The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-31 00:00:00

THE COOPERS' TRADE.

Mr. HUME rose to call the attention of the House to
the depressed state of the coopers' trade in Great Britain,
and to move that the House would, early in the en-
suing session, take the petition of the coopers into
consideration, with the view of relieving them
from their present distress. Great changes had been
made in our tariff, and the coopers considered that
their interests had been neglected, and their trade in-
jured. They complained that the colonial market had
been thrown open to the Americans, while a duty of 25
per cent. was maintained on the raw material used in
this country. It was, therefore, impossible for them
to compete with the Americans in the colonial market.
All that the British coopers wanted to prevent them-
selves and their families from being ruined was, to be
placed on the same footing with foreigners, with regard
to the raw material. The greatest benefit had
been experienced by those engaged .in the cabinet-
making trade from the reductions which took place
in the duties on mahogany, Amboyna wood, and rose-
wood. If a reduction took place on the raw material of
the wood from which staves were manufactured, he had
no doubt the change would be soon beneficially felt by
the coopers.
Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion. •
The question having been put.
Mr. GLADSTONE said he was sure the Hon. Gen-
tleman did not desire to obtain the sense of the House
on this subject, and that his wish only was to raise a
discussion. He agreed with the Hon. Gentleman as to
the hardship which the coopers suffered, and he had
doubts of the expediency of imposing a heavy duty on
wood, or a class of articles like staves. Ile had said
that the coopers attributed their distress to causes
to which it was not to be properly attributed, and the
Right Hon. Gentleman appeared to him to be under the
impression that it was owing to the change in 1842, that
distress had fallen on them. He would not hesitate
to assert that their position was improved by the
change in the law which had taken place in 1842.
At the time the change was made he had reason to sup-
pose that the trade were satisfied with the arrangement.
He now came to the alteration of the colonial duties
and the duties charged on the importation of staves
into the West Indies. The parties said their position
was materially worse since the change in the jaw,
and to that they ascribed the distress under which they
were suffering. But the Hon. Gentleman was misin-
formed as to the extent of that change.. The Hon.
Gentleman stated there was a prohibitive duty on
timber, which was not the case. A most exaggerated
degree of importance had been attached to the change.
The causes of distress must be sought for elsewhere. It
arose from the falling off in the general production of
the West Indies, which had caused a diminution in the
importation of staves both from this country and the
United States. It arose in some degree also from the,
to
decay of the whale fishery, which had been reduced
an insignificant amount ; and another reason for it
might be found in the high price of staves from the
Baltic. Another cause had also operated against the
trade in London. The great brewers had lately adopted
a new system of collecting their empty casks from the
publicans, in consequence of which the quantity of empty
casks in the cellars of the public-houses was much re
ducod, and that acted injuriously on the coopers of Lon.
don. Again, a certain portion of the coopering of Lon-
don had been transferred to other places. The trade of
brewing bad lately considerably increased at Burton-on-
Trent ; that had affected the trade of the coopers in
London; but, at the same time, the state of the trade was
at the present moment not so bad as it had been repre-
sented to be. There had been a great increase in the
importation of staves during the first six months of the
present year as compared with the first six months of last
year. The duty paid OA staves during the first six months,
of 1843, was 8,6691„ and during the first six months of
1844, it was 15,900/. This justified him in saying that
these figures showed at least a revival of trade. Then,
as to the benefi ts to be derived from a reduction of duty,
he should be glad if he- could re-echo the sentiments of
the Hon. Gentleman, and state, that since the alteration
in 1842, the furniture trade had revived. The declared
value of the export of cabinet ware in 1840, was 78,0001.,
in 1841 it was 76,000 L, in 1842 it was 75,0001,, in 1843
it was 80,0001., and during the first six months of 1844,
it was only 35,0004 showing a smaller amount of trade
than during any previous year, and showing it was not
59 easy W get back st trade that was lest, . The lime

must not suppose that this question was free from diffi-
culty. It was not a mere question as to whether, by the
sacrifice of a revenue of 20,0001., they could save an im-
portant trade, but there were other trades in a position
analogous to that of the coopers. There were the im-
porters of wood fur the making of packing cases. They
paid a duty upon the raw material, whilst
foreigners imported their packing cases free
from all duty. Perhaps the Hon. Gentleman would say,
admit all packing-case wood free from duty.—(" Hear,
hear," from Mr. Hume.) That might be all very well,
but the wood imported for this purpose might be ap-
plied to very different purposes. Now, with regard to
the coopers, wood imported for staves might be used for
wainscot, and for other purposes. He did not say
that was any reason why the House should not take the
question into consideration ; but he would remind the
House that this was not a simple question on the subject
merely of the duty on staves, but that it went into the
general question of the wood duties. He hoped that there
were symptoms of a revival in the coopers' trade ; and, at
all events, he believed that the coopers were not correct
in attributing the distress under which they were suffer-
ing to the continuance of the duties on staves, but that
that distress was attributable to other causes which were
in the course of removal, and he hoped that the coopers'
trade would soon be in a better state than it had been
for some time past.
Mr. HL TT thought that the question between his
Hon. Friend and the Hight Hon. Gentleman as to the
cause of the distress was matter of minor consideration;
th

e fact of the existence of that distress waki
admitted by the Right Ilonourable Gentleman,
and that was the great point for considera-
tion. Ile had frequently called the attention of the
Right Hon. Gentleman to the subject, and he had. been
gratified to find that that attention had always bees
earnestly and feelingly given.—(Hear, hear.) He ad-
mitted that this was no simple question. It was mixed
up with the question of West India distress, and with a
variety of other questions. Owing to this state of things
the coopers had become Chartists, and if he were a
cooper himself he should have great •difficulty in• not
becoming one. He would take every opportunity of
forcing this subject on the attention of the Government.
Mr. HUME replied. The Right Hon. Gentleman
had not candidly stated the question at issue. The re-
lative situation of the coopers now and the coopers in
former years was not the question. His complaint was,
that no drawback whatever was allowed on the manu-
factured article, and without that not one single cask
could be sent out of England. There was a shop in the
Strand where the cooper's work from the United States
could be purchased at twenty per cent. under the cooper's
work of this country. As long as they levied a duty
of thirty per cent., it was impossible that a single article
could be exported. He would suggest whether the.
coopers might not be allowed to manufacture in bond
for the West Indies and the colonies generally. If that
advantage were conferred the English merchants would,
doubtless, give the preference to their own countrymen.
After what had been said he should not take the sense
of the House upon his motion.

Lord SANI)ON hoped the Government would give
their attention to the subject, as it was a very pressing
case.

---
After some short discussion the motion was withdrawn.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
The Earl of LINCOLN, in moving for leave to bring
in a Bill to empower her Majesty's Commissioners of
Woods and Forests to form a terrace and embankment,
wi di convenient landing places for the public, on the
Middlesex shore of the river Thames, between West-
minster and Blackfriars bridges, said that he did not
mean to press the measure during the present session ;
but he was anxious to give Members an opportunity of
considering the matter in all its bearings.
Sir C. BURRELL opposed the Bill.
Mr. HUTT thought the measure would be an advan-
tageous one, though he disapproved of many of its pro-
visions.
Mr. HUME said he thought those provisions in the
Bill which were intended to effect improvements, would
be the greatest possible impediment to the navigation of
the river.

Sir F. TRENCH said he had been examined before
the Committee, and gave his evidence on the belief that
Mr. Walker's proposition of embankment had been
adopted. Improvements should not be confined to one
bank of the Thames, both should be improved equally.
A view of St. Paul's should be opened to the river, and
nothing could be more magnificent or desirable thee
such a view would be.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
HEALTH OF TOWNS.
Mr. MACKINNON rose to call the attention of the
House to the report of the Select Committee on the Im-
provement in the' Health of Towns in 1842, which
states, " That the practice of interment within the pre-
cincts of large towns, is injurious to the health of the
inhabitants thereof, and frequently offensive to public
decency." Also, to the report of the Ecclesiastical Com-
mission, as follows :—" The practice of burial in the
church or chapel, appears to us in many respects inju-
rious, in some instances by weakening or deteriorating
the fabric of the church, and in others by its tendency
to affect the lives or health of the inhabitants ; we are
of opinion that this practice should in future
be discontinued." Parliament had been too
long neglectful of the disgraceful condition in
which the churchyards of the metropolis were.
Instead of exciting feelings of awe and rever-
ence, these venerable graveyards excited nothing but
feelings of disgust. He would not mention the names
of particular places. They were notorious as they were
abominable. Let them view the burial places on the
Continent, Pei e le Chaise for instance, and they would
see nothing to offend the eye or the ear, but everything
to inspire feelings of reverence and admiration. Was
it not a shame_that the wealthiest, and in all respects the
greatest, city in the worldshould be surrounded by grave-
yards so hideous and noisome that it would be disgrace-
ful to the most barbarous countries? They talked of the
march of intellect and civilization, but let them recollect
the decent and solemn regard which was paid to the
dead in Greece, Rome, and in Egypt. The Right Hon.
Baronet would have a great deal of leisure during the
recess, and hoped he would devote a portion of his time
to this most important subject. He wished to know
whether, in the course of the ensuing session, the Go-
vernment intended to introduce, any measure on the
subject.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he would not discuss
the subject at present. It was a most difficult one to
legislate upon. It was impossible to bring forward
any measure on the subject, and until he could
introduce one in all respects satisfactory, he did not in-
tend to call for Parliamentary interference. Nothing
could be worse than legislating on such a subject by
piecemeal.—The subject then dropped.
DON CARLOS.
•

Mr. P. BORTHWICK then rose to move for copies
of all correspondence which had passed between Don
Carlos (or on behalf of his Royal Highness) and her
Majesty's Government, relating to certain propositions
which had been made by that Prince, having for their
object the tranquillisation of Spain; as also copies of
all correspondence which had passed between her Ma-
jesty's Government and the Governments of France and
Spain respectively relative to the said propositions.—The
Hon. Gentleman alluded to a question which had been
put by the Earl of Clarendon in the House of Peers to
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, but he was called to
order by
The SPEAKER who said that it was quite irregular
for the Hon. Member to refer to anything which had
occurred in the House of Peers. _ _

Mr. P. BORTHWICK said he would bow to the de-
cision of the chair. He contended that the proposition
which had been submitted to the Government of this
country by Don Carlos relative to the affairs of Spain
had been misunderstood and misrepresented, and in
order to show this he called on her Majesty's Govern-
ment for the production of these papers. He denied
that Don Carlos was the representative of despotism, or
that Isabella was at the head of a Liberal Government.
He could not look upon that country as enjoy-
ing constitutional liberty, three-fourths of which
was always in a state of seige. Why, he
found by the public Gazette of Spain, that lately 147
men had been called out one morning and shot
without the form of trial. He would ask when had Don
Carlos shown any disposition to withhold constitutional
liberty from the people of Spain ? He said that no in-
stance of Don Carlos having done so could be found.
He (Mr. Borthwick) trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman
at the head of the Government would not oppose this
motion on a point of form, seeing that a principle of
justice was involved in it.
Lord J. MANNERS seconded the motion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER looked
upon the motion of the Hon. Gentleman as one which
had been made merely to give the Hon. Gentleman an
opportunity of expressing his opinions upon the subject.
He thought that in the House of Commons, when papers
were moved for, the Government ought to adhere as closely
to matters of form as they possibly could. The House
had before it the whole facts of the case, and he did not,
therefore, think it necessary to enter more at length into
it in resisting the motion.
The Marquis of GILANBY said the affairs of Spain were
at presentin a state of confusion, in consequence of the
disputed succession ; a proposal had been made to arrange
the matter by a marriage between the young Isabella
and. the family of Don Carlos, and this, he thought, was
the -only manner in which the contest could be ter-
minated.
Mr. BORTHWICK replied, and asked if the informal
part of the correspondence was refusekwhether the Go•
vernment would also refuse that part of it which was
strictly
official, and which ought to be before the House.
This question was not answered ; and on the motion
being put, Mr Borthwick called for a division, in which
the numbers were—
For the motion
Against it 33
Majority against the motion —3l

FINE ARTS.
Mr. WYSE then presented the petitions of which he
bad given notice of, from artists and friends to art, in
London and Dublin, praying the establishment of gal-
leries for the reception of casts, or the best works in
sculpture, from the earliest period to the present. 110
recapitulated the statements in the petitions of the ad-
vantages that would arise from such an institution, and
allude to the orderly and praiseworthy manner, in which
the people had behaved when admitted into collections
of works of art. Such a gallery, if made, ought to be
as complete as possible, and contain specimens of various
schools and ages, from the Egyptian and Persian, to the
Greek, the Roman, the midoeval, and modern schools. Its
influence on art would be important and salutary. The
Right lion. Gentleman concluded by moving that an
humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying
that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to take
into her favourable consideration, the prayer of those
petitions for the establishment of a gallery for the pre-
servation of works of art.
Colonel RAWDON seconded the motion.
Dr. BOWRING thought there was no person in this
country to whim art MS SO mach indebted. as his Right