The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-28 00:00:00

CUSTOMS DUTIES.

On the question that the House should resolve itself
into a Committee on the Customs Bill,

Mr. HAVES presented a petition from the coffee-
house keepers of Lambeth, in favour of the reduction of
duty on coffee and sugar.
Sir. O'CONNELL said,- that the Right lien, 13aronit
opposite had stated his fears that, in consequence of the
temperance movement in Ireland, a defalcation would
take place in the revenue from that country. Now he
wished to lay before the House a statement which would
show that, although the revenue had decreased upon ex-
ciseable articles, it had increased upon the whole.
The decrease of the revenue in the year 1840 in the
article of malt was 47,5084, an 4 in January, 1841, there
was a further decrease of 35,9551. With regard to
spirits, the revenue from this. source was, in 1839,
1,356,0001., but in the year 1840 it commenced to de-
crease. In 1841 it had decreased 309,5484 In the year
1842 there was an additional duty of 4d. placed
upon spirits, the amount of which was 93,0004
He had a right to add that sum to the decrease in 1842,
which made the total decrease amount to 795,6771.
That this decrease was occasioned by the temperance
movement was demonstrated from this, that the
revenue from other articles had increased. The
revenue on tea was increased by 33,0001., and the reve-
nue on tobacco was increased by 80,000/. ; so that while
there was an increase on other articles, there
was a diminution of revenue to the amount
of nearly 800,0001. in spirits and malt, and as
the revenue was made up from other sources,
there could be no regret, hi the minds of other persons,
that this result should have occurred. This great dimi-
nution of revenue, was distinctly to be traced to the
effects of increased habits of temperance amongst the
people of Ireland.
Ir The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not
prepared with any figures to give an answer to the Right
Honourable and Learned Gentleman ; but the state-
ment which he had made was perfectly reconcileable
with that which was made by his Right • Hon. Friend.
The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman spoke of a
yearly decrease, while his Right Hon. Friend spoke of
an increase in the quarter. No person could be more
rejoiced than he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
was at the increase of temperance which took place in
Ireland ; and he agreed with the Right Hon. and
Learned Gentleman opposite, that no greater advantage
could have happened to that country than the increased
habits of temperance now practiced by the people.
Mr. O'CONNELL said it should be recollected there
was an additional duty of 4d. which would account
for the quarter's increase.
Sir 11. PEEL said, that he spoke merely of a small
increase in this quarter's revenue. With regard to the
revenue, he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would
point out to them from what other sources they were to
obtain 200,0001.
CUSTOMS ACT—THE TARIFF.

The Order of the Day was then read, on the motion
of Sir R. PEEL, for going into Committee on the Cus-
toms Act.
Several articles were agreed to without change.
Dr. BOWRING threw out a suggestion that it would
be very desirable that a great number of articles of the
same nature should be included under one head.
Sir R. PEEL thought it was more satisfactory to have
a detailed enumeration of articles, Arbich would be very
useful by way of reference.
The matter then dropped.
The items down to blubber were then agreed to.
On blubber being proposed,
Mr. LYALL rose to propose the following resolution :
—" That the duty on train oil and blubber, of
foreign fishing, shall be 6/., and the duty on
spermaceti oil, of foreign fishing, 151. the tun, from
and after the sth day .of July, 1843 ; that instead of the
blubber, and the
sth day of July, 1845, as to spermaceti oil
of Jul,y 1844, be sub-
; and as to the
ssttihtudtaedy oafs
tiony,e IdBz,
athaetsrathindaoyil
and
duty •on whale fins, to substitute-for the sth day of July,
1843, the sth day of July, 1844.7 The Hon. Gentleman
spoke in so low a tone, that we were absolutely unable
to hear his voice in the Gallery.
Mr. G. PALMER thought that the present was a
question upon which, and upon.which alone, protection
ought to be granted. Its object was a national one, as
the fisheries here and abroad- had been the nursery of
seamen for their country. Ile would, with the permission
of the House, point out the situation of this country with
regard to this trade. At the 'end of the last war, this
country thought it of such, importance to encourage
fisheries, that they gave a bounty of 39/. a ton upon all
ships engaged in fisheries. In 1823, the bounty was
taken Oil. In the previous year, the number of ships en-
gaged in that fishery was 322, and the number of seamen
was 12,7 8, and all these were thorough-bred good
seamen. ',Uhe number in 1821, was sufficient to man any
fleet of men-of-war that this country could have
occasion to send out.—(hear, hear.) The number
of 'ships was now reduced to 85, and the number of
seamen to 3,008. lie looked upon these fisheries as
nurseries fur seamen. They had given up one of them;
let them beware how they desl,royed the other, by with-
drawing the protection which hi hitherto been accorded
to it. Voyages of that sort ought to be encouraged. He
asked the Right Hon. Baronet to pause, lest he should
do injury to the country. For the parties interested he
only asked for time to complete the engagements they
had entered into. The South Sea fishery, was different
from every other commercial undertaking—it was a
single speculation ; all the parties to the voyage, owners,
captains, and seamen were concerned in it. All who
went the voyage were paid by shares. • The captain and
men always calculated upon receiving something as their
shire of the profits ; but if this part of the tariff were
A.:reed to, instead of receiving any money tEey would be
in debt to the oWiakr§; suer it why 12134-41Qui whql-