Sir E. Knalchbullpresented a Petition from the Journeyman Paper-makers of the county of Kent, against the excessive use of Machinery in the manufacture of Paper.
§ Mr. Wellssupported the prayer of the Petition; because, he thought the distress of the petitioners arose from the excessive use of machinery, and what was called Free Trade.
§ Mr. Humesaid, he had been requested, by a deputation from the petitioners, who had favoured him with a copy of their Petition, to support its prayer, but he had declined to do so, because he was certain that a compliance with their wishes would add to, instead of diminishing, the general distress. The petitioners could only hope for more employment, by being able to manufacture Paper at a cheaper rate than other people, and they could only do that by employing Machinery. What kept up the price of their produce and kept down their wages was taxation. He had therefore advised these people to petition for a repeal of the tax on Paper, and for the abolition of the Corn-laws. Had these two remedies been applied, their disease would soon be cured. He would not then undertake to shew that the member for Maidstone was in error, he would merely observe, that to renew the restrictions on our trade, or to extend them, would augment the distress of the country tenfold. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer wished, as he believed he did, to alleviate the burthens of the people, he would suspend the vexatious interference of the Excise, which, without adding to the revenue of the State, did most severely aggravate the miseries of the people. If he would abstain from interfering with the mode of manufacturing various commodities, employment would be so much increased that he might levy a greater revenue than 304 now, at less expense. Why should not England supply the world with Paper as well as Calico? We had every requisite for so doing except freedom. The manufacture of Paper was subjected to the Excise, and that prevented its success. Was it surprising that the nation could not run along in the career of prosperity, when its hands and feet were in fetters? English Paper was, in point of durability, the best he had ever seen, and he knew no reason but our own restrictions, why it was not extensively exported to all parts of the world. He regretted that the petitioners should be ignorant on this subject; and that they should have prayed the House for that, which if granted, would only tend to their own destruction.
§ Petition to be printed.