Lords Sitting of 19 May 1836

MINUTES.
Bills. Received the Royal Assent:—Aliens' Registration.—Read a second time:—Seamen's Fund (Shetland).

TIMBER DUTIES.
Lord Glenelgpresented a Petition from the Legislative Council and Assembly of New Brunswick, deprecating any change in the Timber Duties.
Viscount Strangfordsaid, he had a petition to present to their Lordships on this most important subject, but in the present empty state of the House he was unwilling to bring it forward. As, however, the matter was to be brought before the other House of Parliament before the recess, perhaps the noble Lord (Lord Glenelg) would be so good as to allow him to ask, what were the intentions of his Majesty's Government at present as to an alteration of the timber duties, and whether it was proposed to make any alteration with respect to the measurement of deals.
Lord Glenelg, in reply to the questions of the noble Viscount, had to state, that the latter, namely, as to the measurement of deals, was at present under the consideration of Government, and that a final determination might shortly be expected. With respect to any change of the timber duties, he begged to say, that it was not the intention of Government to make any change in those duties during the present Session. He might as well add, to prevent all doubts upon the point, that no engagements had been entered into by the British Government with Foreign Powers, so as to fetter the present question in any way before it came regularly before Parliament. It was never in contemplation of the Government to take any such proceeding with regard to the timber duties this Session.