§ Mr. Douglas moved, that there be laid before the House a return of the Rates and amount of the Duties imposed by Acts of Parliament on British West-India produce imported into the British Colonies in North America, during the last year; distinguishing the various kinds of produce, &c.
Mr. Warburtonexpressed a wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman opposite, whether he was aware that in consequence of a defect in one of the clauses in the bill on the subject, Timber might be brought to this country from Memel, without paying the duty on foreign Timber, by being first carried to Halifax? He knew that that had been done last year. One or more cargoes of Baltic Timber had, to his knowledge, been imported in that manner into Ireland. By the 10th of George 4th, the Timber, the growth of other countries, might be imported from our Colonies on paying only the small duty imposed on Timber the growth of the Colonies. People had profited by this, and had actually sent cargoes of Timber from the Baltic to Nova Scotia, and had then imported it into this country at an advantage. The evil of this practice, as it affected the regular trader, was very great. The prime cost of Timber in the Baltic was 20s. a ton, the direct freight to this country 18s., the duty 55s., and other charges 15s., making altogether 98s. The double freight to Halifax in the first instance, and to this country in the second, 50s.; other charges amounted to 15s.; making, with the price of the Timber, only 85s.; so that Baltic Timber might be sent to Halifax, and then imported into this country, for 13s. a ton less than the rate at which it could be imported direct from the Baltic. He knew for certain that many vessels were at present preparing to sail for the Baltic, and thence with Timber to Halifax, for the purpose of bringing it to this country, and taking advantage of the defect in the bill. He begged to know whether in the bill which the right hon. Gentleman had given notice he would bring in, it was intended 15 to remedy this defect. If not, the parties to whom he alluded would have a perfect right to take advantage of it. The right hon. Gentleman, however, ought now to state the course which he meant to pursue; otherwise, in the course of the next fortnight, most of the vessels which were preparing for the voyage would have left London, and their owners would certainly have a good claim to avail themselves of the law as it now stood.
Mr. Herrieswas glad that the hon. Gentleman had put the question to him, as it afforded him an opportunity of stating what were the intentions of Government on the subject. The hon. Member had described very correctly the defect in the clause of the existing bill, which enabled persons to import Baltic Timber circuitously through Halifax, at a less rate than, owing to the duty which had been imposed for the protection of Timber, the produce of our North American colonies, it could be imported directly from the Baltic. He should be disposed to say, however, that if the existing law were carried into complete execution, he very much doubted if the parties in question could make their venture so successful a one as they had made it, and as, according to the hon. Gentleman's statement, they contemplated making it. He had been asked a question by some of them with respect to one point on which the expectation of making a successful voyage hinged. That question was, whether it would be necessary that a ship should be unloaded at Halifax, and then of course reloaded before her departure for England? If the officers at Halifax did their duty in this respect, he had reason to believe that the expense attending on that operation would very much diminish the chance of any profit arising from the speculation. He now, however, gave notice, that in order to prevent the evasion of what was undoubtedly the intention of the Legislature, he would, immediately after the recess, introduce a bill to remedy the defect in the existing Act, and to prevent any advantage from being taken of it.