Mr. Calvertpresented a petition from certain manufacturers and inhabitants of the Parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, against the present high duties on Coals. The petitioners complained that it was a most unequal and oppressive duty, and was an imposition contrary to all principles of fair taxation. They stated that the duty paid in the metropolis, in the counties of Surrey, and of Kent, was 9s. 10d. per chaldron; while the duties paid in the maritime counties was 6s. 206 6d. per chaldron; and the inland counties paid nothing at all. In the metropolis, a population of 1,200,000 paid 700,000l. duty; in the maritime counties, a population of 4,500,000 paid 1,000,000l. duty; and in the inland counties a population of. 3,500,000 paid no duty at all.
§ Sir Robert Wilsonspoke in support of the petition. The duty, as it was at present raised, was, he said, at variance with all the just principles of taxation. The petitioners sought only for a fair distribution of the duty. He recommended that a bill should be introduced for this purpose.
§ Sir M. W. Ridleysaid, that, as to the taking off the duty on coals, he would give his support to any measure for that purpose, but when it was proposed to take this duty off for the purpose of laying it on the shoulders of others, to this he could never assent.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.