HC Deb 01 April 1841 vol 57 cc802-5

House resolved itself into a Committee on the Excise Duties.

Mr. Gordon moved the following resolution:— That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a bill to alter and amend certain laws relating to the collection and management of the Duties of Excise. The Commissioners of Excise, the hon. Gentleman said, had a certain jurisdiction, in questions relating to the Excise, from which there was an appeal to three barristers; that appeal court had been found inefficient, and one of the objects of the proposed measure, was to abolish that court, and transfer all those appeals to the Court of Exchequer. Another altera- tion proposed was, that no bonds should be required for good behaviour, except from persons in the actual receipt of money. These provisions were in furtherance of the recommendation of the commissioners.

Colonel Sibthorp

wished to know whether the commissioner was to have any addditional salary; whether the country was to be at a greater expense by the erection of a new court?

Mr. Gordon

The proposition is, to abolish an old, not to erect a new court.

Mr. Goulburn

said, that the alteration of the excise duties on tobacco had been very injurious to the honest trader, and he wished to know whether any further alteration was to be made?

Mr. Gordon

said, that this bill had no reference to trade at all.

Mr. Hawes

expressed a hope, that not only the Appeal Court, but the Excise Court of the commissioners, would be abolished.

Mr. Gordon

said, that was not the intention; the objections to the primary court would probably be removed by transferring the appeal to a regular court of law.

Mr. Hawes

thought, that the jurisdiction would be much better intrusted to the public magistrates.

Mr. Goulburn

was afraid, that although the change would effect a saving of 300l. to the country, it would increase the expenses more than proportionally to the appellants.

Mr. Gordon

said, that there had been no appeal for fifteen years, he believed, to the present Court of Appeal.

Resolution agreed to.

To be reported on the following day.