CORN IMPORTATION BILL. (Hansard, 6 April 1842)

§ Mr. M. Gibson
remarked that, as he believed that this bill was only a step to further and more extensive changes in the Corn-laws, and believing, as he did, that before long it would become abso- 1404 lutely necessary to introduce another bill for making these alterations, he would suggest to the right hon. Baronet the propriety of introducing a clause for limiting its duration to one year; so that the subject would again come under the revision of Parliament, when it would have to decide whether the system should be continued or not. He was more confident in asking this, because he was convinced that this bill would only excite hopes which would be disappointed. He also recollected what occurred when the last Corn-bill was before Parliament, when the credulity of the farmers was acted upon in such a way as to induce them to believe that the continuance of that measure would be of a considerably longer duration than it would be. As the manufacturers also of this country had most gloomy prospects before them, and as trade was in a most despondent state, he thought that it would be desirable that a fixed period should be named for the revision of the matter.

§ Sir R. Peel
observed that, after the courteous manner in which the hon. Gentleman had appealed to him, he felt bound at once to state that he could not assent to his suggestion. The hon. Gentleman seemed to intimate that inconvenience might arise from a feeling of uncertainty as to the duration of the proposed law, but he would suggest that by introducing a clause limiting the duration of the bill for one year, all the evils of uncertainty would be occasioned, and, at the same time, a pretty general opinion would prevail that the bill would be repealed or materially altered in the course of the next year; for his own part, however, he was confident that this would not be the case, nor would any necessity for such a rapid change arise. Under these circumstances, he could not assent to the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman. He regretted deeply the state of trade alluded to by the hon. Member, and, above all, that it should be so much depressed at a period of the year when they had every reason to hope for a better state of things,; but he attributed much of this to the circumstance that the country wished to know what was the determination of Parliament as to the Corn-law and the tariff. He, therefore, would recommend the House to sanction both with as little delay as possible.

§ Dr. Bowring
would suggest, that if the right hon. Baronet would not listen to 1405 the suggestion of the hon. Member for Manchester, that he would undertake to take this bill into his consideration next year.

§ Sir R. Peel
If on the measure being brought into operation, the hon. Member was dissatisfied with the result, it would be open to him or any other hon. Gentleman to move for its repeal.