§ Mr. Hume, on presenting a Petition from the Coal Whippers of the Port of London, said he was sorry he could not support the prayer of it. The petitioners stated, that under the law at present they receive Is. 6c?. per chaldron, but that it was intended by the new law to do away with this charge, and the petitioners were therefore extremely anxious to lay their case before the House, and he trusted that the subject would meet proper attention.
Mr. Sadlerdissented from the opinion expressed by the hon. member for Middlesex, for he thought if changes which were made by the laws affected individuals, the legislature was bound to afford them compensation. In all changes proposed to be made, it ought to be matter for consideration, whether the evil consequent upon such change might not be greater than the probable good to be derived from it. He thought the prayer of the petition worthy the attention of the House.
Mr. Humereplied, that he wished the petition to be referred to the Committee, where the prayer could be considered. He admitted that no difference ought to be made in any class of people, to whom compensation was given, those in low stations deserving it in some cases, as well as those in high
Mr. Frankland Lewisapprised the hon. Member who presented the petition, that there was no Committee sitting for the regulation of the coal-trade.
§ Petition to be printed.