The Statesman.
London, England, 1814-11-17 00:00:00

TIMBER ACT.

On the motion of Mr. FITZGERALD, the
House went into Committee on the CustOm duties
on timber, deals, and staves, imported into Ireland.
He stated, that his object. had been to assimilate the
revenue of Ireland as much QS possible to thai of
;England. Ireland had been called upon to make
.great pecuniary sacrifices, and hence arose the ne-
cessity of making a direct taxation. Ile had thought
it, proper, therefore, that there should be an equftli.
zation of duties. Great misconceptions had,
however, gone abroad upon this subject. It had
been stated, that the duties on timber had been raised
1000 per celif. ; whereas the fact was, that the price
of Swedish timber la Ireland was 91. 10s. per ton,
and Memel timber 101. 10s. • so that the duty was
not more `35 per cent. on the entire price,of the ar-
ticle. Persons had complained that the duty was an
interruption to the building trade ; but it was only
such an interruption as every other tax imposed by
Pirliament. Part of the duty, however, was not
intended to continue longer than the war; and
therefore he shiiiuld move, .that the duties now paid
on timber, deals, and staves, should cease, and
other daties subfttitsted in their room.

Mr. FIONSONBY said, that the law pressed more
paiticularly on deal., as the greatest portion of the
timber imported into Ireland consisted of that article.
It would be necessary, therefore, that the House
should have time to consider of the modifications
which the Right Hossestablo Gentlenian had to pro.
pose to: there.
12. v. 1-- -
Mr. ilitflt KAM) state, that he hat
considerable attention to the 'object, and hordLi -
stilted se‘eral merchants, who were satisfiedisstb

the scale of charges he had made. He treitedoe-
fore,
.that the House would approve'cf the modidca-
Bons of his Bill.
It was then agreed, that the present dutliaaltould
cease, and new duties be imposed; and theli4ort
was ordered to be received to-morrow. i.
COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS... „s
The House having resolved itself into a Cam-
mittee,
The CHANCELLOR of. the EXCHEQUER
said, that the first Resolutions which he would pro-
pose were merely those annual taxes which' had been
customary to vote for many years. He should after-
wards proposea Resolution for issuing EiclAuerßills
to the amount of twelve millions and a half, to re-
place the Exchequer Bills stow payable. • .
On the first Resolution being put for .the Confide.
since of the Malt duty,
Mr. PONSONBY said, that he did not rise to
Oppose the motion, but he took that opportunity of
saying, that he wished to know when the House
nitiuld beinformed of the whole amount of the ex-
penditure?
The ChjANCEtLOR -of the 'EXCHEQUER
said, the each a statement would very-solo be made,
probably in a few days.
. Mr,.IVIIITBREAD wished to remind the Right
Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of-the Exchequer)
that he, a few days ago, had expressed a doubt whet
!her, .by the existing law, the- property-tax would
not expire on the sth of April. He wished to know
Whether he entertained such a doislotit present, after
hiving again read the Act i
The CHANCELLcaottbe EXOWECI—'—' 15E4t-tlid
net wish te'ritrry Opinion of bia• aria as to the
point of law; but it appeared to him,-open rending
the Act, that the obvious construction of it with as it
ippearetrto the Hon. Gentleman.
• Mr. WHITBREAD_ wished that be would state
more decidedly what the opinion of Government now
was respecting the tegal•ftaration of this tax!--,
Such staternenewohld give ',considerable satisfactiOe
to the public. . .
3: he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.
give no answer. . .... -, ~ , ,
- The, first ResOlation.respectiog the tax on Malt,
iiha, if heilielAiiirreipecling the tax on Pensions, were
then agreed to. :
~ ,
' The thirditesofistiOn was for applying the amount
etcertaiii ditties on Sugar and Malt, as well as cos..
tain duties-4 Skase on Tobacco and 03nuffI to the
service of tOsyleat 1815.
Mi. PO ONRY wished to know whether it was
intended, bt this Risnlution, to continue those war
taxes for another yeas?, i . „ ..
The CHANCEIsLOA .4.1• the•XCHEIIVER
implied, that the abincePf the Reinlki4 vre4 not
to give any extension to the war -
s, ~ t
taxeetZtt iii ivelp
to apply what had beat al . alit,44* seal
the ..
ensuing year. ' ' •' '. '
.1: ' "
•A. ri . •
Mr. PONSONBY did not 7--4
.1., •
8411161141
reaftestimis