The Sun.
London, England, 1820-07-11 00:00:00

TUESDAX, LY 11, 1820.

TIMBER DUTIES.

FIRST REPORT (relative to the TIMEiER,TRADE), from
the SELECT commirrEE of the
.HOUSE of LORDS
appointed to-inquire into the means of extending and se-
curing the FOREIGN TRADE of the COUNTRY, and to
Report to the House ; together with the MINUTES of
EVIDENCE taken before the said Committee.—Ordered to
be printed 3J July, MO.

By the LORDS' COMMIT'VEES appointed a Select Com
mittVe to inquire into the Means of extending and securing
the Foreign Trade of the Country, and to report to the
House; and to whom were referred the Petition of certain
Ship Owners of Sunderland, respecting the Duties on
Wood 3 also, the Petition of the Directors of the Chamber
of Manutactures and Commerce at 13irminghain, relative
to Fat riga Trade : also, the Petition of certain Merchants
of Lents, relative to the Duties on Customs : also, the-
Petition of Merchants and others engaged in Trade with
thellritisiVenlotistrs4srikeotth A-rnerica, and in the Fisheries
of Newfoilisillatid, Nova Scotia, and New BrunsWich, re-
sident to London, against asiyAlteration in' the Dutiis-on
Timber ; and also, the Patition•of the Ship Owners of Leith,
Kirkalde, and iteiglitinuring Port, against any Alteration
in the Duties en Timber from the British Settlements in

North America.
Ordered to Report,

That the Committee hare met, and have proceeded to exa-
mine Evidence upon the Points considered in this Report;
and having Understood that considerable anxiety prevailed in
the Comuiercial and Shipping Interests with respect to the
System which Pat liament aught think it expedient to adopt
for the future regulation of the Timber Trade with the North
of Europe, and the North American Colonies, hale thought
it their duty to direct their attention, in the first instance, to
that subject. They are induced, from the same motive, to,
submit the result of their investigation to the House, with-
out waiting for the termination of those inquiries which they
Mid it their duty, in pursuance of the instructions of the
House, to institute into the state of other branches of Bri-.
tish Commerce.

The encouragement afforded to the importation of Woo d
from the British Colonies in North America, by the imposi-
tion of !teary duties on Wood from Foreign States, is of
comparatively recent date, and dues not appear to have
rormed a part of the Commercial or Uolonial policy of the
Country previous to the late war. Till the year 1809, little
or no duty had been imposek: upon the various species of Tim-
ber; in that and the succeeding year, however, the nature of
our political relation with the Baltic Powers, led to an ap-
prehension that great difficulty might be found in deriving
the usual supplies of Timber from that quarter, not only for
the general purposes of domestic use, but more particularly
tor the purposes of Ship-bnildioK,
It was however known, that Timber in any quantity, al-
though of an inferior quality; might he obtained in the Bri-
tish Colonies in North America. But this being new
branch of Trade, and exposed to some risk and uncertainty,
it was deemed expedient to give the Canadian Wood the ad-
vantages not only of an exemption from all duty, on such as
was fit for Naval purposes, and of a duty little mere than
nominal upon all other descriptions, but also of a consider-
able increase of duty on Wood fro:n the North of Europe.
High permanent duties, and a temporary war duty, were
accord►ngly imposed upon all descriptions of Wood imported
fron► Foreign Countries by the 49 Geo. 3. c. 99., which were
doubled by the,so Geo. 3. c. 77.; and these were afterwards
partially increased by the 51 Geo. 3. c. 93. and by. the 52
Geo. 3. c.. 117., and a duty of 25 per cent. upon the whole
of the permanent duties was added by the 53 Gco. S. c. 33.
The several duties aforesaid were afterwards arranged and
consolidated by the 59 Geo. 3. c. 52. ; and a schedule, taken
from the said Act, of the details of the existing duties on all
descriptions of Wood imported from Foreign Countries, is
annexed to this Report.

The Committee have been informed by those of his.Majes-
Ws Ministers who are Members of the Committee, that the
Canadian Merchants were never led to believe that any of

these duties would be pertuanent , anal expectation was how-
ever held out, that the duty of 91. Is. first imposed would be
continued for some considerable time, but nn such expecta-
tion was fairly raised with respect to the war duty, and the
duty imposed in 1813, and the exemption from duty on Ca.

nadian 'limber has always been temporary, and will, unless
renewed by Parliament, expire in July 1820, although the
parties have been given to understand that it may be farther
continued till March 'set. This view of the subject has
been constantly explained to the Canadian Merchants in va-
rious communications, to which this question has led between
them and the Board of Trade.

The Consuiittee have not therefore felt that there existed
.any circumstance connected with the period during which, or
the purposes for which, these duties had been imposed, which
could preclude them, Or could preclude Parliament, after the
return of a General Peace, fro► considering su important a
question as the future regulation of this essential branch of
Commerce, with a view to the permanent interests end ge-
neral prosperity of the Empire. ,

Under this impression, they hare thought it their duty to
ascertain from persons best enabled to speak from experience
upon those subjects:—

First, the comparative qualities of Wood imported from the
different Ports in the North of Europe, and from the North
American Colonies;

Second, the comparative facility and cheapness of the Sup-
ply of theie different species of Wood, considered independ-
ently of the Duties with which it has been charged.
Third, the direction which the system of Duties in force
the years 1909 and 1813 has given to the commerce and
consumption of the country, as far as respects the Article of
Wood ; and,
Fourth, the probable effect which any material diminution
Or alteration of those duties might be expected to produce on
the consumption of the Counts y, on its trade with Europe and
with the Colonies, and on the particular interests con-
cerned.
Of the Fir imported from the North of Europe, that of Nor-
way is represented to be the most durable, althou6h of in-
ferior diannisions ; the next in durability is that imported
from the Baltic, more particularly front the Ports of Dantzig
end of Riga. The quality of the Swedish is nearly as good as

since

that of the Prussian Thuher. The Timber imported from
Memel, Dantzig, and Riga, it must applicable to the-purposes
of Ship-building. The North American Timber is more soft,
less durable, and every descriptiou of it more liable, though
iv different degrees, to the dry rot, titan Timber the produce
of the North of Europe. The Red Pine, however, which
bears a small proportion to the other descriptions of Timber,
and the greater part of which, though imported from Canada,
is the produce of the Utrited States, is distinguished from the
White PineTY its greater durability. On the whole it is
stated by one of the Cumansiioners of his Majesty's Navy,
Most distinguished for practical knowledge, experience, and
skill, that the Timber of Canada, both Oak and Fir, does tint
Possess, for the purpose of Ship-building, inure than um: half
Ithe durability of wood of the same description the produce of
the North of Europe ; that it Is particularly liable to the
growth of Fungi, that species of vegetation which is the fore-
runner of dry rot ; that it has been observed by other
professioual men, as well as by hintself, that in moist instences
where American Timber has been brought into contact with
that of this or any other Cuatitry, it has even bad the effect
of destroying that which was in union with it. The result of
its applieetion to other purposes of building is described by
Ihnber 'chants and Carpenters to be near ly similar. The.
Canada Pier is, however, preferable for its size to any other
for bowsprits and masts, when nestle of single sticks .; for
which purpose it can be employed without the.same injurious
euil,s.eqm,ners, which might attend its being introduced into
ttr, tabric of the ship. And it appeers to be used with van-
tage where masts are made of ioany parte, in those which
are called the spindle and the cheeks. The
.soft White Mire
Timber is stated also to he preferable to any other Timber
for Packing Cases, Carving, Mouldings, Musical Instruments,
Blinds, and other objects where lightness and freedom from
knots is desirable. .
Independently of the difference occasioned by the amount
of duty, the supply of Wood from the Baltic, without advert-
ing to its superior quality, can be procured, from the differ-
ence in the amount of freight and transport, at a rate consi-
derably cheaper titan Wood. from North America. As the
comparative rate of expense, 'however, necessarily differs ac-
cording to the particular Port where the shipment takes
place, your Committee must refer the. House, upon this head
of their Inquiry, to a Table io the Appendix, containing an
Account which they are assured may be relied upon, at the
Prices of Timber from each Port, distinguishing the Duty,
Freight, Charges, Net Proceeds, and Prime Cost.
The system of Duties which has been in 'force since the
year 1809, and further acted upon in subsequent years, has,
however, been the means of inducing a more general use
(which no other circumstance could have occasioned) of Ca-
nada Timber for House-building in this Country, particu-
larly in Buildings of an inferior description, subject to all
the objections which are stated to attend it. In Ship-building
it has also 'toren more employed than formerly; and the Com-
mittee' have inserted an Account deliteitd in by Sir Robert
Seppings, of the comparative duration of Frigates built ef Ca-
nada Fir, and of Fir from the Noah of Europe ; but the
use of Canada Timber is now stated to be discontinued its
his Majesty's Dock Yerds,i n consequence of the unfavourable
result experienced from its employment. The demand for
Wood from the Countries in the North of Europe has been
progressively diminishing, so as to occasion great interrup-
tive to the Trade with these Countries, particularly with
Norway, whose inhabitant's, notwithstanding the predilection
they have uniformly shewn fur British Manufactures, are
nut only left withunt the means of consuming them, but of
paying for thus: which they have received ; and for' which-
nearly half a million is stated to be owing ; so that the ex-
pert of manufactures has been reduced to an. extent which
cannot be-estimated merely by a reference to the direct ex-
ports to those Countries, as it appears that a considerable
portion of the Manufactures consumed in them, are intro-
duced through the channel of the German Fairs. A consi-
derable amount of capital and machinery employed in this
country in sawing and prepaiing for consumption the Tim-
ber imported from the Baltic, has been in a great degree ren-
dered, useless and unproductive. On the other hand, a great
amid progressive increase of the trade with Canalla,artel•olatie
tannage employed to import its_Wood into this Country, has
taken place ; though that which is apparent for the last two
years may be in some degree accounted fur by the apprehen-
sion which has prevailed, that some alteration in the Duties
would take place about this time.
There can be little doubt that any material diminution of
the Duties on Foreign Timber, would almost immediately
lead to au increased demand of that article fur must pur-
poses of building, and enable the countries which produce it,
but more especially Sweden and Not-way, very greatly to in-
crease their Consaimption of British produce. As this cir-
cumstance, however, could not take place without diminish-.
lung the demand fur. Canada Timber, it must in some degree
affect the profits of the Capital now vested in Saw Mills and
tither Machinery in Canada, which has been stated by a Gen-
tleman interested in that country, to consist of from 100,0001.
to 150,0001. It could not he considered as directly affecting
the interests of the Canadian Landholder, as the value of the
Timber sold at Quebec does too exceed by much the expense
and labour of procuring it for shipment, and the Land.
holder himself gets little or •nothing for the- Timber.
Some portion of the Shipping now engaged in trans-
porting the Canadian Timber to this country, might
probably be compelled to seek for tither employment.
And although there is reason to expect that the increased
supply from time North of Ent ope would be chiefly imported
in British Vessels, •.the average difference in the length of-
voyage might, r ender a smaller amount of Shipping necessary
to carry on this particular
.branch of Trade. ,But the Com-
mittee cannot persuade themselves that time facility of pro-
Miring the best.and cheapest comatedities from other Coun-
tries, so essential to the interests of Commerce, can be found
Ultimately detrimental to those of Navigation and Shipping,
the great. instrument: by which Commerce is maintained ;
more especially al a time when it appears by the concurrent
lestinitiny of the best ieformed persons, that the rate of
freight and other circumstances attendant on British Shipping,
enable it to cutter into•e successful competition With that of
every other Country on the Globe. The Committee at the
same time indulge a confident hope that the consideration of
the state of untie other branches of trade in which they are
about to engage, will suggest the emeansuf giving additional
empluyment to the Shipping of this Country.
The Committee world by no means however suggest fur
the adoptiou of Parliament, any sudden alteration of the ex-
isting system by.which Wood the growth of Canada might
be entirely excluded from the means of competition in the
British market. -Alai they therefore submit., that under all
the circumstances in which this Trade has originated and
been carried on, it may be still expedient to compensate to
the Canadian merchant and importer, by such limited duty
as may be necessary fur that purpose, the difference of Ft eight
and Trausport, so as to bring 'their Wood into the British
market onreetral (rims With Wood of the same dimensions
the growth of other Countries. But, the Coalmine:. are of
opinion; that if it ihould be found necessary for purposes of
Revenue, to let the amount of duty on Foreign- Timber ex-
ceed what isriecessary for the purpose they have described, a
duty corresponding with-the flatulence should be imposed on
the import of Timber the growth of the American Colonies.
Independently of the above general considerations on the
regulation of this Trade, the Committee feel it their duty to
notice twit points of a subordinate nature in which it appears
that stone alteration in the existing regulation would ha any
case be reqUisite.

It appears that from the same Duty baying been imposed
in Great Britain on deals from eight to twenty feet, while in
Ireland the deals were divided into five classes, the lowest of
which was from eight to•twelve feet, the Norway deals, which
are all of small dimensions, have laboured wider an unfair
disadvantage in the B. his') market.
.The Committee submit
that it would be expedient that all wood the growth of Fo-
reign Countries should be admitted into this Country, subject
to an equal proportionate rate of duty, and that for this pur-
pose a graduated scale, according to the cubical cuntants,
should be adopted.

• ~
Ii appeus also, that according to the present mode, the
standard hundred of deals pay hat would be chargeable
upon an equal quantily of solid fir timber; ar.cl the Coat-
mime are.satistied that Parliament will think it expedient to
remove thin itopedisnent froth the employment of British
Capital in saw mills, by making the. duty payable on deals at
least equivalent to that on.timher iu :tie log.
The
.comioit tee have annexed is Copy or so hutch of.the evi-
dence as relates to the subject matter of this Report.
it.* the gvidetico. we shall girls in the sal.eteqnynt Nom-
bert of•r—Ets• :Ott,