Star.
London, England, 1825-06-23 00:00:00

NEWPAPR.R DUTIES BILL•

•
3

,
e. 4

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. moved the
order of the day for bringing up the Report of the Newspaper
Duties Bill.
Mr. HUME expressed his regret that he was not in
the House when this Bill went through the Committe-,
as he intended to have proposed some alteration in the
clauses. He could, however, still effect his object with
very little trouble. That object was, to reduce the duty
on all newspapers in the same degree as the Right
Honourable Gentleman proposed to reduce it on sup-
plements only. If the Right Ilonourab:e Gentleman
would consider the great impediments thrown in the
way of persons wishing to advertise, and of commerce
in general. by the high rate of the present duty, which
lessened the number of newspapers, he was quite sure
that lie must consent to the reduction. The effect of
the increase of duty had always been to retard the cir-
culation, which had not at all kept pace with the in-
creased wants of the public. Between the years 1806
and 1814 the increase of duty was 326,0001. In the
year 1815, after the duty had been raised, and in con-
sequence of that the price of the paper, the amount
of increase was only 4,0001. Upon the last nine
years there had been no increase at all com-
mensurate with the altered circumstances of the country.
The reason of all this was, that the article was taxed
too highly, and the people had not the means of pro-
curing it. The effect of newspapers upon education,
and the spread of knowledge, ought also to be another
powerful consideration, and he trusted the Right H
Gentleman would, upon these grounds, consent to re-
duce the duty upon the whole of the papers. Ile must
see that the Bill did not make an equal reductitin ; be-
cause it only went to relieve those papers which pub-
lished supplements, and not such as from the extent of
their circulation were never called on to do so. He should
with to see the same course pursued with regard to
advertise ments. Since the last increase of a shilling on
tl e advertis. went duty, there had been no increase in
the amount of revenue received, which proved that
great injury must have been done to commerce. The
Hon. Member referted to the state of newspapers in
Ames ica, to shew the superior advantages of low dtries.
In Philadelphia there were six times as many papers
published as in Liverpool. The proportion of adver-
tisements was the same, because the price of insertion
was only about sixpence, and the paper sold for three-
halfpence. If the duty on advertisements were reduced
to one shilling, he was convinced that the loss to the
revenue would be fully made up by the increased cir-
culation. if the Right Honourable Gentleman would
consent to this reduction, the interests of commerce
would be greatly benefited by it. When the price of
a paper was threepence, instead of sevenperce, people
would take one for themselves, where they now clubbed
tiree or four together. Ti is object could be effected
by the present Bill, by leaving out the word " supple-
ment," and declaring it to apply to the whole of news-
paper stamps. If the Right Honourable Gentleman
would consent to make the experiment, he would gua-
rantee him against loss. Let him but try it for one
year, and if it did not succeed, he would then consent
to any alterations the Right Ho:z. Gentleman might propose. The
Hon. Member moved au amendment for leaving out the words
in question.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that if he were going to sell an estate to the Honour-
a:ali Member, he might take his guarantee. But when
the consideration was half a million of taxes, he mug
bt: excused for preferring the ordinary mode, and re-
fusing to accede so the Honourable Gentleman's very
friendly offer. He thought he ss as granting a consi-
derable relief to the Newspapers by this Bill, and one
with which they seemed to be vet y well satisfied. But
t'.e Honourable Member said, in removing the duty
only from those papers who issued supplements, there
was something unjust. But it must be remembered,
that if the relief was extended only to one class, they
had been the persons who alone issued the instrument
upon which the duty had been paid ; therefore the
others could not complain whose circulation did not re-
quite the payment of the extra duty. When he con-
sidered the amount of reduction which had been made
during the present Session, and the many other items
of taxation, which had been so much talked of in that
House, and also that he had nibbled a little at this, he
could not venture upon giving up so large a portion of
revenue at this late period of the Session. The Honour.
able Gentleman seemed to think that the publication of
Newspapers did not receive sufficient protection, consi-
dering _their usefulness in spreading education and
knowledge. All hi could say upon that point was,
that scarcely a Sunday pasted, without this being fa-
voured wish some new Newspaper, with a most
bril-
Prospect -Id soliciting his support. He the re-
s scarcity of food
this species of
Honourable

amendment was nega-
read a third

ravigativn TAWS
condemned

the course pursued by the Bight Tionoural.l: Prrqident of the•
Board of Trade, which he described as being ruinous to our
navi.l superiority, and as playing into the hands of all rival mari-
time nations.—The Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Customs Regriintiens Bill went through the same stage.
SCoTCII PARTNERSHIP SOCIETIES BILL.
Upon the mourn for the•third reading of the Partnership Socie-
ties in Scotland liilL

Mr. J. I'. GRANT opposed the Bill, upon the ground that the
Preamble stated that to he the law of Scotland which several deci-
sion+ of the Court of Session denied.
The LORD ADVOCATE contended that this enactment wasp
wise and useful one fur Scotland. Ile offered no opinion upon the
question whether it would be beneficial to extend it to England ?
He confined himself to Scotland, and with respect to that country.
he was convinced that general business could never have gone on
unless the law had been so understood. The House, he hoped,
would see the use in this light. and agree to the measure.
Mr. T. WILSON supported the measure.
Mr. SCA It LETT said, he should not intt rfere with the appli-
cation of this measure to Scotland; but he protested against its
being brought into England.
Mr A. BARING deprecated the introduction of any law into
Scotland which was not good for England. The fact was, that the
state of the law upon this subject was different in each of the three
portions of the kingdom; and it was in'that state of perfection, ac.
cording to lawyers, that no man could tell what the law really was.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed, that if the law was
not very intelligible in this particular, it was not attributable to
lawyers, but to those commercial men who hid framed the Bill
relating to it in that House. The meaning of the present Bill was
to declare that to be legal which had long been the acknowledged
practice of Scotland, but which the present Act upon the subject
left in a state of doubt.

After a few words from Mr. J. P. GRANT and Mr. KE:73I
DOCGLAB, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Leith Harbour Bill was read a third time and passed. "
The Report on the Public Works and BriJges (Ireland) Bill,
was brought up and agreed to.
The other Orders of the Day were then read, and the House
adjourned. .

liont Prospectus, and soliciting nis support•
fora ibc7tht there was no danger at present of a scare)
to supply the appetite of those who indulged in this
study. Upon these grounds he must otiect to the
Merahr's amendment.
After a few woras from Mr. 'lon. the amendment
tired, the Report received, and the Bin ordered to be
time to-morrow.
WAVIAATION LAW 3.
i yea C motion for the third reading of the Navig
Mr.ItOIiERTEMN roosts oppote it, andstrongly
•