The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-05 00:00:00

PRICE SEVEN PENCE.

was the hest season for the distilleriei, if the wele now
cheated by any.doubts upon this subject, the market
for. barley would be entirely taken away.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he

was obliged to the Gallant Officer for affording him an
opportunity of giving the fullest explanation upon a suf.
ject of the greatest importance to all parties. 10 the tirbt
of questions he would reply, thit it was not MS in-
tention that the reduction of tbe duties on spirits, which
he ultimately intendeJ, should take place before the 19th.
of Oct. He could not say the precise day on which they
were to be taken off, but as it was so distant he thought
it could not interfere at all with the operations of the
_ . .
distillers. -

As to the stork in hand, he vas anxious to

give that question as favourable a consideration as possi-
ble. In Ireland a distiller was allowed to bond his spiriu
in the King's stores, without paying the duty until it
was sold, so that he lost the present duty only upon such
quantities as passed away from him. This regulation it
was meant to extend to Scotland, and the advantaves
which it would afford the distiller Scotch would not lie
inconsiderable.

ABOLITION OF THE SINNING FUND.
Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from certain in-
habitant householders of lit. Anne's parish, Westminster,
praying fur a total repeal of the Assetsed Taxes. The
objects of the petition were chiefly directed against •'te
system of the Sinking Fund. The petitioners declared
that there was no contract implied or expressed between
them and Government by which they were Wand to pay
more than the current expenses of the State for the year,
and the interest of the Debt. He (Mr. H.) had no douln
but that if time were given before the sinking Fund
pegged into into a law, these would be found to be the
sentiments of the great majority. The petitioners also
stated that Ministers should never be intrusted with a
surplus of Revenue, which was always betser in the pee-
pie's pockets than in their hands. They therefore pray cii
the house to ?nt the finances of the country upon an in-
telligible basis, and particularly to abolish the Sinkin.;
Fund, which one Chancellor of ►he Exchequer had ac-
knowledged to be a system of deception.
Mr. MAXWELL, in seconding the petition, made
some observations upon the Watch Cottage Tax. This
was a tax, he contended, which ought to be entirety
done away with, for it was collected wader circutnstanc,s
of great oppression and cruelty, whilst nct a fourth part
of it went to the account of the public.
-
•

Lord A. HAMILTON also joined in a recommendation
for the repeal of this tax.
Mr. HOBHOUSE wished to know what day the Char.
cellor bad fixed for the discussion of his Sinking Fund
Bill. He hoped a distant day would be named, that the
sentiments of the people at large might be taken upon see
important a measure.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUEI, before
replying to the question, wished to clear away some mis-
apprehension which seemed to prevail respecting this
Bill. Gentlemen on the other side were not correct in
supposing that this Bill wooLl preclude them from fur-
s thee reducing taxes, for they might prevail upon the
House to do an act which might be inconsistent with its
own Resolutions. But in fact, this Bill was rathei a
simplification of the existing law with respect to the
Sinking Fund, than the originating of any new measure.
If, then, the objections urged to it now were goad, S 3
they also were to the existing law. And as to the time for
passing this Bill, if it was at all benefidal to simplify
the law, the sooner it was dore before the sth of April
the be:ter.After this explanation, he trusted there woeld
be but little opposition to the Bill, which would he
suffered to he read a first arol second tint • as a matter of
course. The proper place tor debating whether the
Sinking Fond was to he 2,000,01101. or 5,009,000/. woUl d he
the Committee, for such a question could not be raised on
the second reading. As then there was a future stage
for discussing the merits of the question, he did not ste
why much stress should be laid upon the time the first
steps were to be taken utnan it.
Mr. CALCRAFT agreed with the Hon. Member for
Westminster, that nothing was more desirable or neces-
sary than a simplification of the public finances. At
present the Sinking Fund by law ought to be 15,000,00',./.
but by a Resolution of this house, it was reduced in fact
to 5,000,000/. He could not agree with the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, that after appropriating a Sinking Fund
of 5,0110,000/., this house is afterwards turn round,
anddisninish that sum by a further remission of taxes.
When the house had once passed the vote, he thought it
was not to be disturbed slightly. The proper time, thy,
fee discussing the question, was before the Bill passed.
11 there to•be a surplus a' all, it wait certainly desir-
able that it shottld oe ap,:.rriatekt before the
,sth of
April, but it could not ntch` prejudice the. puma: ass: •
counts if it was postponed still longer. When the
Right Hon. Gentleman had got this Bill for the appro-
priation of 5,000,0094, he could Lave a tooth stronger
areument against remission of taxes, than the present
mere Resolution of 1819 could possibly afford bin. So
anxious, however, was the Right Finn. Gent, to bring on
the qaestioo, that the Report of the Resolutions was to
hr brought up this very evening. After what be had
mated, be hoped the consideration of that Report tron:d
be defined till to-morrow.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be
thought, alter the disc,ission of last night, that there would
be no objection to bring iip ttie Report this evening. Be
had, however, no particular wish to press them to-night,
if the house v ere disposed to discuss them. Ile hoeei,
however, that in the event of his conceding now, no ap-
position %amid be given to their being brought oa savvy
to-morrow.
Mr. Ti ERNE!' remark d, th.rt from the itte :re of the
business which was to come 'secure the heeler to-morrow,
it appeared to him as inconvenient to take those Rest-
lotions then as te-day. The house might naturally ex-
pect that then, .lion relative to Ireland would occupy the
grea'er part of the evening. He could not see v. i.at
great injury the postponement of this Bill would wt.; it,
since, it the Siuking Fund was suffered to co on, oa it
had for some years, it was of little consequence }ma long
after the 5.11 of April the new medsure came i..to optra..
tioc. Sufficient notice, be thought, under any cit
stances, ehopisi be given, that Gentlemen inlght see twee.
tiler they would continue a Sinking Fund inahe preee .t
state of the courory. In the event of sack a discostmit
t.king place, he wiped the country gentlemen would net
tie found wanting, er that a chattier in price' woalri not
induce them to be remiss in their exertions for a redac-
tion of taxes. Wi.h this view he would wrest to ths
Right Hon. Gent. to put off the disco-sion of the Report
to Thursday. •
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be
bad no objection to accede to this smog-8600. if Lis
Right Hon. Friend neer him consented to forego a tno-
tion of his respecting Ireland, nia:h was of no great
pornsece.
Mr. TIERNEY th.eoght it cot anreasonab'e, fro is
Vie nature of the mttiou of Thursday, to calcula.e that
ail discussion upon it would be over -by nine o'clock 4
night.
"Mr. GOULBURN aid he could not answer for the
ltngth of the speeches of *Wives; .opposite, Lai 1,.