The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-22 00:00:00

CORN AYLIIACEN BILL.

Lord GODERICH in moving the second reading of
this Bill, did not know that it was necessary for him to
trouble the House by stating it in detail. Though the
preparation of it had occupied several days, yet the pro-
visions of it were a mere re-enactment of the existing law.
But as there were various amendments of that law, it was
thought infinitely better to repeal the old law, and
to re-enact all that was to be retained of it ;
thereby to make one law of it, rather than to leave the
matter to be fished out of it by two laws. The proposed
alterations were not numerous, and the object was to
give every additional facility that appeared practicable
in taking the averages with the utmost possible correct-
ness. It might not be possible to provide against every
ease in which fraud or error may be committed ; but
he believed that the law now laid upon their Lord-
ships' table, provided as effectual remedies as any that
could be conjectured by those who had turned their atten-
tion to the subject. He would not now enter into
a full discussion of the clauses, inasmuch, as he thought
that that would be much better to be gone into by the
Committee; so he simply moved the second reading of
the Bill.

Lord FARNHAM said it was his intention to move the
introduction of certain town' in Ireland and Scotland, to be
added to the Bill; neither did he think that the clause which
gave so much discretionary power to the King in Council
was unobjectionable.
The Earl of MALMESBURY did not rise to offer any
objection to the second reading of the Bill ; but as he con-
sidered that this Bill mint form the machinery on which
any other permanent measure would be formed, he was
anxious to know why the principle of the Bill limited the
averages to the maritime districts. The object, he con-
ceived, was to ascertain what value was received by the
growers in the market ; he therefore wanted to know why
the averages were limited only to the maritime die-
tricts. He would not go into the discussion of the
question of the propriety of extending the provisions . of
this Bill to Scotland and Ireland ; but for his part he did
not e why the port of London should be included as
one aoefthe places from which the averages should he taken,
a, it was evidently not a place where the price received
by the grower could be ascertained. He should say that
Uxbridge was the market for the corn-growers for the
county of Middlesex. The averages of the counties of
Hertford and Nottingham, and all inland counties were not
admitted into the calculation recognised by the Bill ; yet it
was well known that the price of corn in inland counties
was always lower to the grower. He should be extremely
glad if the Noble Lord would explain the reason why this
was adopted as a general system. He apprehended this
was not a money Bill, and that it was, therefore, open to
their Lordships to make such alterations as would mate-
rially affect what he considered would be injurious to the
interests of the corn growers.
Lord REDESDALE hoped that when the Bill was in
the Committee, the preamble which lie now objected to
would be altered.
believed that the original reason of
Lord GODERICH b
prevailed in particular dis-
tricts. This principle bad never been departed from,
conferring the principle to the maritime districts was because
the importation was not universally the same, but varied
according to the prices that
nor was the Nobla Lord at this moment prepared to
give any specific reason for departing from it. As
to introducing the names of large towns, if thi. were in-
tended, with a view to lower the general average, he thought
it would have quite the contrary effect.
Lord MALMESBURY said his object was not to get
the averages lower, but as near as possible the average of
the pt ices that were obtained over the whole country.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH considered the introduction
of the Corn Bill more for the benefit of the consumer than
the protection of the grower; and, therefore, be thought
it of much more importance to ascertain the prices the
consumer paid than what the grower got.
I Lord BEXLEY had got the prices of some of the largest

market inland towns, and could assure the House, that
the average of those price' varied but little indeed from
the prices of the maritime districts.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE suggested that the average
should still be taken at the maritime districts, so that the
results might serve as a comparison with the general
averages throughout the country.
The Bill was then read a second time, without opposi-
tion, and ordered to be committed to-morrow.
Lord GODERICH moved that an bumble Address be
presented to his Majesty, praying that he would be pleased
to order that the Bth snd 9th report of the Comvnissionen
appointed by his Majesty for inquiring into the state o'
Education in Ireland, be laid before their Lordships.