§ Mr. Shawpresented a Petition from the Paper Stainers and Manufacturers of Ireland, praying that the Excise Duty on Stained Papers might be repealed. One of the best reasons for the repeal of the tax was, that it proved totally unproductive, the whole amount of revenue collected being only 1,250l., while the cost of collecting it exceeded that sum. From the scale of duties, as it stood at present, even this small sum was paid almost wholly on the paper used by the poor, while the paper used by the rich altogether escaped. Another evil attending this partial scale of duties was, that the high rate upon low-priced papers prevented their being generally used, by which many persons were thrown out of employment. There were but few manufactures in Ireland, and those were in a most languishing state. He did hope, therefore, that Ministers would take the prayer of the petition into their most serious consideration, and that it would be also supported by the Irish Members generally.
Mr. O'Connellsaid, as this was an Irish grievance, he feared it had not much chance of being attended to, although it deserved to be so when it was considered, that low-priced paper paid a duty of 100 per cent, and the more costly used by the higher classes, only two per cent.
§ Mr. Cramptonsaid, the scale of duties was precisely the same in England as in Ireland; but if the tax was an onerous one in Ireland it deserved consideration.
§ Mr. Leaderobserved, the petitioners complained that the sum received as revenue on their manufacture was in no proportion to the injury they received from the impost; the duty was assessed on the extent of the article without regard to the value, and therefore it fell heavily on the 102 low-priced papers. There was another most important consideration, French papers could be imported and sold in this country for nearly the amount of the Excise duties upon the home manufacturer. Under such circumstances, and when the smallness of the duty was considered, he did hope the prayer of the petition would be attended to.
§ Mr. Shawon moving that the petition be printed, observed, that the hon. and learned Solicitor General for Ireland had said, the duties were the same in both countries, inferring, that it could not be called an "Irish grievance"; but the peculiarity of the case was, that the cost of collection was more than the revenue received in Ireland. He lamented that there were none of the Ministers present to answer the appeal made on behalf of the petitioners; but Irish business seemed to be generally treated with indifference.
§ Petition to be printed.