HC Deb 09 March 1832 vol 11 cc83-4

Upon the Order of the Day being moved for receiving the Report of the Committee of Supply on the Sugar Ditties Resolutions,

Mr. Keith Douglas

appealed to the noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether or not it would not be fair, now that he had stated his intention to propose some fiscal measures with reference to the West Indies, to state what the nature of those measures was.

Lord Althorp

said, he was not prepared to state those measures until he was ready to propose them to the House.

Mr. Burge

said, that the conduct of those connected with the colonies with reference to the sugar duties would materially depend upon what the measures of relief would be. It was unfair to call upon the House to vote the duties upon a promise of relief, until they knew what the relief was to consist of.

The Marquis of Chandos

put it to the noble Lord, whether, in the present state of the colonies, such a question should be proposed, at that hour of the night.

Mr. Robert

Gordon urged the postponement, and said, he hoped his Majesty's Government would not be the only persons who failed to show some sympathy in the distress of the West-India colonies. He knew it was a difficult matter for the Government to come at once to any mode of relief; but he felt, that, if relief was not quickly afforded, the colonies must be lost. An attempt had been made to afford assistance by the medium of Bills, but those Bills had been protested, and, therefore, some other means must be found. He wished not to make any factious opposition to the Government, but he did trust, that the Government would not appear to be the only persons who did not sympathize with the distress of the West-Indies.

The Marquis of Chandos

protested against being thought to offer a factious opposition. Considering the importance of the subject, and the small majority of the Government, he thought it ought not to be pressed forward at such an hour.

Sir Thomas Freemantle

had decidedly understood, that the Vice-President of the Board of Trade had plans of relief prepared, and, therefore, he thought they ought not to be longer delayed. It was of the utmost importance, that relief should be quickly afforded.

Mr. Irving

thought it was of great importance that the noble Lord should take the earliest opportunity possible of making known his plan of relief. He did not wish, at present, to press the noble Lord for that statement. He would, however, take that opportunity of stating to the noble Lord, that any plan of relief would be rejected with indignation and scorn, if clogged with any such conditions as had been hinted at by the noble Lord.

The following Resolution reported:— That, towards raising the supply granted to his Majesty, the several duties on sugar and molasses, imposed by an Act of the first year of the reign of his present Majesty, and the bounties granted thereon, shall be further continued, until the 10th day of October, 1832.

Bill to be brought in.