HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, Dec. 3.
The Speaker took the chair at a quarter to four o’clock.
At 25 minutes to five o’clock the house went into committee of supply, Mr. Wilson Patten in the chair; and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to introduce his financial statement. He besought the house to remember that the statement was made under very peculiar circumstances, for at the present moment only two-thirds of the financial year were completed.
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He now came to consider the grievances of which the agricultural classes complained. Their burdens he was willing to consider as they had been pointed out by Mr. Cornewall Lewis. He had to consider the course to be taken with reference to a class of taxation which was levied for general purposes, but was paid by local communities. The subject of local taxation resolved itself into the principal rates, viz.— highway rates, county rates, and the poors’ rates. The subject of highway rates would be dealt with in a separate measure, which would be introduced by the member for Petersfield (Sir William Jolliffe). He had paid great attention to this subject. As to county rates, the government had no objection to the introduction of the representative principle (hear), and they had no doubt that the charges for gaols and lunatic asylums ought to be made part of the general expenditure of the county. The period, too, would soon arrive when punishment of crime must be considered; and that he conceived would be a favourable opportunity for the consideration of the question with regard to gaols and lunatic asylums. As far, then, as county rates were concerned, he was not prepared to recommend any change—(Hear, hear.) He came in the next place to the consideration of the poors’ rate. The reduction between 1849 and 1851 in the amount of poor-rates had been at the rate of 400,000l. a-year; but he regretted to say that in 1852, so far, the same rate of diminution had not been continued. Still the great fact remained that there were circumstances in operation which must considerably affect the amount of pauperism in the country; and that causes were in operation which would materially and progressively diminish its amount. Notwithstanding these circumstances he was not prepared to recommend any change in the system of raising the local taxation of the country.—(Hear, hear.) He had now considered the case of the suffering interests, and had offered moderate and he trusted satisfactory changes, as a final settlement of the controversy just terminated. He new approached the important topic of the taxation of the country under the new system which had been just created. It was obvious unrestricted competition was inconsistent with restricted industry, and our policy with low prices, must be to put an end to high taxes.—(Hear.) We best enabled the community to bear unrestricted competition by cheapening those articles that sustained life: and he should show the House, if they adopted this principle fully, they would be giving the greatest possible impulse to the industry of the country, and especially to those branches which had suffered most. The House, therefore, would not be astonished that government were prepared to recommend parliament to deal with the Malt Tax.—(Hear, hear.) This tax was a burden and a restriction upon industry. He recommended it no other plea than the interests of the consumer, which been urged with so much force by hon. gentlemen opposite; but there was no tax which, if properly dealt with, could so materially promote the interest of producers. In what manner and to what extent ought they to deal with this tax? If they dealt with it in a small way they would fail in effecting the object they had view. The existing duty upon malt was 2s. 7 ½d. and 5 per cent per bushel. The consumption was certainly increasing, but not in proportion to the increase in many articles owing to the incidence of the tax. The government therefore, thought it their duty, to recommend this duty should be diminished one-half. (Oh! oh!) The amount to be dealt with exceeded £5,000,000, and it was proposed to lay a uniform duty of 1s. 3½d. per bushel and 5 per cent. They proposed to do away with the drawback upon malt spirits in Scotland, a change which ought no longer to be postponed. (Hear). Sir John Parnell had recommended that if the Corn Laws were repealed, the Malt tax should be reduced one-half. He proposed that the reduction of the malt duty should commence on the 10th October next; the stock in hand in the country would then be taken, and holders would be guarded against the competition to which they would be exposed by receiving a drawback. He came next to another article as much a necessary of life, and quite as popular with the people as malt. He was about to propose a reduction of the tea duties.—(Hear, hear.) There was no prospect of any in the supply of this now necessary article. [Left Sitting]