SELECT COMMITTEE MOVED FOR. (Hansard, 29 April 1862)

§ MR. CRAWFORD

said, he rose to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the present scale of Sugar Duties, with especial reference to their assessment upon a classification according to the quality of the Sugar. As his Motion had not only the support of the Government, but was not opposed by any Member of the House, he would not detain them for more than a few minutes. The sugar duties were levied in 1854 upon the principle of appraisement of the quality of the sugar according to standards in the possession of the authorities. In the period which had since elapsed sufficient 1074 experience had been acquired to test the validity of the objections expressed with respect to that system when it was originally proposed. There was, however, considerable difference of opinion upon the subject. On the part of some interests with which he was himself connected—the growers and producers of sugar in the East Indies—great objection was taken to the principle of appraisement of the quality of the article. That objection was concurred in by the producers in the Mauritius, and also by some in the West Indies, more especially in the colony of Demerara. On the other hand, certain domestic interests were quite content with the present state of things. The refiners objected to any alteration, but the consumers, represented by the wholesale grocers, wanted a change. Not long ago representations on the subject, both for and against an alteration, were addressed to the Government, and it would be recollected that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget speech, invited an examination of the question before a Select Committee. That invitation was accepted by the parties concerned, and it was at their instance that he submitted his Motion. Though closely connected with the East India trade, he did not forget that he represented, as one of the Members for the City of London, a variety of other interest, and it was therefore his wish that the inquiry should be as full, fair, and free as possible. He proposed that the Committee should inquire into the operation of the sugar duties, and by their operation he meant the effect produced by the classification according to the quality of the sugar. All parties engaged in the trade would have an opportunity of appearing before the Committee and explaining how their interests were affected. The inquiry, of: course, would not embrace the general policy of the Sugar duties as constituting a large item of the revenue of the country, but it would necessarily extend to the question of refining in bond. He would conclude by moving his Resolution.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, he thought that the only objection which could be taken to their proceedings was, whilst they had negatived one Motion for a Committee of Inquiry, they had acceded to three such Motions for Committees to investigate commercial subjects. He thought, however, that the Motion before them was a very proper one, and though the appointment of such Committees would tax the strength of the House, he hoped that they would use their 1075 best endeavours to conduct simultaneously the three inquiries. It was desirable also that the country should understand that the proposed Committee was not to inquire into the expediency of reducing the sugar duties considered as an engine for raising money to meet public expenditure. All were agreed that a reduction should be made as soon as possible, but that was not a matter to be investigated at that time. Nevertheless, a very important question remained for the consideration of the Committee, and he trusted that his hon. Friend and the other Members of the Committee, whatever might be the interests with which they were connected, would contribute their joint efforts to the production of information which would be of great value upon confessedly one of the most difficult subjects within the whole range of their fiscal laws.