Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-01

system which we had adopted in lS1J-of that al
formation OF free trade and monopoly to which that
system necessarily exposed US, and which be would
show, before he sat down, could not afford per-
manent advantage to any party The question,
then, was, with this accumulation in the foreign
market, what course ought we TO pursue, There
were various ways of treating the subject. Those
who thought that the home grower ought to have |
monopoly up 10 certain price, and that above that
there should be free trade, would introduce the |
same alienation of monopoly and free trade to |
which he had just adverted; but then the question
came--at what point should the free trade begin? |
Ills non. friend, the member for Suffolk Mr.. |
Hooch,) had 9 Il fair and candid manner said that |
looking to 5 the 2atssEaSn Of 81 eGR
Cos. quite sufficient afford fair remunera-
ting price 10 the British grower as Sos did in the
year 1915. This, however, was admission con- |
trary to the sentiments of the petitions which he |
Mr.. Gooch) had that evening presented. 1t was
fair and honest admission that the time not far
distant beyond which the present system could not
be continued. One mode suggested would be to
prohibit importation, as long corn did not en-
coed Cos. here; and another was to have the ports
constantly open, with such duty would afford
protection 10 the English farmer. If, however,
the reduction were made to Sos the whole of the |
accumulation of the ports of the continent would
be thrown upon the colatry. What the effect OF
that would be, he would not attempt to describe,
though he did not par,ake of the general fears en-
tertained on the subject (Hedr, hear.) Ii per-
manent duty 20 be fixed, how, he would ask
were they 10 deal with the accumla,ions the
continent! Were they be admitted at once or
gradually! These considerations showed the diff
cultes with which the question was surrounded at
the present time, and which could not be expected
10 embarrass it another period. The circumstances
OF the present day which prevented an attempt TO
alter the corn laws so forcbly alluded 10 in
the report OF the Committee OF 1922, that he
induced to trouble The house with the extract. AT
ter suggesting the proprety OF trade in corn, open
to all nations in the world, subject only to fair pro-
tectlng duty, the Committee proceeded to say, SO In
suggesting this change OILS system for further cons-
deratiOn possible improvement of the corn laws
at some future time, the Committee are awfully
aware OF the unftness of the present moment for
attempting such change, when, owing TO the
general abundance of the late haryests in Errope,
and 10 the markets OF this country having been shut
against foreign corn for thirty months, great
accumulation has taken place in the slipping ports
on the continent, and in the warehouses of foreign
corn in this country; and when that accumulation
from want OF any vent, is held at very low prices,
and might tend still further to depress the already
overstocked markets of this country, If aoN ed to
be introduced at this PERIOD except Mt such hef
rate OF duty it would be ineXpedient TO attempt
! and, moreover, very difficult to determine The
present market price of corn thus accumulated is
not the measure of the cost at which ~ Ia. been
produced, of the rate at which can be offered
by the foreign grower, but the result of aseeneR4
glut OF the article, OF long want of Senlnd, ands
OF extreme distress andheayy loss on the part of
those by whom it has been raised, Ind of s,ose by
whom i is now held, either the warehouses of the
continent, of this country Therefore three
years ago those difficulties hid been contemplated
and that added force TO the argument which he
was using, for the consideration of the House That
part OF the case reminded him of an objection that
had been taken by some hon member in presenting
petition on the subject, who had argued that the
corn laws OF 1915 were TO be considered as perma-
nent. That certainly an observation that had
surprised him exceedingly. Gentlemen should re-
collect that those laws were passed during the war
when all the ports were shut against US, and al
period when the currency of the country was in an
extreme and unnatural state of depression. Mo- E.
over in 1921 and 1922 when a law was brought in
by the late Lord Londonderry, il was expressl Y
stated to be law OF a temporary nature, and TO be
removed when circumstances should admit of it
therefore, it not fair to state that the law was
TO be consdeIBd as permanent and not subject to re-
vision and alteration. After the declaration of his
hon. friend Mr. Gooch) that at the present period
the burdens of the country wee considerably d-
miDished, be thought that the time was nearly ar
rived when that alteration ought TO take place
Having said the present time not the most fit
for such an alteration, it not for him to assert
that the whole of the difficulty would be removed
by the next session. 1t possible that some vent
might be obtained for the gut present in the TO
reign market. If it should be absorbed, il would
remove one great difficulty in meeting the question:
if not, he, for one, looking at the time which the
present ags had been in operation, and the chance
of having better information on the subject next
session, would be prepared, when it arrived TO 20
into the full consideration of with the view ofpro-
viding some permanent measure. Difficulties he
was prepared TO expect; but they were not such as
in his opn ion, might not be overcome.
Looking back to another great measurable
meant the law for regulating the currency Of the
country, against whrl nsupcrable difficulties were
supposed to eXist--he remembered what had been
observed by the hon. member for Taunton Mr. a. /
Baring) that those seeming difficulties should not
deter Tie legislature from coming back to the sound
principles of political economy. That great mea- /
sure was carried, aud the result had fully justified
the wisdom which dictated its enactment So he |
trusted il would be found with the present ques- !
ZION. lie should in the next session be prepared 10
concur in some measure which would fix the duty
at certain rate, to be gradually reduced so as hat
the supply from foreign countries might by de-
grees come TO It's fair level lie believed u was
the Intention Of the legislature in 1921 to give to
The British farmer monopoly Of the home market,
for a certain period, in order 10 redeem the great
losses he had sustained but, by the commencement
OF next session that period would have been suili-
GENTLY extended lie could not believe the stock .
on hand at home to be very great. The accumula-
ton Which had been 80 much spoken OF consisted, .
he believed, Of one million OF quarters, but there
was a difficulty in fixing the quantity accurately:
some had been wasted, some spoiled, some wed
so that the amount Of it was reduced every year;
there really was not enough to supply the country
under dearth lie knew from experience The |
great effect that a small supply OF any commodity /
had in market that oversiocked, and the /
slirht effect that large supply Of any commodity