§ Mr. Westernpresented a Petition from certain Millers in Essex, praying that they might be permitted to take foreign corn out of bond, for the purpose of exporting the flour to be manufactured out of that corn, on the payment of a duty of 4s. He saw no objection against acceding to the prayer of the petitioners, provided they gave a good security that the flour should be altogether 855 exported, and only the bran and chaff retained for domestic consumption. A proposition of this kind had already been submitted to the Board of Trade, and as it would be an advantage to the English Agriculturist, as well as the Miller, he hoped it would be acceded to. The law, as it stood, encouraged the foreign Miller to the injury of the English Miller; the consequence was, as he stated last year, that in Essex several valuable mills were untenanted.
§ Mr. Bramstonsupported the prayer of the Petition.
Mr. Herriesbegged leave to remind the hon. Member, that the subject involving the prayer of the petition had been discussed at length in that House, and that the opposition to it did not arise from the Ministers, but from hon. Members connected with the landed interest. Ministers were on that occasion anxious to promote the object the petitioners had in view, and would now do the same thing so far as was compatible with the existing Corn-laws. Government was aware that the measure would supply employment to many unemployed mills, and it was desirous to accede to the prayer of the petition.
§ Mr. Humethought the present a favourable time for attending to the prayer of the petitioners, and he hoped that the Government would bring forward some measure to carry it into effect.—Petition to be printed.