. Since the
right hon. gentleman was kind enough to receive
a deputation in April last a county meeting had
been held in Kent, at which the greatest unanimity
prevailed, and the following resolutions were
agreed to :—First, "That this meeting is of opinion
that in consequence of the ruinous low price obtained
for hops after four years of abundant crops, and the
home growers having been deprived of the advan-
tage they might have reaped in 1854 from the
Customs' duty having been reduced from 455. to 28s.
per cwt. in that year, it is impossible for the plan-
ters to discharge the very heavy excise duties
required of them without the greatest difficulty, and
in some cases without absolute ruin. This meeting,
therefore, fully endorses the representation to this
effect made by a deputation from various parts of the
hop districts to the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and concurs in the earnest petition made to that
right hon. gentleman to grant an entire remission
of the instalment of the duty payable in May ;"
2d, " That, with a view to place the hop-planters
in a position to obtain remunerative prices for the
fature, an earnest suggestion be made to her Ma-
jesty's Government to propose the entire remission
of the war duty and 5 per cent. upon it; which, in
the opinion of this meeting, would be no less an
act of justice than of essential benefit to the hop-
planters generally." Upon these resolutions a me-
morial had been drawn up, which he would read.
The hon. member, having read the memorial, which
was a mere reflex of the resolution, and praying
that the war duty and 5 per cent. be remitted, con-
cluded by introducing
Mr. DARLEY, who spoke at some length on the
subject. He said he had determined to abstain
from taking any part in the movement ; but when
he saw the mischief which was caused by the agi-
tation in Kent, the weald of Kent, Sussex, Surrey,
and Hampshire, and finding that in those places
there was a determination to get this question finally
settled if possible, he felt justified in coming for-
ward to assist in getting the agitation put an end
to. (Hear.) The chief thing they appeared before
the right hon. gentleman to ask him for was, a
remission of the war duty on hops—in fact, a remis-
sion of the May instalment. He should not take
up time by going into the details of the great dis-
tress caused by the impost, but he could not help
thinking that hops were the most heavily taxed
article in the kingdom—(hear)—and yet the growers
had not the same protection as other classes. Ho
knew there were difficulties in the way of a Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer dealing with one interest
and not with another, but there was not another
interest situated in the same position as theirs ; and
if the remission they now asked was granted, he con-
sidered it would only be a repayment of a part of what
had been taken from them. And he wished to observe
that not only were the hop-planters affected, but
the population of the hop districts must seriously
feel it. As to the reduction of the duty to id. per
pound, he had never been in favour of the total
repeal of the duty ; but he repeated that he felt
askf etahuesea
b
tbhoeunadg,itianticoonn, steoqcuoennicee
foorfw' tahred manisdchie
Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer finally to settle the ques-
tion by giving a remission of the war duty and
5 per cent, upon it, leavino.b
them the £2 ss. pro-
tection duty, by doing which a boon would be
given to the planters, and a great deal of trouble
saved to Chancellors of the Exchequer. The hop
trade had been tampered with till it was in a great
dilemma, and to be relieved the growers had sunk
all minor differences, and asked her Majesty's Go-
vernment to finally settle the question.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer asked if the
present depressed state of the trade was owing to
or resulting from foreign competition ? .
Mr. Darby replied that there was too much en-
couragement for foreign competition. He com-
plained that the interference of the legislature had
seriously affected the trade, and said that 19s. 7d.
' was far too high a price to charge on the probable
crops.
Dr. Monckton said it did not matter how many
were in the market if they (the English hop-
growers) only had remunerative prices; but as it
was they were restricted in their production and
limited in their prices by the:foreign competition.
If they had fair remunerative prices they could pro-
duce more good hops than the demand would require.
He then went on to argue that the hop trade was
a mere speculation, and that while the Exchequer
was receiving large sums from the growth of hops
the growers were being pauperised.
that in
two letters from growers,_ the first stating,
nl ld startingltetteenrwr etih;
wnpoeatr
eytat:hoeetnlajacess:.
five years the writer had lost £3,044,
a capital of £3,000; and in the sew
writer said he had to sienlalthailsmehnotTaswhe
They
st:
c i
.ewnnehtnxottc.
hri it
.e: E::::::
reaped
littehr
the
and
benefit. .Whatthie
duty, and if this May
in thousands, and therefore
cases might be found . .
the remission.
he would have to sell his cow to meet it. These
they prayed for
want to be told the subject
.should considered ;
cussing it as a political matteranbde they did not
immediate relief. It had theybeen re-
marked must not be
misled ; some hops might have obtained that, but
that hops sold at 475., but theyhe had seen many thousands sold at 20s.
re i
ce CHANCELLORof hops
at
theOf thevi.,e
present
wanted
Dr. MoNcKToN—He might
b:tw e
b .. fairly presume to say
that the price of hops now
. was 20s. per cwt. more
than it was six months ago, s ago, but it was the mer-
chant and not the
question, not between the grower and.
growerbut
brewer ; therefore it could not be said
that it would
interfere with the poor man and his glass of beer.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said—l do
not wish to hurry the gentlemen who have to ad-
dress me, but as I have an important appointment
with the Earl of Derby to meet his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge at 3 o'clock, I trust you will
excuse me retiring. Sir Stafford Northcote, who site
by me, will listen to all that you may now have to
say, and inform me of the same. I can only say at
present that in three days you shall have an answer
from me on the main question which ru have
brought before me. (Hear, hear.) The right hon.
Monckton haTing
' gentleman then withdrew. Dr.