Star.
London, England, 1830-03-11 00:00:00

REDUCTION Or TAXATION.

Mr. W. J. DENNISON presented a petition from the free.
holders, farmers, and other inhabitants of Croydon complaining of
the general distress prevailing amongst the agricultural labourers.
The petitioners stated that this industrious class of individuals were
seen dying of starvation before them, and they expected the same
fate themselves before long, unless something were done to remove
the present state of things. They (the petitioners) attributed the
evil in a great degree to those" poll taxes," the duties upon malt
and beer. He would make but one observation on this petition—it
was, that he approved of the observations that had been made on a
former evening by the hon. member for Northamptonshire—Lord
Althorpe. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on
Monday did not include reduction of taxation, lie also should feel It
to be his duty to use all the means in his power to effect reduction
of taxation, convinced that reduction of taxatioo and retrenchment
were the only means of affording relief to the distresses and diffi-
(vides of the country.
Ordered to be printed.
AIIZAII Or TAXIS.
Mr. HUME said that, on a former occasion, he had moved fee a
return of the number of letters written by the solicitor to the Board
of Taxes, for payment of arrears of assessed taxes. He (Mr.
Hume) had since discovered that these returns were not sufficient to
answer the object he had in view, and he now begged to move for a
"return of the number of writs issued by the solicitor to the Board
of Taxes in the county of Middlesex, for arrears of assured taxes,
from the Ist of January, 1829, to the Ist of January, 1830—the
number of executions issued on those writs—the number of ac-
tions settled previously to execution—the amount of property sold
in execution, and the amount of the expenses attending such pro-
ceedings.—Ordered.
Mr. WODEHOUSE, seeing the right honourable gentleman
(Mr. Berries) in his place, wished to inquire the reasons why the
evidence given by the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank
of England, on the occasion of the inquiry before the Board of
Trade, relative to the establishment of a silver standard, was nut
given in the printed returns for which he (Mr. Wodehouse) had
moved, in the same terms as given in evidence ?
Mr. HERRIES replied that his right hon. friend, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, had felt every disposition to afford all the
information in this cue in his power, although it was unusual to
give publicity to the proceedings on inquiries of this description.
In arranging the papers which had been printed, those were selected
which were thought most likely to be condocive to the purpose of
the inci:lry. In making that selection, a paper had been found en-
tided a Memorandum of a Conversation" held with the governor
of the Bank. It was necessary here to state that the evidence of
Mr. Baring and all the other persons examined, formed separate
papers; there was no document of the general minutes of evidence.
In the memorandums alluded to, la reply to the very tint question,
the governor of the Bank said that he was not prepared to answer
the inquiries on so momentous a question off band, but, if the
queries were put to him in writing, sod he were allowed to answer
them in the same manner, after proper deliberation, it would tend to
the most satisfactory result. This- memorandum which contained
the replies of that gentleman, so qualified, was not thought of
sufficient importance to be printed, compared with the written re-
plies which had been furnished, as coming in a more deliberate
and settled form. He (Mr. Harries) trusted this explanation
would be sufficient to satisfy the honourable member that the
Chancellor of the Exchequer had conceded all the information be
, which he considered formed the minutes of the official
Cieilleidthe subject dropped.
Mr. S. RICE wished to know from the honourable member
whether government possessed any means of affording a return
of the annual exports and imports of bullion during the last few
years.
Mr. HERRIES replied that, since the legislative enactments
relative to bullion, no accounts had been kept which would approxi.
mate to the just estimate of these amounts.
Lord MORPETH gave notice that be would, on Friday next,
move for an inquiry into the)ine of toads between London anti
Edinburgh.
Mr. W. STEWART presented a petition froth the Dissenters hi