Star.
London, England, 1823-02-28 00:00:00

npr TAT.

• Mr. CUR.TEIS presented a Petition from the Hop
Planters of Blechley, in Susses, praying for the re-.
moval of the Doty on
The CHANCELLOR of the EXC HU:WI:a said,'
he would take that opportunity of answering a ques-
tion put to him by the Honourable Member a few
days back on this subject. Tha: question,• as he un-
derstood it, was, whether it was his intention to pro-
pose a reduction of the duty upon Hops, or whether
he would assent to the appointment of a Committee
to take their grievances into consideration? In an-
swer to that question lie was compelled to state, that
lie could not conceive that there was sufficient reason
for the adoption of either of those expedients. lithe
Honourable Member wished to bring the subject be-
fore the House, it was competent to him to make a
motion to that porport ; but in his opinion there was
neither sufficient ground for the appointinent of a
Committee, nor even eith a view to Vie interests of
the parties thetpelves, for a reduction of the duty._
The difficulty attending the cultivation of flops in
certain parts of the country was well known to be
such as to render it inquissible to make the culture
of them ansifer, Without very high prices. It was'
also well known that theie was no article subject to
griatcr fluctuation than ficips, owing to the peculiar
nature of this climate. The crops had been good for
many years, and -therefore the prices had been low,
and thus it was that a reduction of the dory would
really produce no good. Many-of the lands formerly
enaplOyed in the cultivation of Hops could not, from
die nature'of existing circumstances, row be made to
grow that article withourloss. The removal of the,
duty, therefore, by stimulating to unprbfitable and
losing speculations, would only fend to bring back
the very evil complained of. This, however, he was
prepared to do in behalf of this interest—he had no
sort of objection to extend to them the advantage
svhich had sometimes been. done before, of postponing
the payment of the dues ; and in the execution of:
that intention 'he wag walling to , give every possible
facility in his v.ostert ' 114,,cohleiifd, however, that he I
should not be inducedlo 'go'io far, did he think that
it warsuld have the effect Of stimulating to the culti-
vation of the article on those lands, where, according
to the representations of the Petitioners themselves, it
would-tot answer to grow it; Without the certainty
of very high prices—(Hent, herr):
Sir E. KNATCHBULL could .not express himself
satisfied with the small hope of relief held out by the
Glianceilorof the Exchequer. He begged to put it
to the-serious consideration of the Right Hon. Gen-'
tlebutn, whether it Would not be better for him to
,a.arord a better •prospect. of 'relief, where so large a
population was concerned; as in this rase ?
Mr. CURTEIS gave notice, that if not anticipated
by the Honourable Baronet, the Member for Kent
E. Kuatchbull3, he should .mote for the repeal

4116- of the whole ei part of, th it op 11ii
was. theft laid oil' thp r .1 •., • .
hiAsifEß
Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know froth the Right
Secretary.oppositt, whether any steps were to
be taken relative to the ()ace Of the Rolls, the duties
of the head of which Court, he presumed, he was
aware had been discharged by Deputijor x consi-
derable time past? A notice also had been stuck up
to say there 'would be no business there from the 28th
of the present month till the lbth April, by which
Much time would he loseto the Public.
Mr. Secretary PEEL was unable, in the absence of
his Learned Friend, the Attorney-General, to give
any information to the Hon. Member on this subject.
He believed the absence of the Master of the Rolls
proceeded from severe indisposition, which it had
been hoped would be temporary.