§ Order for Second Reading read.
MR. HUMEsaid, that he quite approved of this Bill as a whole, but he could not let this opportunity pass without expressing his regret that upon 431 articles a duty was still levied, from one-half of which, he firmly believed, the taxation might be removed without the loss of one shilling to the Treasury. At the same time, it was but fair to say that there had been a great improvement within the last fourteen years. In 1840, the number of articles paying duty was as follows:—Raw for manufactures, 262; partially manufactured, 101; 1386 imported partially manufactured 214; imported for food, 110; prohibited articles, 19; and miscellaneous, 156; making a total of 862 articles. Notwithstanding, however, so many articles were taxed, 94½ per cent of the total sum received arose out of the duty upon seventeen of those articles only. He also regretted to find that in Clause 14 of this Bill goods were to be destroyed in certain cases where the duty was not paid. He hoped that the Bill would be altered in this respect.
§ MR. J. WILSONsaid, that this was merely a consolidation Bill, its only purpose being to bring the different Acts which had been passed during the Session into one measure. Hence this was not a proper occasion upon which to make any alteration in the law like that suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Bill read 2o.