§ Mr. T. Wilsonrose, for the purpose of presenting a petition from the manufacturers and merchants concerned in the wool trade of the city of London. Adverting to the duty which was imposed upon foreign wool in the course of last year, the hon. gentleman observed that it appeared to him, from the very first, a proceeding of an unwise and impolitic nature, considering that the manufacturing interest of this country was at that time involved in great distresses, and that a very large number of individuals were suffering under heavy difficulties and privations. He had always felt the truth of the maxim, that the imposition of a new duty upon the raw material was a measure never justifiable, except when the trade was in a flourishing condition. The resolutions which had been founded upon these considerations, and transmitted to his majesty's ministers, were such as, he thought, would make out a very strong case. It was evident that the great price of the raw article would enhance the price of the manufacture in proportion; whereas a fall, such as would be occasioned by the withdrawing of the duty, would enable us to meet the competition of foreign markets. It was very true, as had been stated, that a great number of merchants in the city had refused the order which was transmitted to England for the clothing of the Russian army. The more he had extended his observations, the more information he had been enabled to collect upon the subject, he was so much the more convinced that this tax must operate like a mill-stone round the neck of the manufacturer. He implored his majesty's ministers to consider the state of the country, the condition of the manufacturing classes; and to reflect with how much better grace it would come from them to repeal this tax in pity to 93 that country, and to those individuals, rather than to wait till the distress had increased to a degree which should make it imperative upon them to do so.—The petition was then brought up; it prayed that parliament would be pleased to confer upon the wool trade that protection which it had always received under all former reigns.
Mr. Baringthought, that a more important subject could not be brought under the consideration of the House. He could not, entirely unconnected as he was with the wool-trade, or with persons embarked in that trade, allow the present opportunity to pass, without saying that he considered this most ancient and valuable manufacture to be in very imminent danger. It could hardly be expected of him to speak more particularly to the subject. He was not exactly prepared to say whether the manufactures of the country could or could not bear this duty of 6d. per pound upon the importation of wool. But of this he was quite satisfied, that the duty last year was imposed without sufficient consideration. It seemed to have been laid on by the chancellor of the exchequer, more for the purpose of conciliating some hon. gentlemen who were reluctant to adopt another tax, probably almost equally severe upon them—the malt duty—rather than from other motives. He was quite sure, if it should appear that the manufactures of the country could not stand foreign competition while this tax existed, that to suffer it to continue for one or two years only might be the means of establishing manufactures abroad, which would entirely overcome that competition which we had sustained in their markets for centuries, and which would get to such a head that no subsequent efforts of ours, no mitigation of duties even would be able to undersell or put down. As far as regarded the agricultural interest, he would say that if the manufactures of the country were at stake by reason of the price of wool the agricultural interest was equally so—a fact which could be easily made out. He did not know what course the hon. gentleman meant to pursue, but he could not suffer the matter to pass, without begging that the House would allow him to say, although it was not usual to give that sort of notice in such cases, that he should on Monday next present a petition from the merchants of the city of London, relative to the general restrictions under which the com- 94 merce of the country was at present labouring. In Conclusion, he begged to observe, that he could not allow a petition like that which had been just presented to be brought up without offering a few words upon it, or without declaring that he considered it one of the most important description. He would say, that no parliament had ever been guilty of greater remissness in the discharge of their duty, than the last parliament had evinced, by the inconsiderate manner in which they had imposed such a duty upon the importation of wool.
§ Mr. Wilsonsaid, that he intended to follow up the petition, according to the prayer contained in it, by calling the serious attention of the House to the subject. But he should let the petition rest at present, until the House was in possession of numerous others upon the same subject, which he expected would be forwarded from all parts of the country.
§ Ordered to he on the table.