FLAW IN THE CORN LAWS. (Hansard, 9 February 1846)

MR. COLLETT

had seen a statement put forth in the public prints, to which he wished to call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman. The statement was headed "Singular Flaw in the operation of the Corn Laws," and was as follows:— A singular flaw in the operation of the Corn Laws has recently come to light. The old Act of 9 George IV., cap. 60, was repealed by the new sliding-scale of Sir Robert Peel, which came into operation on the 29th of April, 1842. By a strange blunder, three days elapsed between the expiration of the old and the operation of the new Act, which did not escape the lynx-eyed scrutiny of certain parties in this town, who are sometimes facetiously styled 'rogues in grain.' They took large quantities of grain out of bond on the plea that no duty could be levied during the three days' interregnum. But the Customs' authorities would not listen to such a free-and-easy reading of the Act, and the duty was accordingly paid under protest. The amount of duty so paid was upwards of 80,000l. The affair was referred to the Crown lawyers, and, as the law's delay is proverbial, the decision has only been come to this week. The corn merchants have triumphed. The decision of the Crown lawyers showed that they were right. The whole of the duties have been returned to the parties, of which one house, Messrs. Saunders and Claxton, are the recipients, it is said, of 20,000l. by this lucky move. The suspension of the Corn Laws, even for three days, has thus proved, it would seem, a 'golden harvest' for the 'knowing ones.' But this juggling is only part and parcel of the sliding-scale system from beginning to end. The question he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman was, whether this statement was true, and whether the public had suffered by it? But if it would be more convenient than now, he would put the question to-morrow.