HC Deb 07 August 1833 vol 20 cc428-30

On the Question, that the Customs' Duties Bill be read a third time,

Mr. Grole

, after commenting on the enormous duty upon currants, moved that the duty of 44s. 4d. per cwt., established by the Bill, should be reduced to 28s. per cwt.

Mr. Poulett Thomson

begged his hon. friend to withdraw his Motion, because the revenue could not spare the reduction. He should himself be willing to propose the reduction if the duty could be spared, and he should be happy next year to take the whole of the class of fruits into his consideration, with a view to reduce the duties on them all.

Mr. Matthias Attwood

recommended, after what the right hon. Gentleman had said, the hon. Member for the City of London to withdraw his Motion.

Mr. Hume

contended, that on account of the increased consumption which would take place in consequence of the reduction of duty, the revenue would lose nothing by that proceeding. He would almost venture to give an undertaking to Government to that effect.

Mr. Hawes

approved of a reduction in the duty on currants, and contended, that such a reduction would have a beneficial effect on the shipping-interest of the country.

Lord Sandon

supported the Amendment.

Lord Althorp

said, that he did not feel himself justified, with the small surplus revenue which existed, in agreeing to the Motion. While he admitted the onerous nature of the tax, he yet thought that so great an increase in the consumption of the article would not ensue from the reduction of the duty as was anticipated by the hon. member for Middlesex.

Mr. Ewart

supported the Amendment. He conceived it to be the duty of every Member towards his constituents to press for a reduction of the tax on all articles of consumption.

Mr. Grote replied, after which the House divided on the Amendment—Ayes 52; Noes 67: Majority 15.

List of the AYES.
Aglionby, H. A. Plumptre, J. P.
Attwood, M. Potter, R.
Bewes, T. Poulter, J.
Blamire, W. Sandon, Lord
Brotherton, J. Shawe, R. N.
Buller, C. Strutt, E.
Burrell, Sir Charles Thompson, Ald.
Chapman, A. Tooke, William
Collier, J. Torrens, Colonel
Divett, Edward Whitmore, W.
Evans, Colonel Williams, Col.
Ewart, William Wood, Ald.
Faithful, George Young, G. F.
Fitzroy, Lord C. SCOTLAND.
Gaskell, D. Sinclair, George
Gisborne, T. Wallace, Robt.
Halcombe, John IRELAND.
Harvey, D. W. Copeland, Ald.
Hawkins, J. H. Mullins, F. W.
Hawes, B. O'Connell, Morgan
Hughes, Hughes O'Connell, J.
Hutt, W. O'Dwyer, A. C.
James, Wm. Ruthven, E. S.
Lowther, Lord Ruthven, E.
Lyall, George Sullivan, R.
Moreton, Hn. A. H. Wallace, T.
Parker, J. TELLERS.
Parrott, J. Grote, G.
Penlease, J. J. Hume, J.

Mr. Ruthven moved that the duty of 1l per cwt. upon the importation of clover, of lucerne, of trefoil, and all sorts of grass seed, be reduced to 1s. per cwt.

Mr. Poulett Thomson

opposed the Motion on the ground that it would occasion great loss to the revenue.

Mr. Baring

thought the high duty on seeds prejudicial to agriculture, he would support the Motion.

Lord Althorp

said, that he felt himself bound to resist this Motion for the same reasons as he had opposed the last.

Colonel Williams

supported the Motion because it would be for the advantage of all those who sowed these seeds.

Amendment negatived; Bill read a third time and passed.