The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-20 00:00:00

DUTY ON PAPER

i with all the precautions now taken many frauds were
committed. It was useless, therefore, to look for re-
MEETING OF MANUFACTURERS. : lief by any relaxation of their regulations, for they
An important meeting of paper-manufacturers was were not more strict than necessary to prevent fraud,
held at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, yes- ' and nothing less than total repeal would be effective.
terday, for the purpose of taking steps to procure On the occasion of their former meeting some opposi-
the total abolition of the duty on paper in the ap • ; tion had been offered to the resolutions by the sta-
proaching session of Parliament. Similar meetings ' tioners, who then objected to the repeal of the duty.
were recently held at Manchester and Edinburgh, I He did not know whether they contined to be opposed
and a deputation from the Manchester meeting, con- I to such a measure, but there were several causes,
sieting of Mr. Crompton, Mr. Potter, and another perhaps, to which much opposition -might be attri-
gentleman, attended at the present meeting to offer buted. The stationer derived some advantage from
their co-operation. Sir William Magnay, Mr. the discount which he obtained from the manufacturer,
Dickenson, Mr. Gaussen, Mr. Pewtress, Mr. Law- who was obliged to give discount on the amount
rence, and a number of other gentlemen interested of duty as well as on the material, though he had
in the subject of the meeting, were present. Ito pay the Government in ready money. Some
J. DICKENSON, Esq., having been called to the stationers also took advantage, which the present
chair, said he had great satisfaction in explaining to state of the law afforded, of making bargains
so numerous and respectable a meeting the injurious by buying from those fraudulent makers who had
effects of the Excise-laws on the manufacture of not paid the duty; and the prices at which the goods
paper, and in calling on them to use their most stre- were thus bought were used as the means of screwing
nuous exertions to obtain a repeal of the duty that down the honest maker to the same scale.—(Hear.)
pressed so heavily on their manufacture. In 1836 But the stationers themselves suffered from the effects
the paper manufacturers obtained a partial reduction of the regulations for obtaining the drawback, and
of the tax, and they obtained an equilisation of the were also becoming aware of the injurious tendency
Excise duties on different kinds of paper; from which of the duty on the consumption of paper; therefore
measures, however, the manufacturers had not de- it was to be hoped they would no longer offer opposis
rived the expected advantages, and he trusted they tion to the endeavours to obtain a repeal of the tax.
would be enabled to obtain redress for the intolerable The repeal of the duty would certainly lead to the
grievances which now oppressed the trade, by the employment of an additional number of hands; he
total removal of the duty; for he felt convinced that confidently believed double the present number would
by no other means could the remedy they sought be be employed, and that consideration alone rendered
procured. The reduction of duty before granted by the question a:most important one in the present eon-
the Government had, indeed, been of service, and the dition of the country.—(Cheers.)
public had derived great benefit from the consequent Sir WILLIAM MAGNAY said he was glad to find, not
reduction of the price of paper. The reduction of price only by the presence of so large a body of paper ma-
had, of course, greatly increased the consumption ; and nufacturers, but by letters from different parts of the
thus it might have been expected to have benefited country, that they all concurred in the object they
the paper manufacturer; but the increase of consump- were assembled to promote. The stationers also, he
tion had not been adequate to the expected demand, understood, are not so much opposed to the repeal of
and reduction of price had exceeded the proportion the tax as they were, the only real difficulty with
due to the diminished duty ; consequently, the menu- them being the uncertainty in the trade which. the
facturer had suffered, though the public had reaped agitation for the repeal of the duty occasioned
considerable advantage. The duty at present pressed whilst it lasted, as they did not like to
very heavily on some branches of the paper manu- purchase, and were afraid of loss on the
facturer, to the amount, in some cases, of 150 per stocks they held. 'With respect to the new mode
cent.; and on the larger portion of the produce of of making paper which had been adverted to by
the mills, it amounted to 80 per cent. The depres- their Chairman, he could net conceive why it should
sion in the price of paper had been occasioned partly be exempted from duty; for if so, other paper made
by the reduction of the duty, and partly by the eva- by a different process than usual might also be
sion of the payment of any duty by fraudulent exempted; and as it was, all the commoner descrip-
makers. The Excite had, for the purpose of pre- tions might be manufactured on the same plan that
venting frauds, adopted many stringent regulations, was now practised in making mill-boards and roofing
which were greatly annoying, and tended to injure paper. With respect to the damages done to pack-
the trade in many ways; but, nevertheless, the frauds ages at the Custom-house, to which the Chairman
continued. In one instance that had come within his had alluded, he could bear ample testimony, having
knowledge, it was the practice of a manufacturer, himself suffered severely from it. He had frequently
whose name he would not mention, to pay the Excise sent out numbers of packages to the colonies, and as
duty on half the paper he manufactured, and to re- frequently he was informed by the parties to whom
tain the duty on the other half. He (Mr. Dickenson) they were sent that one, two, or more of these pack-
had paid much attention to the subject of collecting ages on each shipment were damaged and obliged to
duties and preventing fraudulent practices; but he be sold as waste. This was a serious loss, and for a
felt convinced that it was impossible for any law or time he could not account for alleged damages, as he
regulation, however stringent, to prevent fraud in the had himself seen all the packages carefully secured.
paper maker, if so disposed, and it was a known fact He afterwards found that the damaged parcels were
that frauds to a great extent were still continued. those that had been opened at the Custom-house and
The Excise regulations greatly impeded trading ope- then repacked. This had been the case under the
tions, and the interference with the manufacture was former regulations, but now thet every package was
carried as far as it could be endured; but notwith- opened, the damage would become ruinously extene
standing their vigilance, the Excise could not prevent sive, and all the foreign trade would be of necessity
fraud. The uncertainty of the law also afforded an- confined to the foreign manufacturer who was not
other strong ground for the repeal of the tax altogether ; subjected to the annoyance. Sir William mentioned
for in some cases articles that came in direct compe- also instances of the frauds of foreign paper manu-
tition with the paper maker were at one time declared facturers, who stamp the names of English makers on
to be chargeable with duty, and at another time to their goods, and send them to England, where they
be exempt. Mr. Dickenson then alluded at some are reshipped for the colonies. In one instance
length to the process of manufacturing sheeting and he had caused a number of packages from
roofing paper, for which a patent had been obtained in Holland to be examined, on every one of which he
1833. In that manufacture the fibrous material, found his own name stamped. If the restrictions on
after being torn to pieces by passing it between spiked the paper trade were removed, he believed that at
rollers, was mixed with pitch and tar, and then rolled least double the number of people would be employed
out into sheets. The patentees got an officer of Excise in the making of paper, and the manufactures con-
to examine their mode of manufacture, and he was of nected with it. It would be the means more espee
opinion that it did not come within the meaning of cially of giving employment to women, of whose dis-
the
Act imposing a duty on paper. The paper makers tresses they had lately heard so much, and for whom
complained of this, and in passing the Act of 1836 it it was extremely difficult to find suitable work. In
was intended that such manufacture should be ren- proof of this he produced a French ornamental paper
dered liable to the duty. According to the strict box, of which an immense quantity are now imported
letter of the law that species of manufacture was pre- into this country. Those boxes were allowed to be
viously chargeable ; but, when it was found that it imported as manufactured articles at the ad valorem
was about to be especially included in the Act of duty of ten per cent., though made altogether of
1836, the parties got Mr. Duncombe and others to paper, for which the English maker has to pay the
wait on Mr. Spring Rice, then Chancellor of the full duty. It was the practice of the merchant to
Exchequer, and in consequence of their representa- enter them at a very low price, knowing that they
tions a clause was introduced in the Bill to exempt would fetch little at a Custom-house sale, and the
that manufacture from the payment of duty. The duty consequently does not amount to the fraction of
parties afterwards undertook to manufacture mill- a farthing ; whilst the duty on English paper would
boards and scale-boards, as well as roofing and be three halfpence per pound. The number of women
sheathing by their patent process, but after a lapse of employed in France in making those boxes was not
two years the Excise again claimed the payment of less than twenty thousand, and but for the duty charged
duty on such articles. The parties pleaded their ex- on the paper, they might be made in England cheaper
emption, and as another Act for regulating the duties and better. Another instance of the encouragement
on paper was about to be passed, the matter was not given by the paper duty to foreign manufacturers
pressed. In the subsequent Act of Parliament a was afforded by the glazed coloured paper in which
clause was specially introduced for rendering such pieces of linen are usually done up. The parties
manufacture liable to duty. The words were very ex- have the paper cut into slips, with the names engraved
plicit ; they expressly stated that mill-boards, with on each, and in that state they came to this country from
whatever material made, or by whatever process menu- France as manufactured articles, at ten per cent ad
factured, should be chargeable with the same duty as valorem, the value being set at the very lowest rate,
paper-14s. per cwt. Notwithstanding this Act, for the paper would be of no use to any but the per-
the parties set to work in defiance of it, and though sons whose names are engraved thereon. In this
the case had been represented to the Board of Excise manner the English paper. maker is driven from the
again and again, they refused to interfere. He (Mr. market in that kind of ornamental paper, for which
Dickenson) went to Mr. Wood on the subject, and he there is now a great demand. Embossed gold paper,
obtained a promise that the matter should be examined cut into slips, comes from France in the same man-
and reported. The Surveyor-General of Excise did, ner, at an ad valorem duty as a manufactured
in fact, report that the process was altogether dif- article, to the encouragement of the foreign manu-
ferent
from that of making paper, the material being facturer, and to the injury of our labouring popula-
in one case mixed, when dry, with pitch and tar, and tion, thousands of whom are thus deprived of em-
in the other case the material was reduced to a pulp ployment. The system of making up goods in orna- '
with water. It was, indeed, well worth making an mental ceverings to invite purchasers had been in-
alteration in the mode of manufacture, if by that creasing for some time, and would probably be much
means an article serving the same purpose as many more extended, and if the labels and ornamental
kinds of paper would be brought into the market paper for the purpose could be obtained from France
duty free. He had no doubt, from the first, that the without duty the English maker would be quite
article was chargeable with duty, and he adduced unable to compete under such disadvantage. It had
these variations in the opinion of the Excise officers, only been within the last three months that it
and on the interpretation of the Act a Parliament, had been decided that these ornamental papers might
to show the great grievances to which paper manu- be imported at an ad valorem duty, and the result
facturers were subject, from the uncertainty of the would be that all these things would henceforth come
law as well as from the duty itself. It was impossible from France. The repeal was the only remedy.
for the fair trader to compete with those who manu-dt Mr. GAUSSEN rose to move a series of resolutions,
among the paper:makers, which is attributable to the
factured a similar article without payinfglatnydeuhayd to the effect that great depression at present exists
wdheomahnadd
alotnlgeacsatrfraiiredpolany aanuds_etu_
no favour.—ra_t Excise laws ; that the manufacture of paper ought to
aanridgthhteyto
(Cheers.) In asking for a repeal :of h_e du yon be encouraged ; that the duties are at present ex-
paper, they would have the satisfactione oefathinkingo tremely unequal, being as much as 80 per cent. on
that such a measure would be greatly.be n fi i lt many some branches of the manufacture, whilst on the other
other trades besides their own. Millwrights, smiths, descriptions it is but 20 per cent ; that the Excise
mould-makers, printers, booksellers, bookbinders, pub-. regulations are insufficient to prevent fraud; that
great many other_ trades,t would derive
fishers, and asome articles of British manufacture are superseded
advantage from the repeal of
hhe tax ; and paper by foreign articles not chargeable with the duty ;
would become an article of muc more general use that the tax is greatly prejudicial to the publication
for several purposes to which other s substancesti were of books ; that the duty is the last Excise duty that
now applied. The tax on paper,amongoier, impor- presses on any considerable body of men ; and that a
tent prejudicial effects, 'produced_ great
__ injury
the
the memorial be presented to the Chancellor of the Ex-
publicationbooks. The late Mr. Rees, of the firm chequer, of and a petition be presented to Parliament,
and tated in evidence, be-of Messrs. Longman s Co.,.,embodying the resolutions, and praying for the repeal
of Commons, that
on
fore a Committee of the House
out of three of the duty on paper. In moving: these resolutions
an average not more that onebook suc- ]!Sr. Gaussen dwelt at some length,
on the injurious
it therefore
ceeded and paid its expenses ; re became tendency which the duty had had on the consump-
necessary for the publishers to remuneratehookfor
themselvesthe' tion of paper, and argued, from the great increase of
by the profits of the one successful cotton manufacture, consequent on the reduction of
of Mr. M'Culloethr
losses on the others. The authorityth
addition that not duty on the raw material, that a similar increase
confirmed this opinion, with
twenty
would have taken place in the manufacture of paper
pays its ex-
more than one pamphlet out ofE..
had the Excise duty been taken off. The 'revenue
According to the present Excise regulations, derived from
penses.
to the dealer in cotton, having been the present duty was 620,0007., there
he privilege that was granted g an increase of 60 per cent. in the menu-
was refused to
at nd to other dealers in taxed articles,
to keep facture of paper since the reduction of duty in 1836 ;
the publisher; for whilst they were permitted
els_ but the increase ought to have been much greater,
their goods in bond without paying duty
tuon i ad sale and were the Excise restrictions taken away the paper
was effected, the publisher was compelled pay duty manufacture would make most rapid progress, and
all the sheets that were printed, thoughthe greater_ afford the means of employment to a large portion of
on
became afterwards useless. If the the population.
perhaps,
portion,
thus injuriously on publication, it The resolutions were •
tax operated
must also operate prejudicially on
education; and in Mr. NORRIS urged upon the meeting the absolute
the right
these times, when education was considered
the rich necessity, if they took any steps at all, of acting
of the poor, and that it was the duty of vigorously, and bringing the question to a speedy issue.
essentialr
was more than everdh Nod one could doubt that the 5 per cent. duty, which
provide the means, it
f know-
that so great an hindrance to the spre a o a been imposed, had, from the very first, been paid
delays
ledge should be removed. The dfficulties
and
the duty outH of the pocket of the manufacturer.—(Hear, hear.)
h attended obtaining the drawback of . .
.e thought that if, by any means, they could indem-
whic
constituted another source of injury nify parties who had
on paper exported, a large stock on hand against
andgave the foreign loss, they would •
to the English paper maker,. obviate any great difficulty and
manufacturer great and unfair advantages. Formerly secure more combined efforts.
mthse difficulties of obtaining the drawback of duty were_ Mr. CROMPTON, of Manchester, who attended as
without seriously affecting the fo- one of the deputation from a meeting
only annoyances, . held yesterday
the recent Custom-house in that town, spoke most
reign trade - but, since . despondingly of the present
ff Is ofstate of
frads, the Government, smarting under the e ec
and
the losses they had sustained, had made new he represented there were assembled the manufacturers
more stringent regulations on the shipment of goods, of one-fourth the whole amount of paper made in
and now all packages of paper and books were taken England, and they were of opinion that nothing but
out of their cases, looked over, and then bundled ruin awaited them unless the tax was repealed.
without care into the cases again and shipped.l The Mr. P RWTRESS inquired whether there had been
mischief did not end there, for it had. been
the
the
.any intimation. received from the Government of their
custom to packandpaper going to West intention to repeal the duty, or
books . .
cases, and in 'cat' had taken place whether any comn:u-
long sea voyages, in tin i
Indies, or on
lderieg of these cases and examining pack-t.ie_ . Mr. icieerssom said there had been no cornmuni-
the reso ..
books and paper were frequently soiled, and cation made vet, as it was deemed requisite to have
by the
resoldering the whole contents the support a a general meeting by the carelessness in before application
These vexatious regulations was made. Now that they
were often damaged. were backed by the reso-
for subse- lutions of this meeting did not apply to French paper imported g they should go to the Chan-
t- tion therefore our colonies could now cellor of the Exchequer with greaterconfidence,
quent expor.a and
with foreign' paper more readily, and in endeavour to make out their •
case in the same manner
be supplied
condition,
flanp
paper of English manufacture, as the soapmakers and glassmakers had done.
betterf 1
maker received greater facilities for A PAPERMARER from the country, whoprincipally
r the foreign
colonies than the English manu- manufactures the lower class of papers,
to cur said he had
sending hostile tariff could have a worse severely felt the effects of the
facturer. Nointroduction of the
effect on the trade than these Custom-house French boxes. He had formerly received extensive
and if these obstacles were conti- orders for an article called " button board,"used
regulations,
in
• r trade must. making boxes, butaery the orders had been dis-
Mr. Dickenson said he had endeavoured to point continued by his customers, and he was at a loss to
out some of the most prominent disadvantages attend- account for it. The mystery was now solved ; for he
and some of the benefits that had no doubt that it was the importation of
ing the duty on paper,
French boxes that hadcausedthe '
derived from its repeal; but no one could
would be
of the good that would re- the manufacture for which the article
conceive the whole extent . was employed.
of paper from the After some discussion, in ,the course of which it
suit from the total emancipation
than total
excise. He felt assured that nothingless. alwas stated that the. London paper makers intended to
repeal would do. The Board of Excisehad end ea- act in concert with those in the country, and would
voured to make their arrangements so as to be as little be glad to have their co-operation, a committee was
vexatious as possible to the fair trader, but nothing appointed for drawing up the memorial and petition,
short of very strict supervision could detect fraud, and and for waiting on the members of the Government to