HC Deb 31 January 1860 vol 156 cc391-2

MR. HADFIELD moved that the House do resolve itself into a Committee to consider Warehousing Places (Manchester).

Motion agreed to.

House in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Mr. HADFIELD moved to resolve— That the Chairman be directed to move the House, That leave be given to bring in a Bill for enabling the parish of Manchester, and the Boroughs of Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, and Bradford, to be appointed Warehousing Places. He believed it was more than fifty years since the system of bonding warehouses first began. At present there were 110 towns, harbours, and creeks, possessing them. Of these sixty-two did not import; and of the remaining forty-eight, twenty-seven imported to a trifling extent only. One half the entire collections of the Customs were in London. There were nine places where the whole annual collection amounted to £6,664 only, and the cost of collection was £8,884, involving a loss of £2,200. The experiment of establishing in an inland town a bonded warehousing place had been tried at Manchester with success, though as yet the town paid the expenses itself. The revenue during the last year paid at Manchester was £ 155,000, and the cost of collection only £850, being but l1s. 6d. per cent. By extending the system to other towns consumption would be much increased. There was no risk of loss to the revenue during the transit from the port of import, because the duty was paid upon the goods just as they left the port. No frauds had been complained of in Manchester. The Bill which he proposed' to introduce would extend to four other towns the privilege at present enjoyed by Manchester.

MR. BEECROFT

seconded the Motion, observing that his constituents, the people of Leeds, were anxious to obtain the privilege of bonding—a system which would not only benefit trade and increase the revenue, but would tend to check the protice of adulteration.

MR. LAING

said, he could not enter into the subject without in some degree anticipating the statement which would be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday next. He would therefore simply say that the Government did not object to the introduction of the Bill; but when both the Bill and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement were before the House, it would be seen what course it would be best to take with respect to it.

Motion agreed to.

House resumed.

Resolution reported.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. MASSEY, Mr. HADFIELD, Colonel WILSON PATTEN, Mr. TURNER, and Mr. ALGERNON EGERTON.

Bill presented and read 1°.

House then adjourned at Eleven o'clock.