TAXATION. (Hansard, 8 March 1830)

§ Mr. Bright

presented a Petition from certain inhabitants of Bristol, praying for a reduction of Taxation in consequence of the general distress. This petition, the hon. Member stated, had been got up at a public meeting, very numerously and respectably attended. He fully assented to the prayer of the petition, and ascribed the distress complained of, in a great measure, to the alteration in the currency. The country, he contended, felt strong dissatisfaction at the existing state of things, more particularly at the oppressive means resorted to, to collect the taxes, and loudly demanded more extensive retrenchments, and a material reduction in taxation. It was highly desirable, in his 1350 opinion, that the House should enter into an earnest investigation of this subject, and thereby ascertain exactly what the people could bear, consistently with the low condition of their resources. The assessed taxes were universally complained of; the surcharges on them were extremely vexatious. The most rigorous methods were employed to fill the coffers of the state, and the hand from which the people expected relief contributed to their distress. Under such a system it was idle to talk of an increase in the revenue being a sign of national prosperity, for the public ability to pay, bore but a small proportion at present to the amount of the taxes which were imposed.

§ Lord Althorp

rose to present a Petition from Kingsport, in Norfolk, praying for a reduction of Taxation. Such a concession to the distresses of the people, he maintained, was unavoidable, and he hoped that Ministers would not be the last to perceive the necessity of so far acceding to public opinion, unequivocally manifested as it had been. In urging the necessity of a reduction of taxes, particularly of those which pressed more immediately on the productive industry of the country, he begged to say that he had no wish 1o see Ministers removed from their places. He had no such object in view, having no personal wish for office. Indeed, he was sure that he spoke the sentiments of those with whom he usually acted in that House, when he repeated that he had no desire to see the present Administration changed for any other which could be brought together under existing circumstances. Still he felt it to be incumbent on the House to press the Government, that to reduce our taxation was the only remedy for the distress so generally admitted to oppress the country.