MR. GLADSTONEWith a view to remove misapprehension in the public mind, although I myself am under the impression that a perfectly clear account was given on the subject, perhaps the Secretary of the Treasury will answer a Question with respect to the operation of the new system of duties and drawbacks upon sugar. From a telegraphic message I have received to-day from Hull, it appears that those concerned in the sugar trade there are not aware of the effect or the reason of the delay in bringing into operation that system; and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will have the kindness to repeat the information which he has given in this House, and which appears not to have been quite accurately conveyed?
§ MR. HUNTLast night, Sir, in moving the postponement of the Bill on this subject, I stated the present position of affairs with regard to the operation of the sugar duties and the reason for delaying the Bill at present. I said that by a Minute of the Conference, which was agreed to in September last, it was arranged that the new scale of duties and drawbacks then adopted should come into operation on the 1st of May, or at an earlier date, in case Great Britain should then have obtained Legislative powers to make these alterations. In consequence of that arrangement we supposed that the only delay likely to arise was the delay in procuring a Legislative sanction in this country; and we believed that the other Powers were immediately in a position to give effect to the Convention. But on our taking steps to submit a measure on the subject, we communicated the Resolutions in the first instance to the other Powers, and we learned there would be some delay on the part of Holland, though France and Belgium said they would be willing to give effect to the Convention on the very earliest day. The result of the communications since made is that the Dutch Government say that, under no circumstances, will they be able to carry out the alterations before the 1st of April, and that if they come into effect then, they must be accompanied by certain conditions as to floating cargoes. We have not been able to apprehend the exact nature of those conditions, and further communications have been made to the Hague on the subject. It must be clearly understood, then, that under no circumstances can the alteration take effect before the 1st of April, and if these conditions are such as cannot be agreed to by the other Powers concerned, there is every probability that the alteration will not take effect until the 1st of May.
MR. GLADSTONEI hope the hon. Gentleman will inform the House promptly of any communication that he may receive on the subject.