The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-25 00:00:00

THE PROPOSED ALTERATION IN THE TARIFF

A densely crowded meeting of the masters and journey-
men boot and shoemakers was held on Wednesday after-
noon, at two o'clock, in the large room of the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, to take into consideration Sir Ro-
bert Peel's proposed reduction of the duty on foreign
manufactured boots and shoes. Long before the hour
named for the commencement of the business the room
was thronged, and when the Chairman took his seat,
there could not have been less than 2,000 persons present.
Mr. THOMAS LAIDLAW took the Chair, and in doing
so he congratulated himself on seeing so numerous and
respectabl a meeting around him. He was well aware
that there was a deep-felt anxiety and strong feeling on
the subject that had called them together. He would
give them a short history of the subject which had
1 nought them together, and he should trouble them with
but few remarks afterwards, as there were a number of
iesbluti ins, 'all of which would be spoken to by gentle-
men welt calculated to do justice to the subject. They
were called there that day to consider the pro-
posed alteration in the dnty on foreign boots
tnl shoes. He could see, from the deep anxiety depicted
on each countenance, the intense feeling of alarm which
existed amongst them. He would, before he said an-
other Word, tell them that that meeting was entirely com-
posed of boot and shoemakers. There was no other branch
of the leather trade present. The present duty upon
foreign boots and shoes imported into this country was
4s. 6d. a pair, and the duty upon shoes of foreign ma-
nufacture was 2s. per pair. The alteration proposed by her
Majesty's Government was to reduce the duty on boots of
foreign manufacture to 2s. Id., and shoes to Is., making
the duty on shoes only one-half, and on boots less than
one-half. There was one thing that struck him at that
amount—and he was sure it must strike every man—the
vast importance this alteration would be to the
immense number engaged in the trade of boot and shoe-
making in London and its suburbs. There were no less than
26,000 or 30,000 persons engaged in London in boot and shoe-
making, and there was no less a number than 30,000 depending
upon them for their daily bread. Now when any alteration in such
an important branch of trade was contemplated, they ought to
look to the state of the trade at that moment. He would ap-
peal to all present, and ask them if they—any of them—ob-
tained more than half employment ?—(Hear, hear, and cries of
" No, no.") He was sure that there was not one there who
could contradict that.—( Hear, hear.) Now what would be
the consequence of reduoing this branch of the tariff, and in-
troducing more foreign-made boots and shoes? Why, it would
throw thousands out of employment. He hoped they would
obtain their object peaceably and quietly, for be was very sure
that they were assembled there not to create enemies, but to
make friends—friends that would help them to Garry their
object—and he had no hesitation in saying that they
would be, able to carry out that object, viz., that
the duty on boots and shoes should remain as it was. He
begged of them to give every speaker a fair hearing, and he
would recommend there not to introduce any extraneous matter,
and above all things to introduce no political allusions. They
bad promised him upon their honour and word that no politics
should be introduced.—( Here there was some confusion, and
cries of " No, no.") He would tell them that they would never
obtain their object if they did. He had great confidence in their
honour and integrity, and he was well aware that they would
never deceive him; or he.would never have taken that Chair—
( Hear, hear)—and if they, stood by him they would be sure to
carry their object.
Mr. GRIEVE, ofßond- street, rose to propose the first resoln-
tion.:That numerous meeting convinced him of the great anxiety
that was felt respecting the proposed alteration of the tariff.
In order that there might be no mistake, by the per-
mission of the Chairman he would read that part of
the proposed new tariff which related to boots and shoes.
The Hon. Gentleman then read that part of the proposed
tariff to the meeting. There could be no difference of opinion
on the proposed alteration, and that the ruin of a great propor-
tion of the trade would be the result. He would appeal to
those in that room, and ask them if they did not experience
great difficulty in contending with the foreign manufacturer
under the present system of duties? He, therefore, put it to
thins, what the results must be other than ruin and distress.
He had that confidence in them that he was sure the proceed-
ings of that day would be conducted with good feeling and
decorum. He begged to conclude by reading the resolution:
" That this meeting, composed of masters and journeymen, en-
gaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, view with con-
siderable anxiety and alarm the tariff as proposed by her Ma-
jesty's Government, on the importation of boots and shoes, be-
lieving the proposed duties to be totally inadequate to protect
the British manufacture."
Mr. Sitter...lr seconded the resolution. At the first view
that meeting would appear to be against free trade, and would
appear strange and preposterous, for there was something in
the name of free trade that told them it was great and desir-
able. But the circumstances of this country, under which they
laboutcd, would not admit of that principle being wholly put
in practice., Look at England, with her eight hundred mil-
lions of debt, and look at France, with her two hundred mil-
lions of debt ; but they had a greater number of inhabitants to
pay that debt. Were they, then, in a position to compete with
the. Frenchman? About four years ago, in the month of March,
a statistical inquiry was made into the state of the bootmakers
in London, in order to ascertain the best means of enforcing
the Combination-laws. The result of that was, that
the average amount of wages was seventeen shillings,
and that was in one of the best months of the
year to the trade. Now if the proposed reduction was carried
into a law, thousands of our useful citizens would be thrown out
of employment. They would, therefore, perceive the necessity
of retaining the present protective duty. It behoved them to
put it to her Majesty's Ministers the necessity of retaining the
present duty.—( Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and carried almost unanimously,
only two hands being held up against it, amidst loud cheering.
Mr. AI EDWIN rose to propose the next resolution. He was
placed in a position in which he was afraid he should not give
satisfaction w them, and he was sure he should not to himself.
If he required any stronger argument than another to prove
that they were deeply interested in this question, that argu-
ment was the meeting before hint. ( Loud cheers.)
He saw many brought together from their employment,
and at a great sacrifice of time, for they knew
that the subject was most essential to their welfare. His mo-
tion was two-fold it called on the home trade and the importer
to aid them. Britain and her colonies formed one vast ma-
chine, wheel working within wheel. If the colonies suffered,
Britain suffered; and if this country was distressed, the colonies
would ale, feel it. The export trade was in a most deplore:tie
condition, and he believed that the whole distress of the boot
and shoemakers arose from the distressed condition of the co-
lonial trade. Great distress was prevailing in the East and
West India possessions, arid also in Canada. He knew one
house in the city of London which formerly employed 1,400
men in the export trade, and now their establishment only em-
ployed 180. This great depression in the expert trade must
influence the home trade.—( blear, hear.) It had been said
the average wages of the shoemaker was 17s. But they did
not take into consideration that the man had to find his own
grindery.—( Hear, hear, hear.) Many other artisans worked
in manufactories provided for them, but the labouring shoe-
maker worked in his own apartment, and thus the rent of his
workshop was added to his outlay for grinder]. Taking all
these things into consideration, the wages would not average
more than 14s. or 155., and in some cases was reduced to 10s. or
12s. ; and when they considered that those men had wives
and children, and thus three persons had to live upon that
scanty allowance, they would admit that this was but one degree
removed from absolute starvation. Thirty year ago England
manufactured for nearly the whole of the world, but now Ger-
many and France had risen to oppose them. The great
majority of those countries used articles of a coarse description,
and while Germany and France wore shoes, England wore
boots.—( Laughter and cheer,. ) If this reduction in
the tariff took place, many of our manufacturers would
go over to France, and the 500/. they used
to pay weekly for wages woo d be taken to that country, and
th s would the English artis.n be compelled to seek protection
in a foreign country, while his own refused it to him.—
( Hear.) The resolution he had to propose was, " That the
present depressed state of the home and export trade, which
has already suffered very considerably from various causes, this
meeting f illy relies on her Majesty's Government still continuing
such a scale of dutii s as vela afford protection to the British
manufacturer. "
Mr. Davis, of Gracechurch-street, said that so much
talent had been brought to bear upon the subject that very
little was left for him to say. The exports to Sydney alone in
the year lteto ameunted to 80,C00/. With respect to the
wages of labour being only 175., he could assure them that in
Northamptonshire they were working at Is. 6d. per day.
Mr. Beirsow, a Chartist, then rose to propose an amend-
ment, amidst the most deafening up! oar. The speaker was
immediately surrounded by several persons, and was attempted
to be thrust from the platform. A general rush then took
place, and in one moment the long tables on the platform were
covered with persons. All was now one general scene of up-
roar and confusion. The Chairman attempted to obtain a
hearing,
,bud. he only made matters worse, for the uproar
increased. Things continued in this state for some time,
when the following resolutions were proposed in dumb show :
" That it is the opinion of this meeting the effect of the pro.
posed tariff will be to throw out of employment a large por-
tion of the operatives engaged in the manufacture of boots '
and shoes, particularly of the lighter qualities ; and this
meeting, taking into consideration the price of the necessaries
et life stithis country, unanimously concur in opinion that in
tie a !option of the present scale of duties they are not placed
in ouch a posit ion akto compete fairly with foreign manufactures,
and therefore earnestly call upon the Government to pause be-
fore it enacts laws so prejudici to their interests."
s‘ That petitions founded on the resolutions agreed to at
this meeting, be presented to Parliament from the masters and
men of the city of London, Westminster, Marylebone, Finsbury,
Southwark, and the Tower Hamlets, distinct and separately."
t• 't hat a deputation of masters and men in each borough
shall wait upon their several representatives, for the purpose of
entrusting such petitions for presentation, to explain their views
and solicit their exertions in their behalf."
' bile these resolutions were being read, the uproar con-
tinued in all its violence, and continuing for some time after,
and as there was no probability of its speedy termination,
our Reporters left the meeting.

A geologist, who has lately travelled in the West of
Fr on e has made some curious observations on the accre-
tions of the shores principally in Vendee and the ancient
Poitou. Theii alluvial increase has been so great that the
spot where an English 64-gun ship was wrecked in the
niddle of last century is now the centre of a field of corn.
The harbour of Pryny is dry, and the port of Rabaud,
where not long ago vessels of 170 tons entered easily, is
n ,vv 3,000 metres from the sea. The port of St. Gilles is
filing up, and the harbour of Gachere is barred. All this
has occurred within a century, and has proceeded alto-
gether from accumulations of sand, for it has been de-
m nistrated by numerous observations made at Brest that
no change has taken place on the coasts of France of the
level of the Ocean.
AGNES STRICKLAND'S LIVES OF TEE QUEENS OF
ENGLAND.—We are requested to state that the fourth
volume of Miss Strickland's "Lives of the Queens of
England," comprising the Queens of Henry VIII., price
los. 6d., boun 3, with illustration s, is puhqshed this day by
Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough-street, and may now
1 e had of all booksellers. Mr. Colburn has ako just pub-
lished the following new works :—I. The second vo-
lume
of Madame D'Arblay's Diary and Letters.-0.
Lieutenant-Colonel Napier 's Excursions along the
Shores of the Mediterranean, 2 vols., small Bvo.-3.
Madame de Sevigne and her Contemporaries, 2 vole., small
Bvo.-4. Captain Fane's Five Years in. India. 2 vols.
8 vo., with numerous illustration6.7-sFrederick the Great.
his Court and Times,
edited by Thomas Campbell, a
p, Bvo.-6. Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell's Run through
Nci -4 United States, 2 vols., small Bvo.-7. Adventures of
--r an Actor, 'comprising a picture of the French Stage du-
ring,t,a period of fifty years, edited by Theodore
Hook,-Esq.,' 2 3,•015...;16 bourd..
Her Majesty's Royal Maundy was distributed at two
o'clock yesterday afternoon, in Whitehall Chapel, to the
a'ed poor recipients of the Royal bounty.

THE WEATHER.—Noox, MARCH 24.
ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET
Thermometer... 40 Highest 44 1 Lowest 29
Barometer 30.26.—Wind N.—Freezing Point 2.2 Deg.

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