C A S E

O F T H E

C O N S U M E R S O F H O P S.

BY an Act of the 9th of Queen Ann, which lays a Duty upon Hops, the Planter or Grower is allowed one Tenth, for the Tare of the Package.

The Price of Hops being, at that Time, very moderate, and the Package of fine Cloth, the Difference in their Value was trifling; and therefore the Consumer submitted to have them weighed together, at one common Price.

But the Planters in some Counties, taking Advantage of this Acquiescence, have gradually encreased the Weight of their Package to an enormous Rate, till the Impofition became glaring, and the Injury to the Consumer intolerable; some Inftances of which are now at the House of Commons, and are flated in the Appendix. *

Yet, fuch is the Force of Cuftom, that this Species of Fraud, injurious as it is to the Consumer, cannot be redreffed without the Aid of Parliament.

There is no Impofition of the fame Kind practifed in any other Trade; but, when a Fraud has been made appear, (as in the Cafe of the Woollen-Manufaëture) the Legifture have thought it expedient to interpoſe, and by proper Regulations, to prevent it.

To remedy the Grievance complained of, the Bill is intended to compel the Planter to mark the Weight of the Package upon the Outſide thereof, to deduct the fame from the groſs Weight, and to content himſelf with being paid one Price for his Hops, and another for his Package.

The Tare being thus ascertained by the Planter himſelf, (who is the firſt Person to do it) and being ſeparately paid for by the Consumer, (who then knows what Price he really pays for his Hops,) Jufſice is done to both Parties; of which Benefit every private Family, that confumes but a ſingle Pound of Hops, will have their Proportion.

Nor can the Planter complain of his being deprived of an Advantage, ſo unjuſt in itſelf, and ſanctified only by Uſage, when he may ſtill fix his own Price upon his Hops: Nor can he complain, under a Pretence of the Precariouſneſs of his Trade; as it is a Faſt, that in the laſt ten Years, (ending at Christmas 1773) there has been paid for Hops above one Million nine Hundred Thouſand Pounds more than in the ten preceding Years; the average Price being, in the latter Period, increaſed above ſixty per Cent.

The Oppofers of the Bill contend, for a certain Weight of Package to be fold with, and for, the Price of Hops; but that would be to ſanctify the Abuse by Law.

It has alſo been urged by them, that it is only neceſſary to mark the Weight upon the Package, and that the Buyer then knows what he purchoſes; but that is very falſacious and leaves the Grievance without Remedy: for, unleſs the Price of the Package be fixed, and the Planter refrained from taking any more, it will ſtill be in his Power to avail himſelf of the Cuſtom, and to inſiſt upon being paid indifferinately for the Hops and Package together; or, in other Words, to make the Consumer pay him the Hop-Price for the Package, which is not worth Three-pence per Pound.

* See the Appendix on the other Page.

APPENDIX.