HC Deb 25 May 1842 vol 63 cc761-3

On the question that iron bars, unwrought, be subjected to a duty of 1l. the ton (foreign), and 2s. 6d. (colonial),

Mr. Hume

altogether objected to the imposition of any duty on unwrought iron. Even the small duty of 1l. the ton would be sufficient to injure the home manufacturer competing with foreigners.

Mr. Gladstone

said, that the producers of the superior kinds of iron claimed to have protection like any other class of producers.

Mr. Parker

said, during the eight or nine years he had been in Parliament, there had been scarcely a year in which his constituents, the manufacturers of the higher kinds of Sheffield cutlery, had not memorialized the Board of Trade for the reduction of the duty on unwrought iron.

Sir R. Peel

had the satisfaction of informing the hon. Gentleman that the Board of Trade had consented to take off one-third of the existing duty.

Mr. Parker

hoped that next year they would consent to its total abrogation.

Mr. Labouchere

expressed himself in favour of a further reduction than was proposed by the Government.

Mr. Villiers

condemned it as a most unwarrantable protection.

Mr. M. Philips

said, that every iron manufactory in the country was interested in the reduction of the duty on this article.

Duty agreed to.

House resumed. Committee to sit again.

Adjourned.