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

Germany, and neighbouring countries, there is an in-
-11111v:ice of one-third on every hundred pounds, while
thepremium is two shillings and five shillings,
c duty on sailing vessels is four shillings,
f412c1 seven shillings and sixpence, and ten shillings.
Under these circumstances it is necessary to reduce the
duty, in order to secure to this country the advantages
10 be derived from marine insurances. In order to effect
ftuhis, I proPOse, not only to reduce the-duty, but to alter
V' Scale on which it
.is levied. The present rate of
duty is as follows i-For every 100/., where the premium
does not exceed 15s. per cent, the duty levied amounts
tO
but
Is, 3d. per cent, ; where the premium exceeds 155.,
does not exceed 305., the duty is 2s. 6d. per cent: ;
aellvd.wbe.e:e it exceeds 30s'. the duty amounts to 5s per
-e• This presses unduly upon small insurances. I
therefore propose to reduce the duty and to vary the
roes according to the folio% ing scale. For every 100/.
Insurance, in which the premium does not exceed 10e.,
sPropose to levy a duty of 3d. instead of ls. 3d. ; Where
ge premium dees exceed 10s. but does not
tXceed 205., a duty of 6d. instead of ls. 3d. ;
and in some cases 2s. 6d., as at present ;
where the premium exceeds 20s. but does not exceed3os.
I,dlety of is.; where it exceeds 30s. but does not exceed
"Los, a duty of 2s. ; where it exceeds 405., but does not
exceed 50s. a duty of 3s. ; where it exceeds 50s. but does
hot exceed 60s. a duty of 4e.; and where it is abose 60s.
k duty of ss. I calculate that during the course of
the present year the diminution of revenue con-
sequent upon this reduction will amount • to 100,0001.
But - calculate that during the course of the
following two years after the change shall
.
been effected, there will be a sensible increase in
the disposition of foreigners to come to this country to
effect their insurances, and that the country will reap
bYe advantage, even if no advantage should be derived
the revenue in consequence of this reduction.-
(Cheers.) It is also my intention partially to
reduce the Stamp • duty on agreements and on
Proxies for voting for Railway Companies, but those
reductions will affect the revenue to so very small an
extent, that I do not think it necessary to trouble the
Housewhieh on the subject. The next class of articles on
I propose to make a reduction are articles of con-
_SlMoetion. The first one is an article, in mentioning
wll,!ch I shall no doubt excite the laughter of the House
--T,_l,:nean the article of currants.-(Cheers and laughter.)
avui is an article ofgeneral consumption, and is,therefore
va leure' fitting article for reduction, whether we consider the
or thc,9! erticle, the. duty which is imposed upon it,
• e,"'°entries which produce it. One of the countries
from tc"'prlioedeu::i; derives nearly the whole of its wealth
of currae of this article. The value of one cwt.
currantsnis is • d.
there t o r tariff on this cwt. of
, accor nig o ,
entrants , is a duty imposed of 225. Now, what are
(R„„-'s laugh.) They are but grapes after all.-
gre-a"tewei laughter.) They are an article of
the consumption among the lower orders of
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
225. to 15se Sir, there is another argument also in
favour of this reduction,-currants are the main
Produce of the lonian Islands, whose intimate con-
nection with us affords an argument in favour
branch
our promoting their interest by promoting that
ur!tuch of industry from which their resources are chiefly
- derive& I have said that currants are mainly derived
-from
e the lonian Islands. Those which do not come
irom thence, come from Greece ; and whatever may be
said of that country in other respects, it must at least be
confessed that it treats Great Britain, as regards
commercial intercourse, with the most perfect fairness.
--(Hear, 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 90,0001 of
revenue,in which is the amount • which I calculate will
the first instance be boat on this branch of revenue, on
ar-
ticle of those classes of society who look upon this ar-
,eme as a
great luxury,but who are now in a great degree
idsebarre d from its consumption by the price at which it
aeld.-(Hear.) The next article to which I would call
the attention of the House is that of coffee.-(Hear, hear.)
The House will recollect, that when the general arrange-
Tent of duties took place, in 1842, the distinctive
noes upon foreign and British coffee were fixed' at Bd.
:U•ti 4d.; that is, there was duty of Bd. upon the one, and
u. on the other, and that extent of discriminating duty
g extremely large, with respect to the value ,of the
article
on which it was imposed, was only maintained
the ground that we were then engaged in negotia-
tions with Brazil, which made it extremely difficult and
`9!tlicious at that time to reduce the duty on foreign
coffee to the amount to which we should have thought,
duder other circumstances, it ought to have been re-
the I think it right, therefore, to avail myself of
e• °Prrtunity which the termination of those negotia-
• Ilk given me, to recommend the House to
That reduction,
• the duty on foreign coffee from Bd. to 6d.
;.u2tat reduction, I am satisfied, from all the examination
ves• have been able to give to the subject, will admit coffee
17 extensively for consumption in this country, with-
jury to the interests of the celonies.-(Hear.)
• ash
effect of the high duty has been greatly to reduce
the amount of forei coffee consumed in the course of
Fear-indeed nearly 30 per cent -for the reduction
97 well from more than 11,000,0001b5. to less than
tro,ooolbs. It being a most important thing to extend
use of a beverage which is a great luxury to the
Poorerr
classes, Prid which at the same time that it is a
luxury to them. supersedes those other luxuries which are
rejudicial to their health and morals-(Hear)-I there-
re take this opportunity of calling upon the House to
rue the differential duty on this article upon a foot-
hug which will admit of its most extensive use.-(Hear,
ieat.) At the same time, it appears to me that it is but
„
wertlce that a provision should be introduced into the
ieetestoms Increasing the duty on ,chicory root.
411 consequence of the reduction of the duty
;1311 that root last year, chicory-root has been
'ctroduced to a great extent-it is ground in this
country, and mixed with coffee. Ido not say that the
ef-3free deteriorated by the mixture, for that is a matter
extentof
i tasted but the revenue has been defrauded to a great
n losing the duty upon the coffee, for which the
'rOothas been substituted. From these changes in the
er
ential duties, I calculate that the loss will not
nownl°tr: 50,000/.-(Heart hear.) I come
important what
./ -
may consider as the most
which article-I mean the duty upon wool,
Upon Propos,
b rui. the to take off altogether.-(Cheers.)
tagits of that particular question, it cannot
e neceass
ry aor me to enter at present. In two succes-
by ti,-VisB -they have been ably detailed to the House
gre e '4Oll. Member for Halifax, who has taken the
Siraters_tepains with, that department of trade. And,
ma here say that, when I have • resisted the
~._ll,s Which were alleged for the reduction of this duty,
eo only on account of the claims of the revenue-
fl-Dtaear,bear)--and I never denied that wool was a raw
hireal of the utmost imrtance to the manufac-
,l and trade of the country.- (Hear, hear.)
;auere has been great competition between British cloth
41111Iftteturers and the foreign cloth manufacturer ; and
ofe least advantage given to the English manufacturer
fcotirse would place him in a better position than the
Zeigner. , Sir, I do not intend to follow the example of the
ght /lon. Gentleman opposite, of merely partially reduc-
tg the duty on wool; but I have thought it better to remit
tie the duty on export and import of wool, and to leave
trade ,open.-(Cheers.) That duty produced last
"aaeaar%. altogether, about the sum of 100,0001.,
which we must take that amount as the loss
jiLeh will be sustained on that particular article, the
tiian,getnent respecting which I shall recommend to
21ouse. But I cannot but feel that, although we shall
the article itself sustain a loss, yet we shall
i';cunettiditional stimulus -to the industry of the tom
engagedlin etleateeleraneh eef -:out mineufactures
eIY to be benefited by this arrangement, which Ibe-
sticve more than. compensate for which oss we shall
to6taik' This is the. last-article upon I propose
re make any reduction. The total amount of
,-ection will be on glass for the present year 35,000L-
0 vinegar in the -present year, 12,0001.-upon cur-
for. the present year 9,0001-upon coffee, 50,0001.
10141):II marine insurances, 100,000/, and upon wool,
ea '",_001., making a sum nf about 390 000/. ; or, in round
beille'ers 4011,0001., as the amount of reduction which I
stet, ve we may safely make. Having made this
d,s teenent to the House, I should have thought it my
al here to close the observations which, I fear, I have
ihr:47 too lung troubled the House with. But, Sir,
th Is one article which, though not immediately under
there c°nsideration of the House, must, reeessarily -form
re; subject of very deliberate consideration-and with
Peet to which muck anxiety is felt with respect to the
stews of the,Governinent upon it-I- mean the article of
su gars I should not think that I acted fairly towards the
r°o3 engaged in the produce
,of this article, if
th:ere not on the present occasion distinctly to state to
1„h llouse the course which it is my intention to pursue
pmt I move the sugar duties. The House will not ex•
dot„t„_4le, as I shall so shortly bring before them the
aejn4 of the question, to enter into all the particulars
stiZssary to compose an explanation of this subject. I
to- 'merely state the principle upon which I intend
Thal; I allude to the subject now only became I know
Rro 'tunienae importance to those connected with the
starth and Manufacture of sugar distinctly to under-
god before next May what is the determination of the
th:criunent with respect to that article. Sir,
tra ;,11°use is aware that the treaty with
will mime to a termination in tlie
•sonth of
ecrNovember next, and with that treaty with
joy;" ~,ill terminate the right which Brazil now en-
fo;:,t; c' Importing her produce into this country upon. a
Ivhc.ng of the most favoured nation. That treaty
h enables Brazil to bring slave-grown produce
It iSthis country e ill, in November next, be removed.
co: my intention, in moving, the sugar duties, to re-
teeernend to the House, that-,'from and after November
vehlet'htlle duty upon sugar produced in those countries
" are exempt from . the taint of the
of e-trade-that do not raise sugar by means
ealoslave labour-shall be reduced froiq their present
t entlat• By this means we shall throw open, under cer-
Gc;• regulations, to countries eastward of the Cape of
Hope, a. valuable trade, and shall most
(3eecially encourage the growing commerce with
, with which country, hitherto, our. re-
tie" have been extremely confined. And this will
e have
without any departure from that principle
the nave hitherto maintained and acted upon in respect-to
or shvo trade-thus affording an additional supply
„f sugar, which will reatlyF add to the comfort
the the people,- and give an additional spur to
esindustry of colonies in which we have the great-
eli`Jo-ssible interest. In thus speaking of countries
wPr;:ard of' the Cape of Good Hope, I must
ith upon PPon the House- that I refer only to such
is notilieh we have relations, and, wherein the sugar
dat raised by means of slavery. Sir, the differential
Y which I shall propose to this House to be imposed
(in su
sla,e, gars from -countries free from the taint• of
will be 10s. per cwt.-that whereas British colo-
th gars Pay a duty of 24s per ce t the sugars from
qultecountries I refer to shall pay 345. per cwt. I -am
Ware it may be said that although the treaty