Star.
London, England, 1828-04-02 00:00:00

WUT INDIA PLANTIRS.

Mr. C. N. PALLMER presented a Petition from the
West India Planters and Merchants, praying for a Re-
duction of the Duty on West India Produce. The
duty on Sugar had risen by degrees until now that it
amounted to 27 per cent. The Petitioners complained
that the consumption of the article was necessarily
checked by so high a duty. Siztpthree shillings a
hundred was the price which the article bore during the
last year. O: this, 27-. was paid in duty, 18s. was the'
cost of produce, and Bs. transport. So that there re.
Inzaioed to the grower only 10s.- put of 635. He received
therefore only one penny a poend, while Government
received threepence in the shape of duty. The import-
mice of this trade was sufficiently proved by the 'fact,
that it gave employment to bet ween4oo,ooo and .500,000
tons of shipping, and 25,000 or 30,000 seamen.

Mr. GRANT said, he was fully sensible of the ion.
poitance of the subject, and should be prepared to dis-
cuss it whenever it came regularly before the House.—
Ordered to be printed.

The manse Honourable Manses presented a Petition from the
Council and Governor of the Island of Antigua. complaining of
diettess.—Grderrd to he en the table.
Mr. HGISHOTAZ presented a Petition from the, Social Bre-
akers, meeting at do Cork. City Road, against the all MW ifs

progrese nn the subject of Frleadfy llocledes.—Referred to the
Committee on the HUI.
On the masks' of Mr R. Tagus, a Return was ordered of the
Amount of all Lapotd Annuities to the Sinking Fund, since the
establishment of the said Annaba, together with the amount sea
many paid to-Government.
Mr. A. DAWSON presented a Petition from the Weavers of
Macciesfied and its neighbourhood, praying that some measure
might be introduced for regulating the rate of wages, as bad been
formerly the cue on piece work.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. MA LCOLM presented a Petition from the Mayor, Alder.
men, and Caroms(' Council of Boston, in Lincoln, against any far-
ther concession to the Roman Catholics.—Ordered to be printed.
Lord MORPETH gave notice, that on Tuesday, 13th May, he
should move an Address to the Throne, praying that his Majesty
may be graciously pleased to make some provision for the family of
the Late Mr. Canning, if hi the mean time he did not hear that it
was the intention of his Majesty's Government to bring forward a
similar proposition.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY moved for Returns of the Expense of '
Building the Parliamentary Stables.—Ordered.
Mr. HARVEY presented a Petition from a Mr. Cruden, a
Member of the Corporation of Gravesend, and a Magistrate, against
the Licensing of Ak-houses Bill.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON presented a Petition
from certain Hackney-coach and Chariot Owners,
complaining of the Commissioners of Hackney Coaches,
and praying for a Committee to investigate their pro-
ceedings. The Honourable Member observed, that great
partiality was evinced in the dispensing of cabriolet
license_. The petitioners stated, that these licenses were
granted to wine-merchants, halt-pay officers, &c. some
of whom held a considerable number. The hackney
coachmen earned only from ss. to 12s:ti day, whereas
the cabriolets earned from 25.. to 25.. and it was a..
gnat hardship that the hackney coach owners could
not get a license for cabriolets.
Mr. HUME supported the Petition. He had formerly
arempted to get some 'empty for these pat ties from the
Treasury, but in vain. It will be the business of the
Finance COthmittet 10.ms:iliac into the constitution of
the Hackney Coach Board.
Mr. DAWSON said, that the numbet of cabriolets
was limited, and it was the opinion of the Board of
Comthissioners that they ought to coainue the licenses
in the hands of those patties who first undertook the,
speculation. These vehicles were a great convenience,
to the public, and when formerly the Commissioners
applied to the hackney coach owners to set up some of
them to meet the wants of the public, they refused, and
other iadividuAs ventured upon the enterprise. They
received encouragement from the Board to do so, and
it would not be altogether just now to withdraw that
encouragement, in favour, too, of the very parties who
refused, when they had the opportunity, either to setae'
themselves or the public. He knew not how the fact
was, but he was sure it mattered not whether it was
half-pay officers, or wine merchants, that had done this
service to the public.
Mr. WARBURTON thought the Hackney Coach
Board of Commissioners requited some investigation.
Mr. Alderman WOOD said, the petitioners, as a
body, were in a state of great distress. There was no
free trade as far as regarded them* for they could not
get licenses for cabliolets.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON observed, that it was
not the hackney.coach owners only that disregarded
the public wants as to cabriolets—for it was not till
seven years after the Commissioners had power to li-
cense these vehicles that they could get any persons to
enter into the. plan.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
the Worthy Alderman Wild suppled an additional rea-
son for upholding the interests of the present owners of
cabriolets; for the public was the more indebted to
diem for doing that which, during seven years, no other
persons could be procured to do—(Hear). The tact
was, these Petitioners were themselves great monopo.
lists ; and, amongst the prayers of the Petition was, that
stage-coachmen should be prevented from going one step
out of their road to set down passengers ; but that they
should be obliged to take their passengers to the inn,
where the hackney coachmen could pick them up and
take them home—(A laugh).—The Petition was then
read, and laid on the table.
Mr. HUZiiE gave notice that he should, on the 21st of May
move for leave to bring in a Mille regulate the mode of taking the
poll at elections by ballot.
The same Hon. Member presented a Petition from Montrose
against the Corporation and Test Acts.—Ordered to lie oaths table.
Mr. HUME presented a Petition from Thomas Flanagan, com-
plaining of abuses in the Corporations of Ireland, praying for the
repeal of the 21st George 11. and that the 524 George 111. might be
extended to Irish Corporations.—O to Ile on the table.
On the motion of the LORD A DVOCATEof SCOTLAND,
the Scotch Mad Houses Bill was read a &et time, aid ordered to
be read a second time on the 21st April
Mr.. F. PALMER presented a Petition frost Edward Lee, a
mail beer brewer of Southampton, complaining of the hardships
which himself and other persons siwtLrly circumstanced suffered
from informers, employed under the Board of Excise, and the pro-
ceedings instituted against them by the Board.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he
'Would give the best attention to the subject of the Petition. But
the House should not forget that there were difficulties attending
It. If persons selling beer or wine were exempt from inquiring
loco the conduct and character of their houses, a door would be
open for nalscooduct, which it must be the wish of every one to
prevent—The Petition was then ordered to be printed.