The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-29 00:00:00

TURBOT.

Alderman HUMPHERY complained of the enactment
which related to fish, " that all fish of British take, whether
fresh or cured, should be imported duty free, with the excep.
tion of turbot." Why should turbot he singled out ?
( Laughter.) They should recollect that turbot had been al-
ways free; at any rate since any gentleman in that House
could recollect. Why should turbot be made to pay a duty ?
After a short conversation the matter dropped.
ONION SEEDS.

Mr. T. DUNCONIBE wished to draw the attention of the
House to the third class of articles in the Tariff, that of seeds.
He had given notice of his motion, and he hoped the Right
Hon. Gentleman was now prepared to agree to his motion.
It was proposed to continue the duty on onion seed for one
year at 6 guineas a cwt., whilst the duty on leek sued was
20s. Now there was no difference whatever in the appearance
of leek and onion seed, and it was the intention of the Right
Hon. Gentleman to have postponed the duty on both
seeds till July, 1843, but as the duty on leek seed
had been agreed to, it was not possible to postpone it.
He (Mr. Duncombe) did say, that if they postponed the duty
on either for a year, they would be guilty of a gross and pal-
pable injustice to the working classes. The Right Hon. Gen-
tleman took some credit to himself for the alteration of the duty
on onion seed, which he proposed. Tice proposed alteration
was first to ss. ; some seed dealers applied to the Right Hon.
Gentleman, and it was then raised to 20s. The dealers found
the Right Hon. Gentleman so pliant, that they said they would
, try him again ; to him they went again, rnd the consequence
was, that the alteration of the duty, from eight guineas to 205.,
was postponed for a year. Before the Right Hon. Gentleman
consented to postpone this duty, he had boasted, and justly so,
of the benefit that would be done to the working classes, espe-
cially in the manufacturing districts. Was it fair that this al-
teration should be postponed for one year ? Numerous contracts
had already been entered into to supply onion seed, on the faith
that the duty was to be lo wered. Was it just, then, that these
men should be made to suffer, that the people should be made to
suffer, for the sake of eight or ten onion merchants in Essex ?
The onion seed that was used for the support of the poor of
this country was not grown here, but in Lisbon. He could not
see why tke proposed duty on onions should be postponed for
twelve months, and not upon leeks, carrots, and other articles
of consumption. Lisbon onion seed could not be sowed in this
country, and the duty ought to be removed altogether. He
thought the course pursued by the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade was unjust to the poor ; and he should, therefore,
move that the words " with respect to onions" should be struck
out.

Mr. GLADSTONE could assure the Hon. Gentleman that
he had drawn widely upon his imagination with respect to
what had taken place between the parties he had alluded to and
the Board of Trade. The communications that had taken place
were by letter and not by word of mouth, so that it was im-
pos•ible that an advantage could be given to a few over the
many. He could assure the Hon. Gentleman it would be the
duty of the Government to see that onion seed was not impro-
perly admitted, but it was impossible that the Government
could assimilate the duty on onions and leeks according to the
forms of the House. On the principles on which the House had
granted indulgence in other cases, it ought to grant it
in the present. Indulgence had been granted in the time
of the cork cutters, the Irish provision merchants, and the
case a hops; and he could see therefore why it should not be
acceded in the present case. If there teas any case in which
the proposed changes was likely to be severe, it was in the case
of the onion growers. He was sensible if the consumer was
only to be considered, that it was desirable the proposition
should immediately take effect, but they were not the only
parties to be considered. He felt boand, therefore, to oppose
the pi °position of the Hon. Member, believing that in doing so,
he was acting with justice, and upon principles Which the House,
had repeatedly recognised.
Mr. Alderman HUAI PH ERY supported the proposition of the
Hon. Member for Finsbury.
Mr. HUME submitted that the Right Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Gladstone) had made out a case for the alteration pro-
posed by the Hon. Member for Finsbury. The proposition of
the Government was actually against the growers, and nat in
their favour.

Mr. F. BARING said that it had been shown that the
Custom officers could not distinguish leek seed from onion seed,
and if the clause remained as it was, the dishonest importer
would bring in his onion seed as leek, whilst the honest man
would pay the full duty ; so that if the Government did :lot
wish to leave their tariff in a ridiculous state, they must levy
the same duty upon the two kinds of seeds.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said that the Government had been
misled by the representations of a few interested holders of
onion seed. The growers of the seed were really not interested
in the question.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Committee
divided. The numbers were—