§ The DUKE of RICHMONDsaid, that seeing the noble Earl the Secretary of the Colonies in his place, he wished to ask him the question of which he had privately given him notice. Their Lordships were aware that, a tthe present moment, there had been a very great increase in the importation of guano from various parts of the world, and they were also probably all aware that the Peruvian Government had made a monopoly of their guano, and that, while they could sell the article with a profit at 5l. per ton in the port of London, the farmers of England were charged from 9l. to 10l. per ton by those who held guano. The agriculturists of this country had therefore learnt, with great satisfaction, that there had recently been an important discovery of guano in Western Australia; but they had at the same time learnt from the newspapers, with deep regret, that the Governor of that colony had imposed on the article the enormous export duty of 2l. per ton. Now as this country took Australian corn and wool free from all duty, surely it was a little hard on the farmers of England, if they had to put up with the produce of that colony coming here which they would sooner see remaining in that quarter, that when there was an article which they required, the Government of that colony should be found placing so heavy a duty as 2l. a ton upon it. He, therefore, wished to ask the noble Earl if he was aware that the Governor of Western Australia had imposed such a tax, and if so, whether the proceeding met with 1316 his approbation? and also to express a hope that the British farmer might at all events be treated with respect to guano in the same way as Australia was treated with regard to the export of corn.
§ EARL GREYsaid, in answer to the question of his noble Friend, he begged to inform him that it was perfectly true that a discovery of guano had been made in Western Australia, about 300 miles to the north of Freemantle; and it was also true that a duty of 2l. per ton had been imposed by the Governor on the exportation of that article. When the intelligence reached him (Earl Grey), he was of opinion that the duty was a higher duty than ought to be levied. He thought it very fair, considering the great value of the product, and that it existed in a limited quantity, which made it necessary to take measures to prevent its being wasted, that a moderate duty should be charged on the ships going there to export it. In 1844 and 1845, a duty of 1l. per ton had been fixed on the exportation of guano from the Cape of Good Hope, and no complaint was made against it; and it seemed to him desirable that the same amount of duty should be adopted in Western Australia; and accordingly, as soon as the intelligence reached him, he had addressed a despatch to the Governor, directing him to reduce the duty to 1l. per ton, and at the same time to afford all the facilities in his power to the merchants who wished to embark in the trade, without creating a monopoly for any particular house.
§ The DUKE of RICHMONDwas much obliged to the noble Earl for his answer, which, so far as it went, was satisfactory; but in 1844 and 1845, when the duty of 1l. was imposed at the Cape, the farmers of England were much abler to pay it than they were now. They were now living in days when they could not get 40s. a quarter for their corn, but in 1844 and 1845 they could get 60s. a quarter; and if the noble Earl could give them back that price, they would readily pay this 1l. or 2l. per ton of duty on their guano. He would, at all events, suggest that the noble Earl should give an order at the Custom House—which could not lead to any possible inconvenience—that all those who had been charged 2l. per ton by mistake should have 1l. of it returned to them, as the overcharge.
§ EARL GREYsaid, it was not so easy for him to remedy such a mistake by issuing an order of the kind which the noble Duke 1317 suggested; and, if it were done, it would be of little service to the farmer, because, if the 1l. were returned, it would only go into the pocket of the shipper.