The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-03-19 00:00:00

MALT DUTY SILL.
_ __

Mc HUSKISSON saii:thittli;the Hon. and Gallant
Member ("lir J. Yorke) probably took the opportunity
au interval in the coarse of pubic business, to bring

chirred for their manufactures hitherto, or they wee-
making at this moment very inordinate profits. No ,s-e
could doubt this who considered the diminution in th.•
capital required consequent upon the reduced prices
all the articles requisite to production. But independ-
ently of this, it was not to be borne, when • reduction
of tax was made to the extent of a farthing on the pf,
of beer, the public were not to have the benefit in the
price; and the grower, in the increased demand pro.
duced by the lowering' of the prices. He declared th.i•
he had no interest in it one way or the other; but it'
his Right Honourable Friend did not take it up in
the light he hail suggested, lie would himself pro-
pose a resolution, to lay such an addition of 'lntr.
on the stock of di, public brewer, as should I •
commensurate with the intended benefit to the prop! •
at large. When the reduction of a million and a half
of taxes had gone hand in hand with the reduction 0;*
the interest of the public debt—a measure which, al-
though perfectly fair and just, yet deprived many pri-
sons of some portion of their annual mean, of liyeii-
hood—it was beyond all description unjust, that Vte
benefit of' that4reduction should go, not to the consumer,
hut to a class who did not deserve it.—(Hear.)
Mr. CALCIt AFT said, that he perfectly agree I
with the Right Hon. Gentleman that it was monstroo
that the intention of the Legislature to remove a horde!)
from the people should be converted into • means
additional profit to a class not entitled,iand nut contend.
plated by the measure. He had beard the Right /Lot.
Gentleman with peculiar pleasure, because lie was no•
inclined to give a bonus of SKIM!. to that class .it
persons ; and because it would afford him an opportii-
nity of renewing his motion fur a redaction of th-
Salt Tax, at the rate of 500,04101. a-year. The tUrt,•
Honourable Gentleman had opened a plan which wool t
not create a fund of 34.10,00111. by which this might ti •
effected, but which would leave 300,0001. over and
above. He hailed this as a most fortunate prospe.-t
fur those friends of his proposition upon the subject n:
the Salt Tax. Speaking on this subject, he could Lot
help adverting to the tax upon hops. These were up•
wards of WOO acres employed in the cultivation fit
this article, and it produced an amount of duty equal
240,1101)/. per annum. Thus it was a tax of U. per arr •
on land, and on an ingredient forming so essential rt
necessary of life, at the same time that it operated as
monstrous burden on that part of capital employed iu
the produce of this article. He tb 'tight this tax shoui !
he looked at with a very jealous eye ; but with recir I
to the proposition of the Right Hon. Gentlemen (.11-.
Huskisson), it would be tautatuount to • further redo..-
non of taxation, without troubling the Chancellor
the Exchequer, and without taking one shilling fro 1
the Sinking Fund. . . .

Mr. lIUSKISSON begged to remind the lion.
Oman that his proposition was to be contingent on it
price of beer remaining at what it now is; and be
sore that wlitt had already passed would hays the elre.::
of lowering it.
Mr. CALA:RAFT admitt►d the Right Hon. Gentl..-
man's contingency, but he relied on the firmness of she
brewers.
Mr. DAVENPORT espressed his eonearreere and
zrifituste, in the sentiments of the Right Hon. Geode-
turn (Mr. Buskision.)
Mi. BUXTON said, that the proposition of the
lion. Gentleman was no more than what he had himself
s•'ttgested on that occa.ion. For his ewe part h •
h"ree.l to say, th.st curosece.l as he was with the trade.
if the brewers continued to act upon the intimation they
I,A given of not restordig the price of beer, be won..
join in support of the proposition of the Right He:.
tieneseus4r. &Hear.)—tlatit should at the IMMO tithe
be considered, that the brewers had now on band a large
stock of beer wade from malt winch bad paid the full .
duty, and there:ore a reasonable time ought to be givers
to ai•yos • of t.
1 Sir J. YORKE hoped also, that the beer being of