Star.
London, England, 1813-02-13 00:00:00

JOAN UNDERSTSZLL, E►q, be

The Report of the Committee en their Proceedings, since the
etirg of the 11th of July last, being read, •
It was remived unanimously,
1. That the double Tax on Leather is oppressive and unjust,
greatly injurious to the Leather Tsude, and consequently has
deprived thousands of employment ; as a measure of Finance is
unproductive and contrary to all maxims of sound policy. as
taxing one of the oldest and most important manufactures of the
kingdom.

1. That the Tax is oppressive and unjust, and greatly
injurious to the Leather Trade, because the process of tan-
ning requiring, for the greater part of . the Stock twelve
months, the Tanner, at the time the Tax was laid, necessarily
possessed a stock equivalent to the extent of his trade, and which
had been purchased in contemplation of the old duty ouly, for
which lie is called upon to pay the double duty, without the
power of remunerating himself, which will be proved by com-
paring the prices of Raw Materials and Leather, before the Tax
was imposed, to those since it bas taken place, and from not
being able to sell his goods at a price to enable him to pay the
double duty, and replace his stock, the trade and the supply of
Leather are diminished—that the great diminution of the supply,
and the comparatively small advance in price, is a proof, that
neither the consumers of Leather, nor the Raw Good.' can bar
the tax—thus are the Tanners injured, not by the lose on their
stock only, but, together with the Curriers, Shoemakers, Sm.
with the loss of their trade, and thousands of Journeymen are,
ih consequence, thrown out of employment.
S. That, as a measure of Finance, the Tat is unproductive,
appears from the accounts of the duty charged by the Ex-
cise, within the last six months, which shew that tee Gothic
'lax does not amount hs the gross to one-third more than the cold
'lax, tor the corresponding six months ha the last year ; and ;his
Meeting conceive, after deducting the amount of the extra ra-
pe:ices paid by Government upon Leather Goods, and the extra
drawbaclA, that the Tax of One Penny Halfpenny per Pound
upon the whole, was more advantageous to the Revenue and the
Country than that of Three-pence. .
4. That the chief argument used in favour of the Tax,
that the Leather Trade at this time, from the advance in the
prices of goods, is better able to bear the Tax of '1 hree-pence
per Pound than it could have burne the old Tax at tthe time
It was laid, thongs specious and popular, is fallacious., be-
cause Lark in this Lountry, which at that time was plentiful
and kw in knee, has since, from the known scarcity of Oak
Timber, become very dear ; and as the trade then depended
chiefly upon English Raw Goods, he Duty did not diminish
the supply of them ; hut at this time, about half the trade
is dependant upon foreign bides and skins, and the experi-
ence of the last half year proves they are consumed in this
country in the reverse proportion, to the amount of the duty
upon Leather, and that before the Double 'Tax took place, the
foreign hides and skins imported into this country were perhaps
about one-half consumed by the British Tanner, sinoe that time
the consumption has greatly fallen off.
5. That provided Leather was only taxed in the saute propor-
tion as our other great staple Manufactures, and that float imp°.
hie restriction taken off, that will not allow Tanners being Cur-
riers, or Curriers Tanners, which prevents Leather being manu-
factured in the highest perfection, and causes great waste of time,
labour, and materials That Hides and Skins would be imported
in far greater quantities, and Leather goods, of British Manufac-
ture, being afforded at lower prices, would And Markets both at
home and abroad, to a much greater extent, and prove a source
of far greater riches to the country.
6. That in order to insure the repeal of the Double Tax. it is
the duty of every branch of the Leather Trade to meet and ex-
press their sentiments publicly upon it, and immediately to trans-
mit their Petitions to their Representatives in Parliament, for its
repeal, and at the same time request their support in the House.
7. That the 'thanks of this Meeting be given to the Commit-
tee for their great exertions to serve the Trade; and that they be
requested to use all constitutional means to obtain the object.of
this Meeting, as shall appear to them expedient; and that the
Gen It men delegated from the country be considered as WM-
hers of the said Committee.
8. That further Subscriptions be now entered into, and ro•
ceived py the Treasurer, Mr. Saloway, of SinithWark.
Signed by order of the Meeting,
JOHN UNDEOHELL, Chairman.
The Chairman baying left the Chair,
It was resolved unanimotritiy—..That the Thanks of this Weeting
In Oita W Wm t9r Wr table =Oct in the Chair.
DILIWs Segreiltrfs

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