§ MR. BOOKERstated, that a day or two ago he read with great satisfaction an announcement made in one of the leading journals, that in consequence of representations from the Baltic ports of the injury sustained by the shipping interests from the high duty on iron plates (equal to 9l. per ton) used in the construction of vessels, the following notice had been issued by the Prussian Government, allowing their free importation for twelve months, at the end of which some new and general adjustment 182 of the duties on iron seemed to be indicated as probable:—
In consideration of the numerous and continued complaints that the building of iron vessels in the Baltic ports has been rendered exceedingly difficult, owing to the duty levied on plates imported from abroad, and, further, in the expectation that, somewhat later, it will be possible to obviate permanently, by other means, the hindrances which duties on iron place in the way of inland shipbuilding, the arrangement has been made that iron plates for the building of iron vessels be admitted during the whole of this present year into the Baltic ports duty free, under the necessary control of the Customs. The provincial directors of Customs in Stettin, Dantsic, and Konigsberg, have already received the instructions from the Government to this effect, and the elders of the corporation of Stettin are herewith informed, without delay, of the arrangement.This decree was signed by the Minister of Commerce. He (Mr. Booker) begged to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade whether Her Majesty's Government had received any official communication from any or either of the States comprised in the German Confederation or League—the Zollverein—to the effect that it was determined on the part of such States, or either of them, to relax for a temporary purpose and specified object, or permanently to repeal, any of the duties on the import into such States of any article of British manufacture or produce; and, if so, would Her Majesty's Government lay such communication before the House?
§ MR. CARDWELLreplied, that he had made inquiry on the subject, and found that no official communication to the effect stated had been received.