The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-30 00:00:00

Gevniany, and neighbouring countries, there is an in-
surance of one-third on every hundred pounds. while
the premium is two shillings and five shilings,
the duty on sailing vessels is four shillings,
and seven shillings and sixpence, and ten shilling-s.
Under these circumstances it is necessary to reduce the
duty, in order to secure to this country the advantages
to be derived from marine insurances. In order to effect
this, I propose, not only to reduce the duty, but to alter
the scale on which it is levied. The present rate of
duty is as follows;-For every 1001., where the premium
does not exceed 15s. per cont., the duty levied amounts
t° Is. 3d. per cent. ; where the premium exceeds 155.,
but does not exceed 305., the duty is 2s. 6d. per cent. ;
end where it exceeds 30s. the duty amounts to 55 per
Cent This presses unduly upon small insurances. I
therefore prop )se to reduce the duty and to vary the
rates according to the following scale. For every 100/.
insurance, in NN hich the premium does not exceed 103.,
iepropose to levy a duty of 3d. instead of Is. 3d. ; where
th premium does exceed 10s. but does not
exceed 205., a duty of 6d. instead of ls. 3d. ;
Ind in some cases 2s. 6d., as at present ;
"'here the premium exceeds 20s. but does not exceed3os.
a, duty of is.; where-it exceeds 30s. but does not exceed
408- a duty of 2s. ; where it exceeds 40s. but does not
exceed 50s. a duty of 3s. ; where it exceeds 50s. but does
not exceed 60s. a duty of 45.; and where it is above 60s.
11 duty of ss. I calculate that during the course of
the present year the diminution of revenue con-
segue..et,.
upon this reduction will amount to 100,000/.
But I calculate that during the course of the
following two years after the change shall
have been effected, there will he a sensible increase in
the disposition of foreigners to come to this country to
effect their insurances, and that the country will reap
the advantage even if no advantage should be derived
the revenue in consequence of this reduction.-
(Uheers.) It is also my intention -partially to
reduce the Stamp duty on agreements and on
f,'.r,?xies for votirg for Railway Companies, but those
enuctions will afiect the revenue to so very small an
riot, that I do not think it necessary to trouble the
which
on the subject. The next class of articles on
°_
I propose to make a reduction are articles of con-
su.n.icp
tiou. The first one is an article, in mentioning
74 .11 I shall no doubt excite the laughter of the House
Thisraiegan
every fitttg
the article of currants.-(Cheers and laughter.)
value of article ofgeneral consumption, and is, therefore
Tig article for reduction, whether we consider the
the article, the duty which is impo,ed upon it,
levri.ch.e countries which produce it. One of the countries
from th‘nroduce it derives nearly the whole of its wealth
tile produce of this article. The value of one cwt.
of currants is 405.; according to our tariff, on this cwt. of
Currants there is a duty imposed of 225. Now, what are
currants ?---(A laugh.) They are but grapt s after all.-
"lenewell laughter.) They are an article of
great , consumption among the lower orders of
;oe people. They constitute a luxury agreeable
to them, and beneficial to their general health.
Currants
are mainly consumed by persons in the lower
ranks of society, and the duty is a very large one. I
therefore propose to reduce the duty on currants from
Ps. to 15s. Sir, there is another argument also in
Layout of this reduction,-currants are the main
Produce of the lonian Islands, whose intimate con-
nection with us affords an argument in favour
I)'p our promoting their interest by promoting that
branch of industry from which their resources are chiefly
ederived. I have said that currants are mainly derived
'Pm the lonian Islands. Those which do not come
from thence, come from Greece ; and whatever may he
said of that country in other respects, it must at least be
eonfesged that it treats Great Britain, as regards
commercial intercourse, with the most perfect fairness.
---,(Heer, hear.) For these reasons-and I could mention
others if
it were necessary to do so-I think we
are justified in making a sacrifice even of 90,000/. of
re..venue, which is the amount which I calculate will
re the first instance be lost on this branch of revenue, on
,z half of those classes of society who look upon this ar-
ticle as a great luxury, but who are now in a great degree
debarred from its consumption by the price at which it
thteld--(Hear.) The next article to which I would call
„„e attention of the House is that of coffee.-(Hear, hear.)
4ne Rouse will recollect, that when the general arrange-
tnt
of duties took place, in 1842, the distinctive
and
upon foreign and British coffee were fixed at Sd.
4TI 4d.; that is, there was duty of Bd. upon the one, and
Oil the other, and that extent of discriminating duty
beta,g extremely large, with respect to the value of the
Lnl,."'e on which it was imposed, was only maintained
tie" ground that we were then engaged in negotia-
lis with Brazil, which made it extremely difficult and
Illiudie*
ious at that time to reduce the duty on foreign
duller
to the amount to which we should have thought,
`titieuer other circumstances, it ought to have been re-
tie I think it right, therefore, to avail myself of
, optortunity which the termination of those negotia-
oot,,
due as given m-,
e to recommend the House to re-
'rh e the duty on foreign coffee from Bd. to 6d.
I hate
reduction, I am satisfied, from all the examination
"are been able to give to the subject, will admit coffee
erY extensively for consumption in this country, with-
out in•
Jury to the interests of the celonies.-(Hear.)
ill"! effect of the high duty has been greatly to reduce
Leamount of foreign coffee consumed in the course of
vest year-indeed nearly 30 per cent.-for the reduction
~°B_B been from more than 11,000,0001b5. to less than
troo,ooolhs. It being a most important thing to extend
e use of a beverage which is a great luxury to the
rarerclasses, nd which at the same time that it is a
rarer
to them, supersedes those other luxuries which are
prejudicial to their health and morals-(bear)-I there-
fore,, take this opportunity of calling upon the House to
race the differential duty on this article upon a foot-
elg Which will admit of its most extensive use.-(Hear,
ar.) At the same time, it appears to me that it is but
Astice that a provision should be introduced into the
;-'ttstoms Bill, increasing the duty on chicory root.
44 consequence of the reduction of the duty
introduced
that root last year, chicory- root has been
-,,-"roduced to a great extent-it is ground in this
-(4ltr7; and nixed with coffee. Ido not say that the
coffee is deteriorated by the mixture, for that is a matter
exttsttea but the revenue has been defrauded to a great
root hasl 'losing the duty upon the coffee, for which the
different. Ire!' substituted. From these changes in the
be morie4 ditties, I caleulate that the loss will not
now to than 50,000/.-(Hear, hear.) I come
iltiPort What I may consider as the most
which aft article-I mean the duty upon wool,
ITP°II theprop°s° to take off altogether.-(Cheers.)
necessary for me to enter at present. In two succes-
sive sesgi
by th „reas they have been ably detailed to the House
gre 'ton. Member for Halifax, who has taken the
siratest
, pains with that department of trade. And,
may here say that, when I have resisted the
I di• odla which were alleged for the reduction of this duty,
(1/ SO only on account of the claims of the revenue-
hear)-and I never denied that wool was a raw
tu• terial of the utmost importance to the znanufac-
weB and trade of the country.- (Hear, hear.)
ere has been great competition between British cloth
nufacturers and the foreign cloth manufacturer ;an
ve least advantage given to the English
fo'_cOurse would place him in a better position than the
night Hon,
Sir, I do not intend to follow the example of the
inr,gh,,t Hon. Gentleman opposite, of merely partially reduc-
V. the duty on wool; but I have thought it better to remit
the duty on export and import of wool, and to leave
trade open.-(Cheers.) That duty produced last
yae7.11., altogether, about the sum of 100,0001.,
we must take that amount as the loss
'co will be sustained on that particular article, the
th"" `Setnent respecting which I shall recommend to
94 ouse. But I cannot but feel that, although we shall
t'le article itself sustain a loss, yet we shall
eve an additional stimulus to the industry of the corn-
ity
engaged in that branch of our manufactures
lite'Y to be benefited by this arrangement, which I be-
geewill more than compensate for the loss we shall
to fain. This is the last article upon which I propose
I." 'take any reduction. The total amount of
abotietion will be on glass for the present year 35,000/.-
titi,° vinegar in the present year, 12,0001-upon cur-
„u us for the present year 9,0001-upon coffee, 50,000/.
10013° ~,„4 marine insurances, 100,0001., and upon wool,
making a sum of about 390,0001. ; or, in round
Lei!'oers 400,000/., as the amount of reduction which I
stn eve We may safely make. Having made this
de,--ment to the House, I should have thought it my
14 here to close the observations which, I fear, I have
three,,4dY too long troubled the House with. But, Sir,
cos one article which, though not immediately under
the nsideration of the House, must necessarily form
te:object of very deliberate consideration-and with
vie'eut to which muck anxiety is felt with respect to the
eun„ws of the Government upon it-I mean the article of
per:. I should not think that I acted fairly towards the
engaged in the produce of this article, if
were not on the present occasion distinctly to state to
hogouse the course which it is my intention to pursue
1141 I move the sugar duties. The House will not ex-
de-.n3es as I shall so shortly bring before them the
hee "4 of the question, to enter into all the particulars
shoZsary to compose an explanation of this subject. I
to tnerely state the principle upon which I intend
this-'t; I allude to the subject now only because I know
No Lloreense importance to those connected with the
stCcith, andu manufacture of sugar distinctly to under-
00e "tore next May what is the determination of the
ern article. the ment with respect to that a • .
)31.,,;,110u5e is aware that the treaty with
kola' will come to a termination in the
trZ, of November next, and with that treaty with
j0y,,,i1l terminate the right which Brazil now en-
footiflu` Importing her produce into this country upon a
)thi -tsg of the most favoured nation. That treaty
iet c' enables Brazil to bring slave-grown produce
° this • 7
et '8 country will, in November next, be removed.
cool„stuYintention, in moving the sugar duties, to re-
nex;"eod to the House, that, from and after November
whieVhe duty upon sugar produced in those countries
are exempt from the taint of the
of slavetrade--tht do not raise sugar by means
1410 labour -shall be reduced from their present
under cer-
tainlin,,t• By this means we shall throw open, • _
good'egulations, to countries eastward of the Cape of
13pee-iniiiicTe, a valuable trade, and shall most
uhio--"Y encourage the growing commerce with
latio a, With which country, hitherto, our re-
tie have been extremelyconfined. And this will
done
A 8 hathat principle
without any departure from
• the re hitherto maintained and acted upon in respect to
of :layo trade-thus affording an additional supply
of tiger, which will greatly add to the comfort
the :'"e people, and give an additional spur to
ht industry of colonies in which we have the great-
putw and
interest. In thus speaking of countries
Press rcl of the Cape of Good Hope, I must im-
With ,11,13°n the House that I refer only to such
is _O. Inch we have relations, and wherein the sugar
t we
by differential
y wk. means of slavery. Sir, the ,
oa "len I shall propose to this House to be imposed
se
sever
gars from countries free from the taint of
stdial3; will be 10s. per cwt.-that whereas British cola-
the sugars pay a duty of 245. per cwt., the sugars from
quite entries I refer to shall pay 345. per cwt. I am
4/Vall it may be paid that although the treaty