Lord Temple ,brought up a bill to permit the exportation of wool, from the British plantations in America, to the united kingdom. On the motion for its first reading,
§ Mr. Harrisonentertained objections to this measure, which he conceived likely to injure the landed interest, but he would reserve the full statement of these objections to a future stage. In the mean time he hoped that some regulations would be introduced into it, that might render it less exceptionable. It struck him, that if the unlimited importation of wool were permitted, the effect would be to discourage the growth of that article at home, by placing the landed interest at the discretion of the manufacturers, who would, upon a surplus in consequence of the importation, be at liberty to offer any price they pleased. The importation at present allowed, proceeded from a wish to obtain the fine wool of Spain to mix with our own. But we had no want of the coarse wool of America. Indeed he could not conceive any reason for this bill. We had no scarcity of wool whatever, and therefore the bill was, on the face of it, unnecessary, and he much feared its effects would be injurious.
Lord Templecalled to the recollection of the house, that the importation of wool from the united states of America was already permitted, and the only object of this bill was to grant to our own colonies the 353 same advantage. It was his intention to propose, that the bill should be printed, and allow full time for its examination, in order that no alarm should arise from a misunderstanding of its provisions. If it should appear desirable to limit the continuance of the bill, he should offer no objection to such a proposal; and if; hereafter, it should be found disadvantageous in its operation, its repeal would naturally follow.
§ Mr. Harrisonrecommended every encouragement to the growth of wool, upon the same principle that the legislature encouraged the growth of corn. He advised the introduction of a clause into this bill, imposing a small duty on the wool imported, as the best means of ascertaining that which was very desirable, namely, the quantity of the importation.—The bill was then read a first time.