Star.
London, England, 1830-02-24 00:00:00

MALT AND HEIR DUTIES.

Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented seven petitions from the inha-
bitants of Pinner, Cranbrook, Goudhurst, and from other places in
the county of Kent, praying the reduction of the duties on Malt and
Beer.— Ordered to be printed.
Colonel SIBTHORP presented a petition from the clergy, land.
owners, and other inhabitants of Horncastle. The petition was
signed by 881 of the most influential persons and experienced far-
mers of that place, and they complained of participating in the ge.
neral distress of the country. He regretted the absence of the right
hon. gentlemen who filled the Treasury benches at a time when pe-
titions were pouring in that house from all parts, and he considered
that their absensc on such an occasion amounted to a dereliction of
their duty. The petitioners stated that the distress experienced by
them was unparalleled, and expressed their opinion that the present
state of misery and starvation of a great body of industrious persons
could not but terminate in some dreadful commotion. A great pot.
don of the petitioners were interested in the production of wool, the
price of the superior qualities of which article had fallen nearly 400
per cent. and other descriptions in equally great proportion. The
consequence was that the duty was found very oppressive, and the
petition prayed for its reduction.
Sir WI LLIAM I NGOLDBY supported the petition.
The petition was then read ; and it concluded by " imploring
the house to retrace its steps." (A laugh.) The petition was or.
dered to be printed.

Mr. U'Ei.LS presented a petition from the inhabitants of Ton.
bridge, Kent, playing for the repeal of the duties on malt and beer.
The petitioners stated that the poor-rates of that place had increased
to the enormous amount of 14s. in the pound, and that the above
taxes were found to bear most heavy on the agricultural labourer.--
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. JEPIISON postponed his motion to 11'ednesilay, March 3,
for the production of papers relating to the postponement of the
trial of persons for a conspiracy to murder at the late Cork Assizes.
Mr. O'CONNELL said, he held in his hand a petition, which,
as be was but inexperienced in the rules of that house, he wished to
inquire whether he should be in order in presenting it. It was
from the inhabitants of the county of Mayo, and was printed. lie
had been just informed that it was against the rules of the house to
receive a printed petition.
The BPEAKhR said that, the petition being printed, it was im-
possible that it could be received.
Mr. O'CifNNELL complained of this practice, and stated that
the printing of this petition ha.l been of great utility. If the peel.
tion was rejected merely on this ground, he should think it his duty
to submit a motion for doing away with this inconvenience.
The SPEAKER—The hon. member will use his own discretion
in bringing forward whatever motion he thinks proper. It has been
along-established rule of that house that no printed petition should
be received, and one that had never been deviated from.
The petition was rejected.
WATEMEORD ELECTION.

Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the loyal inhabi.
teats of the city of Waterford, complaining of an insult and outrage
offered them by their chief magistrate, the mayor. The petitioners
stated, that during the recent election, at a dinner given to Lord
George Beresford, some disputes had arisen; and the mayor, not-
withstanding that the inhabitants came forward to be sworn in to
keep the peace, had thought proper to declare the town in a state of
List, and to call in a body of troops, without any necessity whatever
he so doing.—Petition ordered to be printed.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the Roman Catho.
Bp of the town of Drogheda, complaining of the vestry bill.
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition from Messrs. Jones and
Lyons, paper-manufacturers, of Athlone, praying an alteration in
the present duty, and complaining that, under the existing regula-
tions, the worst description of paper paid die heaviest duty.—Or-
dered to be printed.
The same honourable member moved for a return of all memo-
rials presented to the Commiesionas of Customs, Dublin, re-
lating to feta to coal meters, from the year 1826 to the present
thne.—Ordered.
Sir JOHN OWEN presented a petition from the inhabitants of
Herbed', in Wales, complaining of general distress.—Ordered to
be painted.

REDUCTION or TAXES.
Mr. 0. it. ROBINSON pee notice that he would on FMsy,
o Hsi of March, mon a resolution of the house, deciering—
That It is expedient, in order to Mien sod e.herish the NOW.

hand labourer, and other tad:at:iota poor ofsthe country, that the
duties be repealed on sugar, beet, tallow, iolp, and laatthr, aed
all the assessed taxes, and to Drake up the deficiency in tlie revai'ue
by the sabstitution of an equitable aseuement upon property."
L1m1111•11 nutner.
Lease was given to bring in. a hill to construct a bridge act tees
the River Thames, from the Horeeferry-road to Lambeth
Sir R. VYVYAN moved for a return of. the export.. and .nap nl4
of lead, lead ore, and tin, for the yast year.
Sir Wm. HEATHCOTE presented petitions ton Stone, Bu:s-
lem, and other places, complaining of distress. 06,.
Mr. HUAI E moved for the following returnsr
An account of the amount of duty paid yttb MI-Exchequer fat all
increases and surcharges of the assess g§ &nes during the last two
years, distinguishing the amount on which an allowance was nut
granted. (The honourable member observed, that the as.:.;.sed
taxes occasioned more vexation thanzgletiber tax. In Walco t
il
286 assessments were void, and many a of surcharges had
been made.) •
An account of the several sunk Mid to receivers-general of
the taxes in 1828.
A return of the amount of duty paid to receivers-general of the
taxes ; and a return of the amount of balances now outstanding, due
to the public by ft./TIIILT receivers-general.
An account of the establishment of the royal marines' pay and
allowances, showing the total expenditure for the lest year.
Mr. WESTERN presented a petition from the owners and ocett-
piers of land in Blessing:on, Suffolk, complaining of unprecedented
distress.
Mr. R. COLBORNE said, that as the repeal of the malt tea,
which was one halfpenny on every pot of beer, had been suggested,
he wished that ministers would give some consiotration to the lie
ceasing system. The public would be more benetitted by an (lite.
ration in the licensing system than by the repeal of the malt tax.
A duty on spirits would also be a most beneficial thing; two 'Jel-
ling' or three shillings an English gallon might be imposed with
advantage to the revenues
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was
his intention, a. an early day, to move for a committee to consider
of the licensing asystetn, and how far it might be proper to even
the trade atirose, emiskigatly,with regulatious.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said that an increase of tile duty oa
spirits in Ireland would be do,rimental it would cause the Mime.
diatu revival of iliieit disillation, which took place to so great an
extent some years ago. and was with so much difficulty put doe.;
Ile therefore hoped the house would seriously reflect before they
consented to ant' increase.
Melt'. S3ll'lll was of opinion that the reduction of tile e. y
had afforded greater facility to the collection of the revenue, and had
removed great inconveniences ; I:ut he had not the least scruple fr
saying that the reduction of the les!) end Scotch duty, and the
import oriels!' and Scotch spirts into England, at the prices at
which they had been imported, together with the deluge of that
abominable English beverage, gin, which had done as much blur)
to the metropolis as the Union with Ireland had dare gtod.
Mr. HU3IE said that lie could show, front the preambles of bills
on the table of the house, that the same kind of outcry !tad bee:t
raised as to spirits 50, 69, or tat years ago. It was quite a mistale!.
' As regarded Scotland, smuggling had been put an end to by the
reduction of the duty. The consequence had been an increase of
the revenue, and alorg the whole western islands the population had.
returned to sober peaceable habits of industry, entirely owing to fin
reduction of the duty on spirits. It seemed extremely hard that w.
should grudge ephits. He questioned whether much more was
consumed now than was consumed formerly. Formerly it wa<
smuggled—now it all paid duty. The chancellor of Cie exchequer
ought to have equalised the duty on spirits, and to have taken the
duty off malt. It was the dearness of beer which drove person. to
the use of spirits, and the best remedy was to take °Mate duty.—
Pei* would then resort to the wholesome beverage of beer But
there was no reason because spirits were abused by some, that they
should be made dear to aIL
Lord NUGENT wished to know whether the alterations which the
right hon. gentleman meant to introduce extended to the licensing
system ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that him ob-
ject in moving for a committee was to consider the licensing systen:
with respect to beer, in order, if possible, to give the means of ht.
creasing the sale of beer without incurring those inconveniences and
dangers, in anticipation of which alone the restriction was originally
Imposed.
Lord NUGENT said that when the question came before the
house he should be enabled to show that the bill of the hon. member
for Oxford had in one part signally failed—be meant as to the ap.
peal to the Quarter Sessions.
General GASCOYNE gratefully received the intimation of the
right hon. gent. (the Chancellor of the Exchequer). He advised
him not to be intimidated by any thing he beard from the represen.
natives of Ireland or Scotland. Whatever tax was laid upon the
country they would always wish to be exempt, and if they had ro
other
ity grou
fndpaying. of exemption they would plead their poverty and Ina.
pabil o
Mr. WILLIAM GORDON observed that, as to giving an en.
couragement to drunkenness by lowering the duty on spirits, he
same sort of spurious humanity had always existed. It was iota.
gined by policemen and others that crime had increased by lowering
the ditty on spirits, but he could not assent to that. We a ere apt
to view with unfair feelings those things which contributed to the
happiness of the lower orders. Cock-fighting and hear baiting were
reprobated, but hunting and shooting were preserved. Drinking
might be the only resource of people In distress.
Colonel DAVIES said that the policemen were the best judges
of the state of morality amongst the people. There were complaints
in 1742 that drunkenness had increased to an alarming degree. It
had been observed that the amusement of the lower orders were un.
fairly reprobated. They were reprobated because tney congregated
the most worthless characters, and were the scenes of the greatest
outrages. If the hon. gentleman who made the observation should
go to the garret of an artisan and see the man's wife and children
starving whilst he was drinking, the hon. gent. would not say that
was a state of things to be continued. He (Col. Davies), thought
all sumptuary laws bad.
Mr. BROWNLOW said that the feeling entertained by Irish
members upon this subject had been misrepresented. When the
duty was higher they sold their corn as freely as they did under the
educed duty. Whisky was then made in as great quantities as
tow, but it was smuggled. He did not believe that Irish mentheni
would be loses by a reduction of duty on Irish spirits. The lower
duty had doubled the revenue. He should adhere to the system of a
moderate duty on spirits.
Mr. BRIGHT said that a more valuable boon than the taking
of the duty on malt would be the repeal of the duty on hops. Every
cottager would then brew his own beer, and the consumption of malt
would be increased to a great extent.
An Hon. MEmsza,whosw name we could not learn, said that the
agriculturists would receive with pleasure the announcement of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. WESTERN rejoiced that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
had given notice of his intention to move for a Committee.
The petition was then laid on the table.
Sir GEORGE AIURRAY brought up Reports and Despatches
from the Governors of Upper and Lower Canada.—Laid on the table.
The Marquis of CHAN DOS presented a petition, most numer-
ously signed, from the West India Planters and Merchants, Fettiv
forth the extreme distress under which they laboured, and praying a
reduction of the duties on sugar and rum. He concurred fully 111
the prayer of the petition, and was happy in being the ore= or
communication to tho house of the sentiments of a respectable body
of men. When the house came to consider the low price of sugar
and rum they would agree that the case of the West India planter
and merchant was one of extreme distress. After the payment of
the duty there was but 12e. per hogshead left to pay the exses
of carrying the commodity to this country. It was impossible for
him any longer to stand in the market. He bad to contend with a
large importation from the Mauritius. In 1825 it was stated that
the importation would not exceed an average of 9,000 or 10,000
hogsheads, it was now not leas than 25,000 hogsheads. When he
did find a market for his produce, he had to contend with individuals
who could labour at a cheaper rate, by means of the slave trade.
He could not help lanaentiug that France and Spain, and other
countries, were still carrying on that trade to an immense extent.
He called upon ministers to use all their attempts to put down such
a practice. As to rum, the intercourse between the United States
and the Mauritius had much deteriorated the price of that article.
He could not allow the opportunity to pass without imploring mi.
nisters to come forward, and extend, to a greater length than they
had hitherto done, the hand of friendship towards our colonies. He
• could not help entertaining a fear lest other powers should take ad.
vantage of our dissensions, and deprive us of them. He had heard
it said that England could do without her colonies. He could
not subscribe to that doctrine. He thought her colonies the
main source of her prosperity, and he should be the last man to give
a vote where the interacts of the colonies should be neglected. Ho.
poured, as he was, by the West India merchants, he should not be
doing his duty if he did not point out the course which he had now
done. If the interests of the West India colonists were allowed to
be in the hands attune who knew nothing about them, the result
was too fearful to be predicted.

AIL L DOUGLAS said, that the shipments from ►he colonies
were a loss instead of a gain. In looking at the statements in the
petition, there certainly were some worthy of the condderatlon of
the house. It appeared that from the ywr 11109 no alare trade did
exist in concoction with our colonies, while the colonies of other
nations, with whom West India *etas bid m compost in the fo-
reign markets with their sugar, OW arminost to wry cc that
trade. The French playtime was on esityhw CO that tat& so the
present da. The eortseqrsece ems, thee Owe MIN persons
were, since the you 1515, wriest to fsrel& plantations, to Sake
the raising asap: cheap in than, Ode the platten Is is cob.
MSS of this country were excloded from till edvantage; Mee that
time, also, the sow of the lilmuitios was admitted into this cons.