The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-16 00:00:00

every reason to I elieve that it would be impossible to
sell foreign win at in our markets, at a profit, unless tl e
price in this country averaged from 40s. to 46,. a quarter.
He very much rep., tied to find that the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Chaccellor of the Exchequer did not
propose to deal with the stamps on marine insurances,
because they contributed very materially to diminish the
prac ice of such insurance in this country.
Colonel DUNNE said he regretted to find that the
state of Deland had been so carefully avoided by her
Nlajesty's Government since the commencement of the
session.—(Laughter.) It was manifest that the repeal
of the corn-laws, whatever might have been its effect in
this country, must have materially injured Ireland.—
(I fear, hear.) He bad reason to think that that country
could not have lost less by the change than 6,500,0001.
luring the years 1847 and 1843. Her Majesty's Minis-
ters proposed to advance 1c aes for the improvement of
laud in Leland; but he could tell them that the gentry
in that country were becoming indisposed to borrow
money for such a purpose, because they found that the
land did not repay the sums laid out in its improve-
ment. —(llsen hear.)
Mr. SANDARS wished to observe, in reply to a
statement of the llon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Wil-
son), that what he (Mr. Sanders) contended was, that in
ordinary years a fixed duty on corn would not raise the
price in this country, although in 3 cars of very low
prices like the present it would act as a protection to the
agriculturist.
Mr. CAREW said he feared that in the present de-
pressed condition of agriculture in this country, the good
old system of leasing on a term of years would be dis-
continued, because agriculturists would be unwilling to
bind themselves to the cultivation of the land for any
lengthened perior!. He should also observe that ho
thought landowners would not be much disposed to avail
themselves of the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman
,he Chancellor of the Exchequer, or to charge their es •
Cates with fixed payments. He would suggest that
buildings should be included in the works to which the
proposal was to apply. He believed that would materially
improve its working.
Mr. SLANEY believed the abolition of the brick duty
would be advantageous not only to the landed in-
terest, but to the humbler classes of soeiety.—(Scar,
hear.) Many Honourable Gentlemen imagined that the
only mode of lightening the pressure of taxation was by
the reduction of taxer. But he thought the tame effect
might be produced by stimulating the industry, en-
terprise, and spirit of those persons by whom ca-
pital was created, for every million created dimi-
nished the amount of taxation paid by the remainder.
Ile asked the Government to give fair play to the
humbler classes, who had not hitherto sufficient oppor-
tunities of beneficially investing their small savings. If
they desired to purchase a small portion of land, the
txpense of the transfer had been most enormous, and
the same remark applied to investment by way of mort-
gage. He thanked the Government for what they had
done, and believed that the remission of the tax on the
conveyance of land would have a most beneficial effect.
Captain HARRIS said his remarks on a former oc-
casion had been somewhat misunderstood. What he
said on the motion of the Hon. Member for Surrey was
this—that he looked upon the motion as one to compel
the Government to a revision of taxation. By that re-
vision of taxation he meant a re-distribution more equal
and fair to the agricultural interest, which was acknow-
ledged by all parties to be in a state of great distress.—
(Hear, hear.) By re-distribution he contemplated a
revenue tariff such as that proposed in 1842, and a re-
distribution of local taxation upon a fair basis, and in
that case he should be satisfied with a ss. duty upon
corn.—(Hear, hear.) He regretted to find that the
Customs revenue had considerably fallen off within the
last few 3 ears, for, whilst the amount: in 1844 was
24,000,0001., it was now under 20,000,0001., and that
not withstanding the immense extension of capital and
enterprise. He did not believe that any material reduc-
tion could be made in the expenditure without a com-
plete revision of taxation.
Mr. HEY WORTH considered the present mode of
taxation exceedingly unjust to the working classes; for
whilst capital had increased, the demand for labour had
l'ecre w ed. He was satisfied that, sooner or later, direct
taxation must be substituted for indirect.— (Hear.)
Mr. MACKENZIE understood that the grant for
drainage was to he a conjoint grant for England and
Scotland. Now he was told, with respect to the last
grant, that because Scotland had shown such prudence
and foresight—(Laughter)—as to obtain tat ea-fourths of
the grant, that country was now to be limiter tin her com-
petition with England. He considered this. a poor re-
turn to Scotland tor showing such a high appreciation
of the former boon.—(Laughter.) 'rile people of Scot-
laud would consider themselves hardly treated in being
excluded from a fair competition with En gland; whilst
England, not being inclined to take the in Duey by fair
means, was to be compelled to do so by &ct of l'arlia-
ment.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Mr. GOULBURN paid a high complimen t to the ser-
vices of Mr. Brooksbauk, whose death had be ,en adverted
to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Brooks-
bank, for the last forty years, had been most unremit-
ting in his attention to Ids public duties; find he (Mr.
Goulburn) and those gentlemen upon whont similar du-
ties had devolved had been greatly indebted to that gen-
tleman for his invaluable services.—(llear.)
Colonel SIBTHORP said they had a Meta ment of the
financial affairs of the country, but there webs no balance-
sheet. There was, it was said, a million and a half sur-
plus—but in his opinion there was no surplu s at all, but
they were rather in debt—as they had not yet repaid,the
loan to Ireland. All the speech of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer was hopes, and promises, and vvither, but no
performances. He had never relied on a. Chancellor of
the Exchequer in his life, and never would do so.—(A.
laugh.) There was not a word about reds Icing the sala-
ries on the Treasury bench.—(Hear, hear..)
Mr. HEALD said he would strictly con tine his obser-
vations to the topics of the Chancellor of t: re Exchequer.
He first expressed his belief that the prospt tray of the in-
dustrial classes had not kept pace with the increase of
capital in the country. That was his own conviction, and
he had thought so for many years. His conviction was
that the shopkeepers were amongst the in oat suffering
portions c f the community.—(Hear, hear.> He regretted
that the distance between the industrial classes and the
capitalists appeared to be every day increasing. He did
not presume to state the reasons of this, 'but it was the
fact. He approved of the reducing of the .Excise duties,
and the roped of the duty on bricks.
Mr. HENLEY said he had heard that the remission
of these duties was a decided boon to the agriculturists;
but he thought no such thing.—(Hear.) 'Three parts of
the brick duty was paid by the people in towns. With
regard to the subject of the loan, lie could understand
now what bad been said about the price of corn. Its
object was to keep the agriculturists emplo 'red, and then
the Chancellor of the Exchequer would co inc down and
ray, see how successful this free-trade has been. He
did not consider that the agriculturists had -.received any
special inter est.
The vote e as then agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN reported the resola,on, and the
House resumed.